Kemsley Wood is the recent winner of the Freedom Challenge: Race across South Africa, a renowned and incredibly demanding mountain bike event. He notably completed the 2150km non-stop race in 14 days and 8 hours, demonstrating remarkable endurance and strategic riding. The maximum days allowed for the Race is 26 days.
Kemsley is a local farm boy and continues this tradition as him, Megan and family run their own regenerative farm in Curry’s Post, milking cows and taking care of the land. Compassionate, caring, capable and determined are just a few adjectives to describe Kemsley. Growing up on a farm in Bergville, at the end of a long driveway, with two sisters, a brother and a farm friend over the hill for playmates, doting grandparents, surrounded by farm animals, green trees and productive fields and clean fresh air all left their mark on Kemsley and have made him as resilient and resourceful as he is today.
When he was growing up: running cross country while he did his junior schooling at Merchiston in PMB, farming at Weston Agricultural College in Mooi River or doing the college thing and playing rugby at Cedara, Kemsley was always an “outside boy” – making life an adventure for himself and those lucky enough to be around him. Hard work never ever scared Kemsley. He is only ever finished when the task that he set out to do is done. A good example of this is an old Land Rover he restored back to life. Never having formally studied mechanics he set out on this challenge. You-tubing, asking and researching he finished the task in limited time and then still delivered the vehicle in Africa to the new owner’s doorstep.
Kemsley has always taken life tasks seriously but has the invaluable ability to not take himself too seriously while giving 110% to the task “getting it done”. Kemsley does not quit, and while he is doing what he has set out do, he is the best person to accompany on the challenge. He can talk and tell jokes as his fellow competitors huff and puff through the gruelling 90 kilometres of the Comrades Marathon, which he has finished multiple times. He can find moments of hilarity while his fellow paddlers are concentrating on not taking in too much water, during the 120 kms of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, also which he has completed multiple times. There are countless stories out there about how Kemsley’s attitude to a challenge has carried many along the finish line.
Kemsley is self-less in sharing. Someone who is quick to help and more than willing to share. But do not forget, Kemsley does not believe in all the lotions and potions out there so to share with Kemsley is to have a swig of home-grown raw milk and a bite of Megan’s amazing banana bread …
The Freedom Challenge is not just a race of physical prowess, it is an extreme adventure that takes riders through remote parts of South Africa, requiring self-sufficiency in navigation, bike maintenance and the ability to hike with a bicycle through challenging terrain and all types of weather.
Kemsley’s achievement in the RASA is a testament to determination and careful planning. His race strategy, including early starts to navigate tricky sections in the daylight and efficient stops has been noted as a study for aspiring participants.
Pink Farm Chick 