Defending champion Ian Don-Wauchope was one of the first to get his name on the starting list for the 2010 Southern Storm which also features six of the top seven placed men in the 2009 pro category. The missing man, Dominic Wills, had to switch to doing the Otter Run only, due to work commitments. The Scott sisters who placed 3^rd and 4^th among the pro ladies in 2009 have registered their challenge to Cape Epic winner and 2^nd place finisher of 2009 Southern Storm Hanlie Booyens. Multi-sports legend and multiple XTierra Champion, Michelle Lombardi also added her powerful name to what is becoming an incredibly strong ladies line-up.

The Otter – African Trail Run:
Fri, 24th of September: Prologue
Sat, 25th of September: The Otter

Southern Storm 2010:

Sun, 26th of September: Prologue
Mon, 27th of September: The Otter
Tue, 28th of Sept – Fri, 1st of Oct:  Duathlon (Route to be announced)

Our Magnetic South Field Team is busy scouting a new exciting route for the 2010 Southern Storm Event. With the Nomad Adventure Team partnering the event we will be able to showcase the most exciting trails and most beautiful scenery in the Southern Karoo and Garden Route.

“Being involved in the Otter and Southern Storm was an amazing opportunity for Hi-Tec.

The involvement was important for Hi-Tec for a couple of reasons:

• It gave Hi-Tec the opportunity to be linked with a truly aspirational event and brand (Southern Storm and The Otter).  Hi-Tec and people in adventure circles do not see this merely as another event on the calendar – it will quickly become the event on the calendar.  The combination of the race, the route, the participants and the great organization of such a race all help in creating this aspiration and sense of an event rather than “just another race”.  To be the footwear brand associated with such an aspirational event raises the perception of the product we sell and the prizes we can comfortably charge.
• The Southern Storm and Otter push the boundaries with regards to what is both humanly and organizationally possible – Hi-Tec wanted to be part of this and have the brand recognised as one that pushes what is known to be possible in sport and adventure.  An example of this is how Magnetic South managed to get permission to have a trail run on the most famous hiking trail of South Africa – for our brand to be associated with this type of first is incredibly valuable as that success is passed onto the brand by association.

During the event we found a number of things exceptional and truly surprising having dealt with a number of events/event organizers before.

• Organizers tend to over-promise and under-deliver.  In Magnetic South’s case this was exactly the opposite.  I found additions were made after the contract was signed and extra effort was put into late requests even though they were not part of the original agreement.
• Although one pays event organizers to “organize”  the event often the sponsors promotional material and publicity get’s over-looked in that organizing.  With Magnetic South I found that the team took special care and attention with the sponsor’s stake in the event; after all as sponsors we are not involved for philanthropy.  The team made sure promo material was always in the best places for media and advertising opportunities.  Normally the logistics serve as a hindrance to multiple exposure (one normally has to choose an either/or position) – in the Otter and Southern Storm this was not an option – exposure was everywhere (one only has to look at the size of the team to understand how this is made possible).
• Safety was paramount in the event.  As a sponsor your brand is ultimately seen next to the good or bad of an event and because the organizing committee takes such a back seat in publicity, one’s brand is often seen solely responsible for the good or bad of an event.  With this type of pressure hanging over the sponsors it is incredibly important that the organizing committee looks at safety very seriously.  I have never seen a company who took safety as seriously – on the Otter alone there one support staff for every kilometre of the race, a helicopter and a rescue boat out at sea on standby.  As a company we were very impressed on how seriously Magnetic South were over the 6 days of racing and how meticulously they looked after our brand.
• The team.  A team is normally one brain with a bunch of helpers doing the grunt work.  Magnetic South is a team in the truest sense of the word.  The company is made up of a number of individuals, each with their own speciality and experience but at the same time each able to make a decision on their own; confident that it is allowed and ultimately the right decision.  This makes working with the team a pleasure as it is not only one person who has to make all the decisions – instead it is a well organized team who know their jobs but also who know what is possible/allowed because of the countless meetings/planning sessions they have.

Hi-Tec have been incredibly impressed with the success of the Otter and Southern Storm.  We in no way feel that this was a once-off success – with the Magnetic South team in control of such an event with think the success will be replicated year-after-year.

Hi-Tec feel that the association was incredibly valuable for the brand and are confident in the events future success.”

Shayne Vervoort, Marketing Manager Hi-Tec
November 2009

So, a BIG thank you to you and the team for a wonderful escape. I am sure that I am not the only one looking forward to another fine event in the future.

All the best William

What an incredible team you all are!

Once again producing an exceptional product which I have been so honoured to be part of… being part of the special family of Magnetic Southers!

Thank-you ALL for an incredible time on the Southern Storm.

I      LOVED     it        !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just back home yesterday and so sorry to have missed the survey. A bit quick for me; was recuperating at the beach. Almost back to dull human state after an incredible high. Now to the grindstone to make time and money for the next one: Northern Storm, Desert Storm??? What did I hear???

Angi Stanford

Well done on putting together a great event. I have no doubt his event will go from strength to strength and in future your waiting list will grow and grow.

My personal objective was to achieve a new challenge. Done! To push my body beyond where I know I had trained it. Done! To get to see some of the most stunning and interesting parts of the country. Done!

Enjoy the break as we will.

Regards

Alan

In more than 20 years of running, I have actively sought out and participated in the best events on offer.

Mount-aux-Sources, Rhodes, Sani Pass, Harrismith mountain race, Isandlwana, Bay to Bay, Donkey’s Pass, Red Hill, Two Oceans, Comrades, Om-die-Dam, Loskop, Soweto, Duzi, Fish, Iron Man, Kruger Park, Sabie Forest…..these are just a few of the organised events to which I can add many delightful training runs through the most picturesque and interesting places. I’ve even run trails over the mild undulations in the Western Cape that the locals refer to as mountains.

Lots of awesome memories but I remain convinced that for me and I guess many others, the Otter will prove to be the pinnacle of the active lifestyle that we all enjoy so much.

The pristine environment was matched stride for stride by your team who turned the event into a wonderful and most enjoyable occasion.

The Otter Trail is a yardstick, a common unit of measure between trail runners and those 1000’s of people who have walked the trail. I have never experienced such interest in an event from non- runners, few of whom (if any) have or will ever walk a 21km, marathon or Ultra and therefore have no understanding of what they entail, but the Otter is different, they have suffered and slogged over exactly the same terrain and can therefore have a very real appreciation for what is involved. The joke is that my running mates can’t believe that I took so long while on the other hand, my hiking mates don’t believe that such a time is possible.