Finishing the Cape Epic is a challenge within itself. Finishing it with cystic fibrosis is out of the question. Jason van’t Slot told MatieMedia about his attempts to defy the odds.
When Van’t Slot is exercising, his condition becomes more pronounced. Compared to other athletes of similar fitness levels, he struggles to manage his breathing and he coughs more often. However, Van’t Slot was raised in a household which did not believe in the power cystic fibrosis had in limiting his abilities. As a result, his personal motto today is, “the strongest muscle in your body is the one between your two ears.” PHOTO: Jacqui Phillips
The finish line should not be a place of stress and anxiety. For the most part, it was the opposite. As the cyclists peddled across one by one, cheers ensued from the surrounding supporters. Years of dreaming and training was all motivated by this very moment, the day they completed one of the most intense mountain bike races in the world. Yet, a small section of supporters stood in defiance of this blissful atmosphere as they eagerly awaited the arrival of Jason van’t Slot.
As surrounding cyclists fell into the arms of their loved ones, Van’t Slot’s family became more concerned. It had been an hour and a half since Jason was supposed to trudge through those gates, but he was nowhere to be seen. Barry van’t Slot’s mind was racing and, like all parents, he was imaging every worst scenario that could have happened to his son.
“In his mind he’s going through all these scenarios. So he’s starting to stress,” recalls Jason van’t Slot.
As the champagne remained on ice, his attempt at writing history did too. It was unclear if Jason van’t Slot would be the first cyclist to complete the Cape Epic with cystic fibrosis.
A pill a day…
Van’t Slot was born with cystic fibrosis, a medical condition which can be life-threatening. This inherited disorder creates thick mucus within the human body which makes the lungs a breeding ground for bacteria and prevents the body from fully digesting its food. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis as of yet and, according to the South African Cystic Fibrosis Association, it is common that patients will live with it for the remainder of their lives.
“I take in total 40 tablets a day. Most of it is digestive enzymes, vitamins and a couple of antibiotics,” says Van’t Slot as he explains his daily prerogative to look after himself.
By the time Van’t Slot was eight months old, the severity of his condition was already apparent. His doctors believed that he would only have a lifespan of 10 years. For his parents, this was a hard reality. A reality that sparked their decision to raise Van’t Slot in a positive environment which did not allow cystic fibrosis to limit his abilities.
“They didn’t let it be something define who I was. I was first a person who had a condition, and not a condition and then a person,” explained Van’t Slot as he lifted his cap to run his fingers through his dark brown hair.
Image 2: Barry van’t Slot (left), Jason van’t Slot’s father, and Jacqui Phillips (centre), Jason van’t Slot’s girlfriend, have also been cycling companions over the years. In 2019, both Barry van’t Slot and Philips finished the Cape Argus, an annual cycling race which is located in Cape Town. PHOTO: Facebook/ Jason van’t Slot.
When Van’t Slot grew up, he saw various family members return home holding a Cape Epic medal, which made him desire one of his own. The idea remained merely a thought until the end of matric, when he announced his intentions to compete in the mountain bike race in a farewell speech.
“That was a breakthrough moment for me,” Van’t Slot said about the day it all started.
“You’re wasting your time”
Van’t Slot soon teamed up with his friend Phillip Sassie, a German triathlete, to be his companion throughout the race. As training begun, messages of support and scepticism came flooding through. Sassie’s father, a medical doctor, told his son he was wasting his time teaming up with Van’t Slot. From a medical standpoint, it would be impossible for him to achieve his dream.
“That was exactly the thing I wanted to change,” said Van’t Slot, who remembers this comment in particular.
Audio: In 2018 Van’t Slot completed his goal to finish the Cape Argus in a record time. Despite losing eight minutes fixing a punctured tire mid-way through the race, Van’t Slot became the first cyclist with cystic fibrosis to finish the 109 kilometre race within three hours. This year he improved by finishing the race with a time of two hours, fifty-two minutes, and fifty-six seconds. Jason van’t Slot told MatieMedia what it felt like to cross the finish line in 2018 and make history.
For Van’t Slot, the Cape Epic was more than just the challenge. It was a way of changing society’s depiction of people with cystic fibrosis. He wanted to show the world he was capable of achieving his dreams while giving inspiration to people with the condition.
“I wanted it to be something people would aspire to do, to push themselves despite having these negative words or limitations,” he explained.
A spoonful of sugar…
As the opening day to the Cape Epic arrived, Van’t Slot approached the starting line with jitters throughout his body.
“I was so nervous. Like there wasn’t butterflies in my stomach, there were moths!” Van’t Slot recalls with a giggle.
As he set off, focus remained on the eight days ahead and, not on winning the race, but winning his challenge for team cystic fibrosis. In order to achieve this, he knew he would have to take extra precautions to accommodate his condition. In particular, it would be a challenge to maintain his energy levels since he is only able to absorb 25 percent of his food.
“I had to work on a strategy where I’d eat so much,” said Van’t Slot.
Every half hour, Van’t Slot would feed on something to give him the required energy to climb whatever mountain, forest, or sandy surface lay ahead of him. Van’t Slot would burn approximately 10 000 calories a day doing the Cape Epic, and that energy needed to come from somewhere.
“So you become a machine, just shovelling food all the time. And I went through about a month’s supply of medicines in the week, because every time I eat I had to take an enzyme.”
In tough endurance races like the Cape Epic, Van’t Slot needs to be attentive in managing his condition. In addition to severe fatigue, Van’t Slot would also cough up blood and he needs to nebulise at the end of each day. PHOTO: Jacqui Phillips.
Due to his condition, Van’t Slot sweats a lot more, meaning the loss in salt will more likely result in cramping or injury. It became essential to not only eat excessively, but stay hydrated too.
“I would literally get to a water point and just start stuffing my face…then have a Coke, have an Energade, and have a water to wash the sweetness away,” he remembered.
As the days went by, Van’t Slot got more fatigued. The first stage was always the hardest on his body physically. But the final stages provided a new challenge, a challenge to finish the remainder of the race with the energy he had left.
“Basically it was just damage control on the last couple of days… and then the very last day… I… I think I underestimated it,” he remembers.
Riding high
On that final day Van’t Slot was almost there, about 2 kilometres from the finishing line. He could hear the crowd roaring in the distance and he knew his friends and family were close. It was the sound of the finishing line which sparked him to keep on riding in that final stage.
In one final push, he peddled past the last hill and glided down past the finishing line. Team cystic fibrosis had completed the Cape Epic. He made his way across to the other side of the finishing line where Van’t Slot locked eyes with his father.
“Once he saw us he burst into tears just because of what we’ve done,” Van’t Slot remembered proudly.
Jason van’t Slot (centre left) and Phillip Sassie (centre right) receive their Cape Epic medals from Darren Lill (far left) and Waylon Woolcock (far right), who represent team RED-E Blend. Each year, the top 10 finishing teams in each category distribute the medals to the rest of the competitors who finished the race. RED-E Blend finished in seventh position overall for the 2015 competition according to the ABSA Cape Epic. PHOTO: Renate Lucouw.
At the age of 20 Van’t Slot had completed the Cape Epic. Doctors predicted that he wouldn’t turn older than 10, but now he proudly holds his medal for all to see. A medal which is not only a personal achievement, but a symbol that cystic fibrosis need not be a death sentence.
“Your physical limitations are a lot less than your mental limitations. Your mind is what is going to determine your success, your future and your ability to achieve your dreams.”