When you think of dirt bikes, chances are motocross comes to mind – bikes flying overhead, jumping, speeding, and plenty of adrenaline. However, tucked away in the mountains and rocky trails of the world lies a motorsport even more extreme: Hard Enduro. Imagine 4×4 vehicles grinding up impossible terrain, and then replace the cars with dirt bikes and double the level of difficulty. That is Hard Enduro – one of the toughest, rawest sports few outside the community have heard of.
For Alec van Niekerk, a UP student and Silver Class Hard Enduro competitor, the sport is more than just a hobby. It is a passion forged from family, perseverance, and a drive to push himself beyond what most would consider possible.
Van Niekerk’s introduction to the sport came early thanks to his father’s work at Yamaha. “My dad was a big factor,” Van Niekerk recalls. “He used to organise races, ride with clients, and bring me and my brother along. That’s how I met some of the country’s best riders.” At 13, Van Niekerk received his first bike. He started riding casually, but soon, the spark became a flame. “There was a local race I entered just for fun, and to my shock, I won my class. That’s when the fire inside me lit.”
Since then, he has built an impressive list of achievements: finishing the legendary Roof of Africa in 2021, placing third at the Impi Hard Enduro, and winning the EWXC series in Gauteng. Each moment has solidified his place in one of the world’s toughest motorsports.
Hard Enduro is often misunderstood, even by motorsport fans. Van Niekerk explains it simply, saying, “Everyone knows 4×4 cars in the mountains – imagine that, but now on a two-wheel dirt bike with ten times more rocks and much steeper terrain.” Unlike motocross, which focuses on speed and jumps, or traditional Enduro, which is more of a sprint, Hard Enduro is a marathon. Riders conserve energy while navigating brutal obstacles: near-vertical climbs, jagged rocks, riverbeds, and cliffs.
The sport also has a unique classification system: Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, with Gold reserved for the world’s best professionals. Competing in Silver, Van Niekerk describes it as “the level where the best riders who still have day jobs compete, before stepping into the professional Gold class”.
Races vary wildly, from 5km loops that take over an hour due to the sheer difficulty to 200km epics spread across mountains and valleys.
For Van Niekerk, Hard Enduro is not just about competition – it is about community. “When a rider gets stuck or struggles, it’s an unwritten rule to help each other. You get off of your bike and help the guy in front of you, and he will return the favour, and a chain is created where everyone helps [each other]. It’s that mindset of ‘We are both in this together.’”
Despite the extreme demands, there is little financial incentive. Prize money is minimal compared to mainstream motorsports like Formula One. Instead, the reward lies in finishing. “Even if you don’t win, the fact that you overcame all the obstacles is an achievement on its own,” Van Niekerk says.
The preparation is grueling. He trains daily on his bicycle for one to two hours, spends weekends riding for up to six hours, and follows a strict diet. The mental preparation is just as demanding. “We ride in very remote locations. The idea of getting injured, or literally falling to your death, is very real. You have to keep telling yourself to hang in there.”
Hard Enduro has a massive global presence, particularly in Europe, where it draws huge crowds and professional sponsorships through the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. For Van Niekerk, competing internationally is eye-opening. “The quality of everything is increased – tracks, organisation, atmosphere. Win one of those, and you’re instantly on the radar of sponsors.”
Closer to home, South Africa has its own crown jewel: the Roof of Africa in Lesotho, which is considered one of the toughest races in the world. Van Niekerk believes that the sport has the potential to grow among young South Africans, even though cost remains a barrier. “It’s an exhilarating sport, but it’s extremely expensive. That’s the biggest hurdle, both locally and internationally.”
As a UP student, Van Niekerk knows the challenge of balancing academics with racing. “Some months, university comes first, and when it’s quieter, I focus on the sport. Life is about balance, so even if it’s late at night, I make sure to train.” The discipline he has developed carries over into his studies. “Training every day, even when you don’t feel like it, is the same as pushing through tiredness to study for exams. It teaches perseverance.” His advice to fellow students is simple. “Don’t procrastinate. See your passion as the reward. Grind through your work now so you can have time for what you love.”
Van Niekerk hopes to move into the Gold Class next year as he transitions into the workforce and has more flexibility to race. Beyond personal goals, he sees Hard Enduro as a teacher of resilience. “Imagine it’s raining, you’re on the side of a mountain, and there’s not a single living creature in sight. Situations like that build character and prepare you for the worst in life,” he says. For any student that is intimidated by the sport, Van Niekerk’s answer is simple. “Don’t be. The community is very welcoming. The more people that join, the bigger the sport gets, and you never know if you’ll love it until you try.”
In a world where many sports are dominated by money and fame, Hard Enduro stands apart. It is a sport fueled purely by passion, grit, and the will to keep going when everything in you wants to stop. For Alec van Niekerk, it is more than racing dirt bikes – it is a way of life that proves resilience, camaraderie, and determination can carry you up even the steepest of mountains.
