The Grail of Trail: Why EasyEquities Backs the Otter TERREX Trail

By Carel Nolte

There are races. And then there is the Otter TERREX Trail presented by EasyEquities – the Grail of Trail. It is not merely a race. It is a convergence of wilderness, human spirit, relationships, values and true grit. As Chief Enablement Officer for EasyEquities, I’ve had the privilege to experience up close the benefits of investing in this event and how we bring “1 + 1 = at least 22” to life.

 The Otter: history, magic and evolution

The Otter Trail Run is legendary. Winding along the Garden Route coastline from Storms River to Nature’s Valley, it’s normally a five-day hike through forests, fynbos, sea views and serious river crossings including the infamous Bloukrans. What the Otter TERREX Trail presented by EasyEquities does is temporarily unlock that terrain for the running community in a controlled and respectful way that involves the local community too.

The event was born of ambition and love for this coastline. The Collins family – brothers John and Mark and their wives, exceptional athletes who chose to stay behind the scenes – dared to imagine that runners could traverse a protected hiking trail in a single day. Under Faces, led by CEO Clark Gardner, it has evolved into one of the most desirable trail experiences anywhere.

Two events make up race week. The Challenge on Thursday with an 11-hour cut-off and a maximum of 300 runners, and the Race on Saturday with a 9-hour cut-off and also a maximum of 300 runners. Entries sell out near immediately. The Otter alternates direction annually – Classic vs Retto – so no two years feel the same. With 42 km of rugged terrain, over 2 600 m of ascent, eleven serious climbs and four river crossings including the Bloukrans swim, it is brutal, beautiful and unforgettable.

Why it matters: this isn’t just a tough day out. It’s a rare chance to run a protected wilderness fully immersed, cut off from crowds, with nature as your only co-competitor.

Conservation, access and the SANParks philosophy

Running inside a protected area is possible only through trust, care and shared values. SANParks is a key partner. Victor Mokoena, the Garden Route regional general manager and formerly Tsitsikamma’s park manager, embodies an inclusive approach: conservation with communities, not against them. His management lens puts stakeholder inclusion at the centre. That stance is why the Otter can exist the way it does.

At the awards ceremony Victor spoke to SANParks’ 2040 vision – parks as shared spaces, not remote sanctuaries. Conservation and community advancement intertwined. I love that thinking and can see how it is a far more sustainable strategy to ensure future generations benefit from our natural beauty.

Why EasyEquities is involved – and how we do it differently

There are many reasons we back this event. A few worth sharing:

1. Brand alignment and purpose. We don’t sponsor for size or glamour. We look for alignment – empowerment, access, connection. The Otter is about personal challenge, integrity and nature. Difficult does not mean impossible. That’s us.
2. Deep engagement, not superficial branding. We deliberately declined naming rights. The Otter is the hero. We support from the side to preserve its authenticity and magic. Hold on lightly, not tightly. We don’t always get it right, but abundant thinking matters.
3. Activation with meaning:
   • EasyTransfers shuttle. This year we supported free shuttles to keep the Nature’s Valley village clear with smooth logistics. A driver told me he opened his Easy account after last year’s Otter. That one conversation was worth it. • Prize money into EasyEquities accounts. It’s more than prize money – it’s a gateway to long-term investing.
   • The Otter Walk. Before race week, Rikus Kok and I host EasyEquities clients and staff on a three-day walk of the same route. Slowing down, physical exertion and mutual support builds connection you can’t buy. Having our mate and trail legend Blake Dyason lead us was extra special.
   • Medal presentation. Rikus and I hand medals to every finisher, not just those who podium. Because each journey is different and each one has worth and meaning. I ring the bell at the cut-off, but we wait for the last runner and shake every hand. Everyone’s story matters. Every achievement is celebrated. This event has soul which the whole community contributes to.
   • Community impact. Our Donate for Good raised nearly R30 000 for Kids of Kurland this month. Previously we supported the Nature’s Valley Trust where I met David Krone who now works with Tina Payne, the chair of St John’s College where CN&CO recruit has been assisting. Links everywhere – impact compounds when you stay open to connections and opportunities. Say yes more. Pitch up. Accept you won’t nail it every time. Learn, contribute, connect again. That’s how breadth becomes depth (lthough I do need to work more on my depth and be crystal clear on what I choose to spend my time on).
4. Creating network effects. EasyEquities is more than a platform – it’s a community. Many runners are already clients. Brands, athletes and supporters are interlinked. What if someone invests more because they ran the Otter? What if prize winners reinvest and grow? What if the loyalty built here is stronger than any billboard? That’s “1 + 1 = 22” – tattooed on my leg as a daily reminder to maximise what God gives us.
5. Legacy over short-term ROI. We invest in relationships, trust and consistency. Visibility fades, integrity endures.

Some of the stories and moments that stayed with me

There are too many moments to write about – and I know that everyone who took part in the event feels the same. But here are a few:
– Anastasia Esterhuizen ran the Challenge, greeted by her husband and two kids. We met her years ago when she helped arrange our first Otter hike. Full circle. Welcoming her across the finish line was spectacular.
– Tom Bednall, Adidas TERREX South Africa’s exceptional senior sports and culture marketing head, ran the race and was welcomed by his family. Living the brand. The TERREX team is properly invested and adds real value. Always lekker to hand out the awards on Saturday evening with Tom whose passion for his brand and team is tangible. (By the way, check out what return you would have made if you, like me, had invested in Adidas on EasyEquities – EUR wallet – when we started our partnership …)
– Bianca Tarboton, now a four-time champion, and Kane Reilly, third this year – excellence with humility. Rikus and I are fan-boys of their athletic prowess and the way they role-model. Same goes for trail legend Toni McCann who is achieving huge success across the globe. She had to withdraw early with an injury but was at the awards supporting others. Pure class, all of them. And that goes for so many of the trail running community – inspirational.
– Jock Seelinger and other Saints alumni like Grant Andrews who entered. Respect. And Jock will be back after being cut at Andre’s Hut with “just” 8 km or so to go. Jock and I agree – running this trail is far harder than doing the Comrades.
– Joshua Nuttall, former Challenge winner and EasyEquities teammate. His journey runs through many of our networks and it was so lekker to see him again smash the trail and coming top 20 in the Race. Superb for an amateur.

– Ronald Maakgo from our Easy team ran his first Otter and nailed it – friendships were forged and his dance across the final stretch on the lagoon belied the fact that his legs nearly gave in after 17km. But his determination didn’t.
– Tristan Finnemore, nearly twenty years at Purple Group and a close mate, joined our walk. His verdict was simple: life-changing. Limited signal, red-winged Knysna turacos, otter and leopard spoor, evenings with superb catering by Murray Pienaar and his sister Laurika from Treat in Plett. Magic.

 

– Our guide and very good friend Blake Dyason, CN&CO co-founder and Love Our Trails advocate, kept us safe, inspired and laughing. One of life’s exceptional humans.
– Van Dyk braais with some of our Easy team who ran – Andrea Copland, Justin Pearse, Bradley Leather and Shaun Keeling among them. Laughter, support and a few brandies. Congrats also to Lawrence Brittain, Stuart Mann and the very many other mates who gave their all.
– And to Belen Collins, who has been a major part of my own Otter journey from day one. Humility, a history of wild 100-milers and other adventure races, a SA-Spanish zest for life. A caring, lovely human who for the first time in 17 years was “merely” a spectator.

From The Marginalian, John Muir’s line that “going to the mountains is going home” still rings true. That’s what the Otter does. It brings you home to yourself.

Trail Runner Nation keeps reminding the community that persistence pays – on the trail and in life. Same in investing. Start. Believe you can. Stay consistent. Even imperfect effort compounds.

As Rikus, who spends two days handing out medals with me says, after hiking the route days earlier, you know what these athletes have endured. Rain or shine, a couple of Jack Blacks in hand, it’s pure joy to welcome them home.

1 + 1 = 22 – the sum must exceed the parts. I think that too many people settle for additive logic. I believe in exponential logic. When two aligned entities collaborate, the outcome must be far greater than the parts. For EasyEquities and the Otter that means amplifying each other’s stories, sharing trust and audiences, creating deep activation, turning participants into ambassadors and letting the event grow organically. That’s why we didn’t need naming rights. The race remains the Otter. Our role is enabler, connector, partner. Not controller. Maybe something worth doing more of in our personal lives, also?

Invitation: runners, nature-lovers, brand builders

If you’re a trail lover, try to get an entry. The Otter will break you open and build you up.
If you’re an athlete, run fiercely and make time to listen and connect.
If you’re a brand or business, maybe don’t just buy logos. Invest in stories, values, communities. Hold on lightly.

Thnk you Clark, Nina, Renata, Pierre, Stacey and the whole team – all 108 of you brilliant people. See you all next year. And before that, on the trails, on the road, in the gym, in nature. We are privileged to move, to breathe and to explore – together.