In the heart of Fort Worth, Texas, Hartbeespoort’s very own Red Bull Obstacle Course racing athlete, Thomas van Tonder, took on 16 elite male athletes in a high-stakes showdown, emerging victorious as the first-ever Red Bull Rancher Strong Champion.
Bringing the worlds of fitness and agricultural life together, Red Bull Rancher Strong features an adrenaline-fueled course of eight ranch-inspired obstacles, from cattle roping and hay hauling to fence jumping – all designed to push strength, stamina and speed.
“It was not an easy race by any means. It was a super tough event, and with the injury to my arm, it was really tough, but I managed to push through and win. This event exceeded all my expectations. What a vibe!” Van Tonder said.
In this first-of-its-kind event, athletes went head-to-head in timed heats on a course as intense as it is unique.
The athletes swung from monkey bars, hauled feed sacks and pushed trailers, climbed hay bales, tiptoed over stumps, and dragged a weighted bull sled while riding a stationary horse. It ended with a final climb back to the barn balcony.
Well done, Thomas, you make Hartbeespoort proud.