THE TEAM
MARKUS
VAN NIEKERK
Triathlon, cycling, MTB Skills and running
With more than 29 years’ experience in endurance sports, Markus has great experience and a passion to work with everyday working heroes – Helping athletes on any level juggle work, family and sport life to achieve their best results! He has helped multiple athletes across the line in and some onto the podium in numerous events! Markus is no stranger to the sharper end of the racing field and has ended on the podium locally and internationally in multiple sporting codes. Having worked with the official Comrades marathon and Olympic Tri coach, Lindsey Parry – Markus arguably had the best mentor for the better part of eight years.
Andi
Bajc
Cycling
Andi is our silent weapon. He’s a former professional cyclist and all-round quiet guy who prefers to let his numbers and results do the talking… He has been racing bikes in one way or another all his life. Through hard work and talent, he turned Professional at 18. Andi has raced major races all around the world with all the best cyclists in the Pro peloton. Through first class experience , Andi now shares his knowledge by means of working with athletes from all over the world. From working individuals who wants to improve on their local climbs right through to professionals racing Elite World Championships.
Andi is the current Director Sportif (team and performance manager) for a German continental team – Santic Wibatech. He is also the Race Director of the L’Etape Slovenia by Tour de France cycling race.
Wida
Scholtz
Running
Sport has always been a great part of Wida’s life and she is no stranger to multiple running accolades. From being crowned Junior and Senior Sport woman of the year through to provincial colours in Cross Country running. She started her professional career as a Dressage Equestrian but exchanged riding for running and started taking running seriously after her first Comrades Ultra Marathon. Wida also knows the sweet taste of victory as she regularly finishes on the podium in running races. With a background in teaching, Wida is great when it comes to working with people! As an mother, business woman and athlete, she understands what it takes to get the most out of an busy schedule!
Hylton
Hastie
Triathlon and Cycling
Hylton is truly one of a kind. With more than 20years’ experience in the cycling and endurance sports retail industry, he’s an expert when it comes to equipment and has an great understanding of what it takes to be your best! As an athlete, he’s raced the professional Road Cycling circuit in the early 90’s and has many results to show for it! A former Sportsman of the year and multiple podiums through his pro career, Hylton has an infectious passion for people and sharing his knowledge ensuring top class performances for his athletes.
Rudolf
Naude
Triathlon, cycling and running
Rudolf started racing triathlon when he was only 13 years old. Since that day, he has never looked back and now, 18 years later he is still madly in love with the sport. Over the years, he has raced on the highest level of the sport on the ITU circuit as well as Ironman distance racing. He is currently the Technical Director for athletics and cycling at the TUKS (University of Pretoria) Sport High school. He works closely with other world class coaches on a national and international level in an effort to set up the best possible opportunities for the youngsters.
With BA (Sport Science) (Hons) and BA (Human Movement Science) degrees he has an deep understanding of the human body when it comes to performing on the big stage!
Bennie
Burger
MTB Skills Coaching
With two decades of unwavering commitment to the world of mountain biking, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the trail. As an internationally certified mountain bike skills coach, Bennie has honed his abilities to the highest standards, ensuring that he offers riders the best in coaching and guidance. His dedication to skills development has always been at the forefront of his career with a special focus on nurturing emerging talent in the fields of enduro, downhill, and XCO racing.
Bennie’s commitment to contributing to the growth and development of the sport is as clear as daylight and we love his passion!
Peet
Crowther
Open Water Swim Coach
Peet is as close to a “human fish” you will ever find! As relaxed as the ocean on a windless day, Peet goes with the flow (and far) at the same time. One of the more successful open water swimmers with multiple Freedom Challenge finishes and a very impressive English Channel Crossing Swimmer. He has invaluable knowledge when it comes to braving the open waters and it currents with the bare minimum equipment, developing mental strength, fitness and pure determination! Peet has an incredible ability to assist and teach swimmers to be comfortable in the big blue waters, especially in unpredictable situations.
Tarek
Victor
MTB Skills Coaching
Tarek has been part of the Coach M Squad in some way or another for the last 10years. An extremely experienced mountain biker since a very young age, as well as multiple triathlon or should we say IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 finisher. Tarek has raced pretty much every form of cycling and as a result has incredible experience and knowledge about the sport. A regular face on the podium at cycling events and all round loved competitor amongst his peers, he brings invaluable knowledge and energy to our team and his athletes.
Darryn
Berry
triathlon
Darryn is no stranger to the sport industry as he has been working in the industry for 10 years as a sport physiotherapist and a triathlon coach. He has a keen interest in first-timers or working-class heroes that want to achieve new heights in their endurance journey. He has coached athletes across varying forms of endurance sporting codes, helping athletes to obtain personal bests, podium positions, and World Championship slots.
Darryn holds a Master’s degree in Sports Physiotherapy & Exercise Physiology. He currently works for a professional rugby team as one of the team physiotherapist and he also runs his own physiotherapy practice. He has a meticulous understanding of training load science for endurance athletes which is fundamental in his coaching philosophy. He is data driven and takes a wide array of factors into consideration when planning programs and monitoring progress, a vital component in ensuring that his athletes perform to the best of their abilities.
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