The 2009 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival kicks off with an extravaganza of sporting choices – included in the plethora of options is the The Salomon Adventure Nights which includes the Petzl Night Run 4 July and Capestorm Night Bike 5 July, hosted at the luxurious Simola Golf & Country Estate.

The Salomon Adventure Nights and Salomon Featherbed Trail Run have attracted a host of  South Africa’s top multisport athletes. Salomon sponsored Trail Runner Ryan Sandes will be making his way to Knysna to take part in the Petzl Night Run and be teaming up with Garden Route based all rounder Hanno Smit of the Team McCain Adventure Addicts – currently, the top Adventure Racing outfit in SA.
Ryan Sandes has taken the Trail Running world by storm by winning the coveted Racing the Planet / 4-deserts – Gobi Desert Marathon, China in June 2008 and went on to win the Sahara Desert Marathon, Egypt in October the same year. Each of these events consisted of a 250km self-supporting foot race and the South African Trail Runner won both extreme events with an overall lead of 1  and 3 hours respectively.
Ryan Sandes has also been nominated GoMulti Magazine - 2008 Trail Runner of the year, Runners World South Africa - Running Hero of 2008,OutThere Magazine -2008 Adventurer of the Year runner up. His 2009 campaign has included a 2nd place in the Racing the Planet  – 250km self supporting foot race, Namibia Desert Marathon in May 2009. 
“The Knysna Marathon in 2006 is one of my highlights as it was the start of me running and opened my eyes to new world. So Knysna is kind of where it all started!” said Ryan.
With the added luxury of hot showers courtesy of Simola Golf & Country Estate the 2009 Salomon Adventure Nights is going to be an event NOT to be missed.   
Ryan Sandes will also be taking part in the Salomon Featherbed Trail Run on July 7th and joining him are athletes that have come from as far as Alaska, Australia, Grand Cayman Islands, UK, Angola and Botswana. “Entries for all our events have been selling extremely quickly with waiting lists now having to  be the next step in our planning” said Amanda Judson of event organisers – Magnetic South.
“Magnetic South has also been a very strong supporter of the Knysna Canoe Club Development program with proceeds of all its Festival events helping to facilitate this important community project. Children and adults from the disadvantaged areas will also have the opportunity to partake in the Salomon Adventure Nights – Petzl Night Run, Capestorm Night Bike and Salomon Featherbed Trail Run thanks to the generous input of our sponsors.”
Don’t end up on a waiting list and risk the chance of missing out on an adventure under the stars at Simola in the Salomon Adventure Nights or missing the ferries for the Featherbed Trail Run.   
Get your entry in now there is a race category for everyone to enjoy – www.magneticsouth.net