This year’s Montagu Rock Rally certainly was a special one, with dozens of dedicated adventurers braving the chill and drizzle at De Bos Backpackers & Camping from 22 to 24 September to get their climb on and fight it out to land a spot on the podium…
The CityROCK team had been keeping a close eye on the weather and, despite cloudy skies and a chance of some rain, the final decision was made on Saturday morning to forge ahead with the Rally! Once everyone was registered we gathered in the De Bos barn (with a few showing up in some truly excellent sending costumes) for a short briefing, after which we set out to enjoy a lekker time at the crag, come rain or shine.
Roadside, Legoland and The Steeple were the most popular crags thanks to their short walk-ins should the showers start, and the psych was high as everyone embraced the spirit of the day and raced to fill their scorecards.
The drizzle started to get thicker as the day went on and most groups made their way back to the campsite around 2pm. The wonderful team at De Bos organised a projector for an impromptu climbing movie screening for those who had finished at the crags, while a few determined crews stuck it out through the wet until the very last minute to take their best shot at victory – a move which definitely paid off in the end!
Finally, everyone made their way back to camp to submit their scores and chow down on some De Bos boerewors rolls while our master of spreadsheets, Chevaan Patience, ran the numbers to discover who came out on top.
The prizegiving was a blast, with the De Bos barn crammed full of eager climbers waiting for the final results. There were plenty of prizes to be scooped up from The North Face, Petzl, Black Diamond, Ocún, Nalgene, Scallywags and La Sportiva, and the top competitors in each category were rewarded for their crushing with some adventure goodies.
But that’s not all! Some special spot prizes were also awarded, including best whipper, gnarliest injury, first outdoor climb, and worst shoes (the winner’s straps were held together with staples).
A fun climbing trivia quiz ended the prizegiving with a bang (shoutout to Jeremy, who could name all five Mazawatte (36) ascensionists in chronological order), and then it was time to enjoy a fat jol!
The party was once again led by the magnificent DJ Danx, who brought the tunes and vibes all night long – with a brief intermission at 9pm for the rugby, of course. At last the final dance monkeys made their way to bed, and we all settled in for a good sleep after a full day of Rally-ing.
The campsite was (unsurprisingly) slow to wake on Sunday, with the kitchen gradually filling up with sleepy climbers seeking coffee and breakfast before preparing to head back home or, in the case of a few who just can’t get enough, out to the crags.
As a final cherry on top of a great weekend, CityROCK yoga teacher Dani Blanchard led a restorative flow in the barn to ease any sore bodies and get everyone prepped to enjoy another beautiful day.
Thank you so much to everyone who attended and made the 2023 Montagu Rock Rally such a wonderful event – next year is going to be even bigger and better!
Remember that there is a Mammut 9.9mm Crag Workhorse up for grabs for the best picture/video from the weekend! Upload your photo or video to social media* with #MontaguRockRally2023 in the caption by Sunday 1 October to enter, and check CityROCK Cape Town’s Facebook and Instagram on Monday 2 October for the winner.
*Please note that your entry needs to be a Facebook or Instagram feed post, no stories will be counted. The judges’ decision is final.
Until the next time, climb safe and party on!
