Lifestyle

IN PICTURES | Inside the ranks of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club SA

Members of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club live by their own set of rules. These intimate portraits provide a rare glimpse into their hard-riding and little known lifestyle

16 December 2018 - 00:13 By Alon Skuy
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National president of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club SA, Mark Groenewald, and national shepard, Darryl Hall, pray before the club's National Run to Durban. They rode with precision and discipline to the coast.
National president of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club SA, Mark Groenewald, and national shepard, Darryl Hall, pray before the club's National Run to Durban. They rode with precision and discipline to the coast.
Image: Alon Skuy

Formed in 2006, the close-knit Crusaders Motorcycle Club (MC) SA has close to 1,000 members and more than 25 chapters across SA. They are “1 % ers ”, a reference to a comment once made by the American Motorcyclist Association “that 99% of motorcyclists [are] lawabiding citizens” and the remaining 1% “outlaws ”.

The ethos of the club is brotherhood, discipline, respect and a helping hand. The Crusaders MC SA motto: “See everything, hear everything, say nothing.”

Through these intimate portraits, photographer Alon Skuy gives a rare glimpse into the hard-riding and little known lifestyle of those who live by their own set of rules.

THE CLUB'S ANNUAL NATIONAL RUN TO DURBAN

A large group of Crusader MC members ride to a day event in Durban.
A large group of Crusader MC members ride to a day event in Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy
Members of the Crusaders MC are seen on their annual National Run to Durban. Once they've arrived at the coast, the club hosts a special dinner to celebrate their achievements.
Members of the Crusaders MC are seen on their annual National Run to Durban. Once they've arrived at the coast, the club hosts a special dinner to celebrate their achievements.
Image: Alon Skuy
A prospect with the Bandits on the open road in Durban.
A prospect with the Bandits on the open road in Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy
National president of Crusaders MC, Mark Groenewald, poses for a picture in KwaZulu-Natal.
National president of Crusaders MC, Mark Groenewald, poses for a picture in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Alon Skuy
The Crusaders MC booked out the Elangeni Hotel on the Durban beachfront to host a special dinner as part of their annual National Run to the coast.
The Crusaders MC booked out the Elangeni Hotel on the Durban beachfront to host a special dinner as part of their annual National Run to the coast.
Image: Alon Skuy
Members of the Bandits chat on the beach during their National Run to Durban.
Members of the Bandits chat on the beach during their National Run to Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy
Members of the Crusaders MC at an event in KwaZulu-Natal during the club's National Run to Durban.
Members of the Crusaders MC at an event in KwaZulu-Natal during the club's National Run to Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy
A member of the Crusaders MC dances on stage while a man sings at a beach bar.
A member of the Crusaders MC dances on stage while a man sings at a beach bar.
Image: Alon Skuy
Jacques Viljoen from the Nomads chapter arrives in Durban after the long ride down.
Jacques Viljoen from the Nomads chapter arrives in Durban after the long ride down.
Image: Alon Skuy
Member of The Bandits Chapter enjoys the open road.
Member of The Bandits Chapter enjoys the open road.
Image: Alon Skuy

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE BIKERS

Cowboy, one of the original members of the Crusaders MC, gets ready to ride his bike.
Cowboy, one of the original members of the Crusaders MC, gets ready to ride his bike.
Image: Alon Skuy
Nick Rabie from the Nomads Chapter of the Crusaders MC sometimes wears a custom-made glass eye with a 1% logo engraved on it.
Nick Rabie from the Nomads Chapter of the Crusaders MC sometimes wears a custom-made glass eye with a 1% logo engraved on it.
Image: Alon Skuy
TeeBone from the Joburg Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
TeeBone from the Joburg Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Image: Alon Skuy
Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Image: Alon Skuy
Boxing coach Ashley Fourie is a ’prospect’ with the Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC. A prospect is someone who’s working towards full membership, which can take up to a year
Boxing coach Ashley Fourie is a ’prospect’ with the Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC. A prospect is someone who’s working towards full membership, which can take up to a year
Image: Alon Skuy

MOURNING THE LOSS OF A CLUB PRESIDENT

Rocky Wainstein 'The Godfather’, founder and first president of the Crusaders MC SA, carries the coffin of the second president of the club, legendary boxing trainer Nick Durandt.
Rocky Wainstein 'The Godfather’, founder and first president of the Crusaders MC SA, carries the coffin of the second president of the club, legendary boxing trainer Nick Durandt.
Image: Alon Skuy
Meatloaf pays his respects at the memorial service of legendary boxing trainer and second president of the club, Nick Durandt.
Meatloaf pays his respects at the memorial service of legendary boxing trainer and second president of the club, Nick Durandt.
Image: Alon Skuy
Mikey Shultz, Faizel Smith and Damien Durandt console each other after the hearse, carrying Nick Durandt, departs.
Mikey Shultz, Faizel Smith and Damien Durandt console each other after the hearse, carrying Nick Durandt, departs.
Image: Alon Skuy
A biker creates smoke after the hearse carrying Nick Durandt departs.
A biker creates smoke after the hearse carrying Nick Durandt departs.
Image: Alon Skuy

CLUB EVENTS CAN BE A FAMILY AFFAIR

Kids play at a charity day sponsored by the Babarayaans Chapter of the Crusaders MC at their club house on the East Rand. The club raised over R500k for charity in 2018 and is passionate about giving back to the community. Theo Kloppers, the president of The Chapter gives a lot of his time to do charity work.
Kids play at a charity day sponsored by the Babarayaans Chapter of the Crusaders MC at their club house on the East Rand. The club raised over R500k for charity in 2018 and is passionate about giving back to the community. Theo Kloppers, the president of The Chapter gives a lot of his time to do charity work.
Image: Alon Skuy
The Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosted an end-of-year family day.
The Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosted an end-of-year family day.
Image: Alon Skuy
The West Side Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosts a camping trip in Villiers. Activities included a mechanical bull riding competition.
The West Side Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosts a camping trip in Villiers. Activities included a mechanical bull riding competition.
Image: Alon Skuy
Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC has some fun on a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC has some fun on a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Image: Alon Skuy
Wrestlers entertain the crowd at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Wrestlers entertain the crowd at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Image: Alon Skuy
A member of Vaal Side Chapter of the Crusaders partakes in a pellet gun shooting competition during a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
A member of Vaal Side Chapter of the Crusaders partakes in a pellet gun shooting competition during a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Image: Alon Skuy
Members of The Vaal Side Chapter partake in a tug of war at a weekend hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Members of The Vaal Side Chapter partake in a tug of war at a weekend hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Image: Alon Skuy
Poppy Day event held in Brakpan pays tribute to fallen soldiers.
Poppy Day event held in Brakpan pays tribute to fallen soldiers.
Image: Alon Skuy
A woman wipes a tear from a relative after the Poppy Day memorial service. The day was attended by bikers from different crews.
A woman wipes a tear from a relative after the Poppy Day memorial service. The day was attended by bikers from different crews.
Image: Alon Skuy
A couple share a kiss at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
A couple share a kiss at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Image: Alon Skuy
A ride led by The Hells Angels to a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg.
A ride led by The Hells Angels to a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg.
Image: Alon Skuy
A family are photographed leaving a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg. The Regiment Chapter went to great effort to honour fallen soldiers.
A family are photographed leaving a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg. The Regiment Chapter went to great effort to honour fallen soldiers.
Image: Alon Skuy
Two members of The Crusaders enjoy the road.
Two members of The Crusaders enjoy the road.
Image: Alon Skuy

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