Kirsten Landman is taking on the second-last event on her Hard Enduro calendar for 2023 - the Sea to Sky race in Kemer, Turkey.
The South African is fresh off her win at the Red Bull Tennessee Knock Out, where she also won an American championship. Sea to Sky takes place from 18-21 October, with the four days of racing dishing up an array of challenges.
"I'm feeling much stronger than I was going into racing Tennessee," Landman said.
"I've put in some good time on my KTM motorbike and my bicycle. I have also been doing strength work to ensure I've done everything I can in preparation for the last few races of the season.
"I'm feeling strong mentally and more confident because my physical fitness is in a good place."
Tough start to 2023
Upon her return from the Dakar Rally at the start of the year, Landman was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism that threatened not only her 2023 season, but her career as an endurance racer.
Though she made a full recovery and took on the toughest race in the Hard Enduro season, Red Bull Romaniacs, she hurt her shoulder. Thankfully, the damage wasn't too severe and she made another full recovery.
But Sea to Sky presents a new set of challenges, as riders will traverse beach, forest and mountainous terrain over four days. As ever, Landman relishes the challenge.
"It's an incredibly tough race, and Day 4, the mountain race, is by far the toughest part," she explained before her departure to one of her favourite events.
"You're racing the clock to get to the top of the mountain. You have to go as hard as you can for 60km in six hours. Sea to Sky epitomises why I race hard enduro.
"I love coming back - this is my seventh time at this race. The organisers and the competitors are all family now."
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