Extreme Sport

Always A Worry Where Extreme Sports Are Concerned

2008-05-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

The following article was printed in The Independent:

Family blames daughter’s death on the pursuit of most extreme sports

By Terri Judd

“The parents of a British backpacker killed while river-boarding in New Zealand have accused extreme sports companies of trying to outdo one another.

Emily Jordan, 21, became trapped between rocks while riding a body-board down a raging river near the resort of Queenstown on South Island. After 20 minutes guides managed to free her but were unable to resuscitate her. The death on Tuesday came just a day after Sridhar Shekar, a doctor from Leeds, was killed while jet-skiing in Australia.

Ms Jordan had been on a six-month backpacking trip with her boyfriend, Armour, 23, when she decided to try river-boarding down the Kawarau river gorge with the Mad Dog River Boarding Company. The firm advertises the sport as “the most personally challenging and action-packed water activity in New Zealand”.

Ms Jordan’s mother, Sarah, said yesterday she would not have let her daughter try river-boarding because she believed it was too dangerous. “We were upset when she left for six months but I thought at least she would be coming back and I would see her again – it has been a very traumatic day,” she said. Ms Jordan’s father, Christopher, added: “Are these companies right to try and outdo each other [to] attract kids to do these sports? Are they trying to push this too far?”

… The problem with this is… where does personal choice come in? Personal decisions? Personal desires? The thing is, if you do an extreme sport you are of course taking a risk. It’s there in the name “extreme”. The chances of there being danger involved is there too. The consequences are yours. If the consequences worry you then you mustn’t do it.

The tragedy of the thing is when something goes wrong - as it did for 21 year old Emily Jordan.

But - and here is the brunt of the matter - can one blame anyone else for the tragedy? No-one expects a death but if you are participating in something dangerous of your own free will - and having signed an alarming piece of paper which says “that if I died it wasn’t Mad Dog’s fault” can you really blame anyone else? Accidents happen. We cannot protect ourselves against them all the time. No-one wants this tragedy to happen to them. Of course they don’t. But you can’t always prevent it.

An accident, by definition, means “an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap” (dictionary.com).

The guide taking a canoe trip down the Zambezi, and one of his party is attacked and killed by a crocodile. Is this his fault? Or the company’s fault? Of course it isn’t. It’s a tragic tragic accident. But people canoe down the Zambezi every day quite safely. Just someone, every now and then, encounters a problem. Does this stop the industry? I don’t think so.

It’s a matter of choices. Freedom of choice. If you are an adult you have the right to choose. If you choose to do something dangerous, you will be aware, when making that choice, that the danger is there.

This world is so protected now. We are protected from everything. Governments put rules and regulations in place everywhere to protect someone from something.

This is probably a reason why extreme sport is becoming more and more popular. People feel a need to challenge themselves. You want to do something that pushes you to the edge as nothing else does any more. And so you take a challenge. And maybe you take another…

I don’t think you can stop it. It’s human nature to challenge yourself. Some more than others. Can you blame others when an accident happens? I wholeheartedly sympathise with the Jordan family (god I’d hate this to happen to any member of my family), but I’m not sure you can…

The Origens of Bungee Jumping?

2008-05-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

This is where bungee jumping began - a story which resonates with both charm and tragedy and the act is still practiced today - but only in respect of a fertility ritual for the following year’s crop. Land diving, which researchers believe dates back nearly 15 centuries, still takes place every spring on the South Pacific island of Pentecost.

It’s an offering to the gods, a test of courage, and an ancient precursor to bungee jumping. It is believed that the ritual of the N’gol began centuries, perhaps millennia ago, when a beaten woman ran away from her husband, Tamale.

He found her hiding in a tall tree and called to her that if she came down he might beat her.

Local residents believe he climbed the tree and as he made his final grab, she leaped. In anguish at her death (or anger that he had missed her) Tamale jumped after her, not realising his wife had tied liana vines around her ankles and survived the fall.

N’gol is now a fertility rite. Every year in April, when the first yam crop is ready, the islanders on the south of the island start building a huge tower for the land diving. It takes about 5 weeks to build, all materials come from the forest: lianas, branches, trunks…. Eventually a wooden tower between 20 to 30 meters high is erected.

Each diver must select his own vine. Its size is of utmost importance and if it is only 10 cm too long, the diver could hit the ground and possibly break his neck. As the vines stretch at the end of the dive, the land diver’s head must curl under their shoulders, which must themselves touch the earth, making it fertile for the following year’s yam crop.

Bungee jumping is not so different in that the leap, from a much taller structure - I believe the world’s highest bungee jump is now 233 metres - should not end with any fatal impact but I have not heard that there is still a significance of fertility in the jump?! If I am wrong and someone has had an immaculate conception we would be delighted to hear your story!!

Land diving in Vanuatu. (Tim Cayton, World Press Photo

Air Race First In Two Countries At The Same Time

2008-05-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

The next installment of the Red Bull Air Racing World Series moves to a course built over the Detroit River between Detroit in the USA and Windsor in Canada and will be held on May 31st and June 1st.

Created in 2001 the air show now visits 10 cities worldwide, each with its own unique features and recognizable backdrop. The automotive city, aviation beacon and stunning skyline will be the stage for 12 world class pilots who will be judged on speed, flying precision and skill. Not only is the air race being held in two countries for the first time but it is the first time this world series has been to Detroit.

Pilots must navigate their lightweight planes on a low-level race track made up of air-filled pylons, flying at speeds reaching 230 mph, while withstanding forces up to 10 Gs. The object is to complete the course and steer through 65 foot high inflatable pylons - or air gates - in the fastest possible time.

“Planes race only 10-20 feet above the water. Unlike other air shows, the Red Bull Air Race takes place at eye-level providing amazing views of high performance race planes flown by some of the best pilots in the world right in front of you,” says Maddy Stephens, Red Bull communications manager.

Speed is not all. Pilots must also pass between the air gates in the correct position, if not, penalty seconds are tacked on. The pilot who accumulates the most points at each race and at the end of the season wins the Red Bull Air Race World champion crown.

Spectators will also get a chance to check-out the race pits from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 31st at the Metro Airport. Tickets on the Detroit side are sold out, but tickets are still available on the Windsor side. Another extreme sport which is certainly attracting the crowds.

Pilots in the Red Bull World Series Air Race scheduled to race in Detroit over the weekend May 31st/June 1st

Awesome Rock Climbing Adventure

2008-05-29T01:31:00.000-07:00

I know you didn’t believe me when I told you I read the Wall Street Journal but here is another great article, courtesy of Michael J. Yabarra who describes his adventures in Canyonlands National Park, Utah with such entusiasm and in such an entertaining manner that it makes you wish you were there. This is rock climbing at its best and I send out a big shout of thanks to Michael and the Wall Street Journal - read on and enjoy!

“The crack was a thing of imposing beauty, steep and smooth, splitting the red sandstone tower like a bolt from the sky. It was also really hard to climb. The wall was flat, devoid of features; the crack too narrow to take a foot, but too wide to jam my fingers into without their greasing out.

Elizabeth Szyleyko

A ground-level view of Ancient Art, part of the Fisher Towers.

I could climb a few feet off the ground but no further. After flailing wildly for about half an hour, I cheated: I yanked on a camming device I slotted into the crack and pulled myself to where my hand fit better and I could work my way up without resorting to pulling on gear. The climbing became enjoyable, but the fun didn’t last. Soon the crack yawned wider and reared overhead, becoming an overhanging off width — a term of dread among climbers.

I hauled myself into the gap, the void swallowing almost half of my body, desperately trying to twist my right arm and leg into an elusive combination of shapes that wouldn’t slide out. Grunting and groaning, I slowly struggled upward a few crucial inches until the crevice opened wide enough that I could securely wedge my whole body into it and catch my breath.

Next, I had to grab a small hold with my right hand, shuffle my toes on a rail of rock, lean sideways until I could barely reach my left fingers around a corner, and then delicately transfer my weight and finish the traversing move to a good stance where I belayed my partner Liz up to me. Whew.

It was time to enjoy the view. We were scaling North Six Shooter, which rises dramatically from the fringe of Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah. North Six Shooter (along with its shorter sibling, South Six Shooter) is a sheer sandstone tower crowning a huge talus cone that etches an unforgettable silhouette against the desert sky.

Around us spread the massive Colorado Plateau, which stretches across four Southwestern states — a stunning, crumbling tableau of erosion that opens a geology textbook writ large everywhere you look. Plateau is something of a misnomer, however, since the landscape is constantly relieved: cut by great canyons, hogbacked with buttes and mesas, and pierced with spires — many of which are catnip to climbers. I spent most of April climbing towers around the Moab area. Toward the end of the month, as spring wildflower season began splashing color across the desert, my friend Liz arrived. She’d never climbed a tower before, let alone sandstone. For some reason, I decided to introduce Liz to desert climbing by ascending North Six Shooter via the Lightning Bolt Cracks route (a 5.11 on the climbing scale, which is to say fairly difficult).

Liz didn’t have too much trouble with the first pitch, but the next rope length was a different story. Crack climbing becomes dramatically easier — or harder — depending on the size of a person’s hands. Looming above us was a massive roof cleaved by a wide, fist-sized crack. This looked like good news for me; not so good for Liz.

I pushed my fists into the crack above my head, stuffed my feet in as well, and struggled to pull over the roof. I fell off, discovering the hard way that the crack becomes too wide in places even for my big mitts. On my next attempt, I managed to fight my way up.

Entering a chimney, I wedged my body against opposing walls while the ground below me dropped away to hundreds of feet of empty air and a perfectly framed view of South Six Shooter, which so amazed me that I froze in midmove to admire the scenery.

The chimney stopped, forcing me to reach blindly over a roof, groping for a crack to pull myself out onto the face of the tower. I found a crack, but my feet slipped off the sandy, sloping footholds — and suddenly I was hanging by a single hand jam, my legs kicking uselessly in space.

Then it was Liz’s turn. I grew a bit alarmed when the rope barely budged during the better part of an hour. Eventually she came gasping to the belay and told me what had happened. The crack had proved as difficult as expected, so she decided to aid through the roof, standing in slings attached to gear. But the rope got entangled with the gear, and after much effort she found herself hanging even lower than before. Finally a climbing team on a nearby route offered to drop a line to her, which Liz ascended Batman-style, hand over hand. On the way up she also dropped a carabiner — something I’ve never seen her do before.

I was even more clumsy. Fishing in my pocket for my topo (route map), I realized I must have dropped it earlier. Moving through a tight gap, I felt something unsnap from my harness and tumble toward the ground.

“It looked like your camera,” Liz said.

Actually, it was my brother’s camera. (Sorry, Gary.)

Entering a squeeze chimney before the summit, a space so narrow that turning your head sideways was impossible, I eased off my sunglasses and tried to stuff them into a pocket. You can guess what happened.

Soon we were standing on top, reveling in a panoramic view, vast canyons snaking this way and that, buttes cutting into the sky, eons of geology falling away to the horizon in tiers of sedimentary history.

Over the next week we climbed a number of desert classics. There was Ancient Art, a blood-red pile of mud topped by a corkscrew-shaped finial, part of the Fisher Towers and famous for its poor rock quality (”the most hideous sandstone imaginable,” author Stewart Green called it). I was hoping that stories of climbers pulling out protection bolts with their hands were exaggerated, but the first hold I touched crumbled into dust.

The climbing, thankfully, was not very hard (5.10a, we thought, instead of the official rating of 5.10d). Low on the route I was pinching pebbles embedded (I hoped) in a mud wall. High up there were a couple of delicate moves on suspiciously friable sandstone and then I was walking (crawling actually) across a rock bridge no wider than my waist before pulling myself up a series of bulges and then mantling onto a summit about the size of a large pizza box. A fierce wind was blowing and I didn’t have the guts to stand upright on the pinnacle. Liz, when her turn came, did.

Then there was Castleton Tower, a blocky 400-foot tower of Wingate sandstone, sitting atop a 1,000-foot cone of lesser rock. Much of the rock is covered with white calcite deposits that make for excellent climbing. We went up the north chimney route, gaining a huge summit with great views of the Fisher Towers and the Colorado River across the valley and the snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the east.

None of the other towers, however, really compared with North Six Shooter. Maybe it was the fact that we had to work so hard to get up — or that for all my clumsiness the tower seemed quite forgiving of my foibles. After we rappelled to the bottom, I walked back to where we had left our packs. Sitting next to mine was the missing topo.

Looking around I quickly found the dropped carabiner. A little more searching turned up my sunglasses — none the worse for a 300-foot fall. Then we located the camera; It was intact and actually worked.

Even Liz, after the fact, seemed to enjoy the climb. Driving past North Six Shooter another day, she shook a well-bruised fist at the tower and made an oath. “Just wait,” she said, “until I get better at crack. I’ll be back.”

Mr. Ybarra is the author of “Washington Gone Crazy: Senator Pat McCarran and the Great American Communist Hunt.”

Extreme challenge

2008-05-29T01:27:00.000-07:00

One individual, one boat, three oceans - this extreme challenge has never before been attempted.

I would like to introduce you to Ollie Hicks, a 26 year old Brit who is about to attempt one very extreme adventure and that is to circumnavigate the globe in a rowing boat! Crazy? Well probably but then people would have said that of anyone who tackled the 'impossible' - the list of names is too numerous but throughout our history there has always been a first - from the oceans, deserts, space, mountains and continents - and here we have another intrepid explorer ready to risk life and limb to achieve that accolade.

But this adventure is not just about being the first: Hicks is hoping to raise £1,000,000 for charity as well as collecting scientific and medical data and highlighting the effects of global warming on our planet as well as demonstrating what can be achieved by using renewable energy sources.

The Global Row will also be working to raise awareness of climate change and global warming and showing that it is possible to live off alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power.

It is particularly fitting that the Global Row should depart this year in the middle of International Polar Year which aims to focus attention on the Northern and Southern Polar regions.

The journey will encompass a region which has already been significantly affected by climate change.

The Southern Ocean has warmed up by 0.17C between 1950 and 1980
In 1995 the Larsen A ice shelf disintegrated from the Antarctic Peninsula.
In 2002 1,250 Sq. miles of the Larsen B ice shelf collapsed in 35 days.
Warming in Antarctica is 5 times the international average +2.5C
since 1945.
The melt season has increased by 2-3 weeks in the last 20 years.
The Adelie penguin population has shrunk by 33% in 25 years due to decline in winter sea ice habitat.

The basis of the voyage is to utilise the favorable currents and winds in the Southern Ocean. The expedition will leave New Zealand later this year and head towards 50 – 55 degrees south latitude and into the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), this is also the midst of the Furious fifties where the prevailing westerly winds swirl around the planet. These winds and current will help maximize Hicks' daily mileage and by staying above 60 degrees south the worst of the cold and ice will be avoided.

By following the 55 degrees south line across the Pacific Hicks will pass through the Drake passage and past Cape Horn aiming to make landfall on South Georgia for a resupply and to overwinter for 4 – 5 months. From South Georgia Hicks will continue eastward across the Atlantic ocean passing well to the south of the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean before an intended return to New Zealand, some 18 to 24 months after departing.

The Southern Ocean has long been regarded by mariners as the wildest of the oceans and has been described to in much maritime literature and legend. Sea temperatures vary from about 10C to -2C. Cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and are frequently intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean. The ocean area from latitude 40 degrees south to to the Antarctic circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on earth. In winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south in the in the Atlantic sector.

At these latitudes – the roaring 40s, furious 50s and screaming 60s will be prevalent and with no landmass to slow them down they always present an extreme challenge to any mariner. Huge icebergs miles in length and width, smaller bergs and sea ice are ever present. High winds, mountainous waves, powerful storms, fog and poor visibility will all have to be negotiated. Perhaps the greatest risk to Hicks' boat is accumulation of ice on the deck and superstructure, in certain conditions this can form thick and fast compromising the stability of the boat. And what hope of a friendly helicopter appearing overhead in the event of a disaster........well your guess is as good as mine when you are a thousand miles from the nearest base.

We at Xtremesort4u wish Ollie the best of luck and we will keep you, our readers, informed of this remarkable voyage as and when he sets out.

Hicks' intended journey - starting from Wellington, New Zealand, November 2008, 15,000 miles, scheduled completion 18 to 24 months later, Wellington, New Zealand

"Well Done Mills" said her father, David Hempleman-Adams

2008-05-27T00:31:00.000-07:00

So what is it about extreme expeditions and families?

On Saturday a mother-daughter team from Australia reached the summit of Mount Everest, and just a few weeks ago, on 13th April, David Hempleman-Adams, 51, and his daughter Camilla, 15, reached the North Pole thereby making her the youngest British female to ski to the Pole.

David, himself, has completed several record-breaking expeditions, including the adventurer’s “grand slam”: conquering the poles and the highest peak on each continent.

“When I was growing up I often wished he wasn’t an explorer because it took him away from us and I missed him,” she says. “But now I absolutely understand why he does it. It was the most wonderful experience of my life and I really can’t wait till the next time.”

And there will be a next time. Camilla’s adventure wasn’t just about breaking records, her main mission is to raise awareness among her peers about what global warming is doing to the ice packs. “You learn about it at school, but it’s easy to switch off and think, ‘Our generation didn’t cause this.’ I’m hoping that the fact that I have witnessed the beauty of the Arctic and how it’s in danger of being destroyed will make other kids sit up and listen.”

Eight months ago her father teamed up with Hollywood producer, Danielle Alexandra to set up the Polar Extreme Foundation which aims to educate teenagers about climate change. Together they are working on a movie, Polar Girl, which follows Camilla on her gruelling journey.

Other record-breaking attempts on the North Pole this year have run into difficulty. Ben Saunders from Plymouth had to abandon his attempt to become the fastest person to walk solo and unsupported to the North Pole because of equipment failure. Hannah McKeand from Berkshire called off her attempt to get there unaided and alone after falling through the ice.

However, apart from waking up one morning to find that their tents were surrounded by water and they were now a floating island, their expedition went without hiccup. Camilla had to pull her own 80lb sledge across 60 miles of Arctic snow and ice in temperatures of -40*C. To Camilla’s disappointment they didn’t see any polar bears and to her father’s amazement she coped magnificently. “I had no idea she had that kind of strength in her. She was brilliant and didn’t moan once - amazing for a teenager!” he said.

Camilla herself clearly enjoyed the experience. “It’s like walking on diamonds and sparkly jewels,” she said.

Smashing records runs in her family. She is the middle daughter of renowned adventurer, David, and 3 years ago her elder sister Alicia, then 15, became the youngest person to traverse the remote Arctic wilderness of Baffin Island in northern Canada. One sister to go - I wonder what she is going to pull out of the box?!

2008-05-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Oh no - not again.

Yesterday police launched an investigation to find out why the captain of The Pacific Star dive boat delayed notifying officials that two scuba divers were missing.

The two divers, Briton Richard Neely 38 and American Alison Dalton 40, started their dive after lunch on Friday afternoon, but were not reported missing until 5.30 p.m. Although the boat and its crew did frantically search the area they did not report it to the police until it was almost too late for an effective air search.

They were scuba diving at Gary’s Lagoon, near Bait Reef.

However, the helicopters did go up but failed to find any sign of the two divers. The divers themselves saw the helicopters several times but were unable to attract their attention. Fortunately, many hours later at 8.40 a.m, the two divers were found. They had strapped themselves together and talked all night to keep themselves awake, aware and warm. The thing that terrified them the most was the thought of sharks.

“I truly thought we were going to die. Sharks were on our mind the entire time - but neither of us mentioned the ‘S’ word,” said Neely. “We just had to stay positive and calm to help each other through the ordeal and not think about being eaten alive.”

But my goodness what a furore since.

Magazines and newspapers having been vying for the rights to the story of their 19 hour ordeal in shark-infested waters, the rescue operators have been suggesting that they should help pay for the cost of their rescue which involved seven helicopters, three fixed-wing [aircraft] and a flotilla of boats on the water and cost an estimated $400,000! Demands have been heard enquiring why 2 experienced divers surfaced 200m from their dive site. And suggestions of a movie-in-the-making are doing the rounds!

Wow. How to turn adversity into profit…

However, it is hauntingly similar to the scuba diving accident at the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 which I talked about several weeks ago. Husband and wife buddies, Thomas and Eileen Lonergan, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were left at sea by the MV Outer Edge dive boat, and did not survive the ordeal.

But a movie was made out of that too!

Undated handout photo of divers Allison Dalton and Richard Neely, who were rescued after spending a night floating in shark-infested waters off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Photograph: Handout/PA

Lewis Hamilton and Harley Davidson's - in the Same Mouthful?!

2008-05-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Well what a weekend for us here in the south of France - Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix and a little further down the coast in the St. Tropez region we have been invaded by an army of Harley Davidson's - about 15,000 apparently!

This is the annual knees-up in this region. Every May they come here from the four corners of the world and hang out. You can't move on the road without being surrounded by 20 or 30 of them. And they come in all shapes and sizes - the bikes and the riders!

They don't have any videos out yet so this is an old one, but it gives you an idea of what our roads are like right now - no exaggeration!

These bikes and bikers come in from around the world.

Back to Lewis. Well, what a lad hmmm? He comes from nowhere last year and just dazzles everyone.

MONTE CARLO, Monaco - and his McLaren won the Monaco Grand Prix.

The British driver also took the overall lead in the F1 title race after his victory at the famous street circuit Sunday.

Hamilton finished 3 seconds ahead of BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica in difficult wet conditions. Felipe Massa of Ferrari was third, followed by Mark Webber of Red Bull.

World champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari finished ninth.

Mother Daughter Team Successfully Scale Everest.

2008-05-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

An extreme adventure for two extremely intrepid Australian adventurers.

Cheryl and Nikki Bart reached the summit of Mount Everest on Saturday after encountering several obstacles along the way including having their communications gear temporarily confiscated amid the tight security of the ascent of the Beijing Olympic torch.

They are the first mother-daughter team to climb the world's tallest mountain thereby creating their own little slice of history. Cheryl and her 23-year-old daughter Nikki reached the peak at 9.05am (AEST) yesterday (24th May) after setting out on April 1.

The pair - dubbed Oz Chicks with Altitude on their official website - have endured bitter cold and several delays on their 8,850 metre Himalayan ascent. Their website is well worth a visit.

They are the first mother/daughter team to complete the Seven Summits! While this is an historic event, the adventure is not over, as the descent is very dangerous. It would take them several hours to reach the safety and warmth of Camp 4, where they would rest, before continuing.

As Nikki said: "Climbing the seven summits has taken me to all of the continents, and has allowed me to see cultures and countries that I would never have had the oppurtunity to experience".

And Cheryl added, "The best part is sharing such intense and magnificent experiences with someone I love , my daughter Nikki".

The seven summits, incase you don't already know, are:

Vinson Massif

Vinson Massif is the highest mountain of Antarctica, located about 1,200 km (750 mi) from the South Pole.

Elbrus

Located in the Western Caucasus mountains in Russia near the border of Georgia Elbrus has two summits.

Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa was first summited in 1889 by Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller, Yohanas Kinyala Lauwo.

Kosciuszko

Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia is located in the Snowy Mountains, in New South Wales. It is 390km southwest of Sydney and close the the Victorian border.

McKinley (Denali)

The first ascent of McKinley (Denali) was on 7 June 1913 by a team of four from the USA; Hudson Stuck, Harry Karstens, Walter Harper and Robert Tatum. Denali is Indian for “The Great One”

Aconcagua

Aconcagua is located in the Andes of western Argentina near the Chilean border. It is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere.

and of course...

Aconcagua

Aconcagua is located in the Andes of western Argentina near the Chilean border. It is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere.

And of course...

Aconcagua

Aconcagua is located in the Andes of western Argentina near the Chilean border. It is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere.

And of course...

Everest

Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. The first ascent to the summit of Everest was on 29 May 1953 by Sir Edmund Hilary and his sherpa Tenzig Norgay. They were part of the ninth British attempt to reach the summit and were the second pair to attempt the summit in their party of four. The first pair tried to reach the summit two days before but were forced to turn back due to exhaustion.

A Most Unusual Mountain Biking Experience!!!

2008-05-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

I have already posted a photograph from Derek of a typical ride in the bush for him - remember that wonderful photo of his bike leaning up against a fallen tree and a large elephant enjoying the peace of a waterhole? Well, here's a fantastic follow-up to that which I am sure will give all you keen mountain bikers something to think about this weekend!

After I moved to the lowveld, I spent a few years with no cycling. But the arrival of an extra six kgs on my waist rang some alarm bells and I realised I had to do something. The closest tar road was 30 minutes’ drive away and so I had to settle for an MTB. Initially, I stuck to the main roads on the ranch. But, having bored with that I soon started off-road excursions (elephant and rhino make GREAT MTB trails) and, having gained in confidence, eventually was going all over the place. There were of course some challenges:

Deep sand, the bane of any mountain biker. But this pretty much goes with the territory and you just learn to avoid those parts;
Thorns. These really drove me nuts until tubeless tyres were invented. Slime helped, but the thorns down there were so bad that I still had quite serious problems. But tubeless tyres, well slimed, solved the problem. My bike shop couldn’t believe how much slime I went through and were convinced I was using it the wrong way. Until they came and cycled with me and experienced this first hand. You learn to recognise certain plants and to avoid them. If you see a Shangaan carrying a bicycle down a dirt road, you can bet that the Tribulis creeper (pretty little yellow flowers) has scattered devilish thorns everywhere;
Basalt soils. When wet, these are impossible and I couldn’t believe it the first time I tried to ride down a slightly damp path. The mud builds up on your tyres until you can’t turn the wheels and you have to carry the bike. And, while you are doing that, the mud also builds up on your shoes until your feet weigh a couple of kgs each. And you will NEVER clip into your pedal cleats with that stuff on your feet!
Heat. I cycled mostly at lunch (no game drives are out at that time of day and the dangerous animals are all—hopefully—sleeping in the shade somewhere). I was often out when the temperature was more than 45^oC, and quite often cycled on days when the temperature in the sun exceeded 50^oC. There were lots of comments about ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ but I never had any problems, so long as I drank lots of water and kept moving. I did have to call for help a couple of times having over-heated but that was always when I stopped to handle a puncture and lost the airflow that kept me cool. In fact, this became my strategy for coping with the heat down there: whenever I was feeling uncomfortable from the heat, at home or at work, I would go out for a ride. After that, it never seemed so da1!
The animals. This, in the end, was my biggest worry. But I never had any problems, unlike on the horses on which we had a few hairy moments. I think the animals see you moving strangely and run away. And, as I mentioned above, I mostly cycled at lunch when any sensible being is having a siesta in the shade. We tried various methods of carrying a weapon, especially when I had people with me. It is, believe it or not, possible to carry a heavy calibre (.458 ) rifle on a bike: I used the rifle boot from my (horse) saddle and strapped it to the frame (picture attached). But it was heavy and screwed up the suspension and I tried to avoid doing that. Most of the time, I carried a .44 magnum revolver and two ‘bear bangers’ (thunder flashes which are fired off a miniflare launcher). But, never had to use any of these, in spite of having bumped into elephant, buffalo and rhino many times, and lion a couple of times. I even saw the Big 5 once on my bike, which was quite something!

After all of that, the sugar cane fields around Ballito are more than a little boring and I do have some difficulty keeping motivated unless there is a race looming. Harare is much better fun: the land invasions have been a disaster for the farmers and for the country, but they have created a mountain bike heaven around Harare. All the fences have gone and footpaths abound: and there are no landowners to chase us away, so we wander basically wherever we want. And the Chinamora Communal Land is a short ride away with all the whalebacks (more photos: and such incredibly friendly people!

It is a fun way to keep fit. It is inconceivable to me that people can keep motivated going to a gym!

Planning and Patience for Rock Climbing

2008-05-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

I’ve discussed most things now about the basics of rock climbing but I haven’t mentioned one of the most important things of all: PLANNING AND PATIENCE.

“Boring”, I hear you say, but these two elements are crucial to rock climbing. Think of it as a game of chess - you have to think ahead, you have to know exactly where you are going to plant your hands and feet after each move, and you need to know how to stay safe throughout the climb.

“And so how do I do all this - in advance”, I hear you say again…

Well, here are some tips:

Look DOWN to find footholds and UP to find hand-holds. You may use the same hold as both a handhold and a foothold.
Move smoothly, and try not to employ unneeded motions, as this will use significant energy (and possibly make you lose your balance).
Look for footholds at a normal stepping distance. Lofty steps are often strenuous, but small steps waste energy.
If possible, choose hand-holds at head height. Holding hands above the head is more tiring.
To begin, always have contact with the rock in three places, two feet and a hand or two hands and a foot.
Try to use your legs and not your arms when possible. Your legs are stronger than your arms, and they already support your body naturally.

So, learn how to climb correctly and trust your gear. Yes, clinging to a rock a hundred feet above the ground is scary, but the feeling you’ll get when you reach the top is indescribable. Don’t forget your camera!

This video, although it jumps around a little, is ideal for demonstrating the climb.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYoU0zUyRCg&hl=en]

Great weekend...

2008-03-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend down here at the Med. FINALLY some decent wind - not Mistral, not gusts, just a good strong steady wind. The sun shone, there were white horses on the wave caps, and the friendly community of the kite surfing world were out in force. Of course I had to take some photos - here are 3 - needless to say there are tonnes more!

... well of course Blogger and Adobe don't seem to want to talk to each other at the moment. I will try later!

The Latest Extreme Sport - Baselining

2008-03-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

These are INCREDIBLE photographs aren't they...

This is Dean Potter, one of the world’s best climbers, walking between ledges of a U-shaped rim above Hell Roaring Canyon, a 400-foot sheer sandstone wall on his right, a 900-foot drop to a dry riverbed on his left. He is using no leash to tether him to safety but is relying on a parachute to save his life if he should fall, as he says "now instead of dying, I am flying!" Even then there is danger involved. If he has an 'unplanned' fall his 'chute could snag against the rock sides or he himself could be blown into the cliff sides. It is better to jump when you realize that you are about to lose your balance so you have a controlled departure!'

At 35, Potter has long stirred wonder as a climber. Six years ago, in Yosemite National Park, he became the first person to free climb El Capitan and Half Dome together in less than 24 hours, meaning he used ropes only for protection in case he fell, climbing only with his hands and feet for a vertical mile. It was an effort requiring remarkable concentration and speed that would be unthinkable for an average weekend climber.

He is believed to be the first person to combine the adventure sports of highlining and BASE-jumping and renaming it Baselining.

Highlining is a high-wire version of slacklining which in itself is an extreme cousin of tightrope walking in which no pole was used for balance and the rope was elastic.

“When there’s a death consequence, when you are doing things that if you mess up you die, I like the way it causes my senses to peak,” Potter said. “I can see more clearly. You can think much faster. You hear at a different level. Your foot contact on the line is accentuated. Your sense of balance is heightened. I don’t seem to feel that very often meditating.”

Dean Potter is pioneering the new extreme sport of baselining!

Dean Potter - one of the world's best mountain climbers
Jim Hurst

Extreme Pothole !!!

2008-03-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

I know we've mentioned somewhere that we would be talking about 'potholing' so showing this picture is going off at a bit of a tangent. However, how about "extreme potholes" ?!

I think this must be 'Pothole of the Month' - or can anyone offer some suitable competition?

Not for the Faint-Hearted

2008-03-04T01:27:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought of Wingsuit Flying? I would have thought you'd have to be fairly deranged to do this - but apparently not! Quite normal people are becoming seriously hooked on this seriously extreme sport. On the 29th February 2008 the Washington Times ran a story on 'the Gray Brothers' as they like to be called.

"We've been bitten by this bug," Mr. Gray said. "It's our passion now."

Scott and his brother, Chris, emulate Icarus although hopefully they have also learned from the lesson of Icarus and Daedulus. Fortunately they do not have to worry about their wings being melted by the sun as their suits are made from a specially designed fabric that is sewn between the legs and under the arms to allow divers to glide. The suit, when zipped up, makes the divers resemble a bat or a flying squirrel. What was once a 120 mph vertical free fall in a traditional sky dive now becomes a 30 mph diagonal glide, which allows a wingsuit pilot to cover up to six miles. Wingsuit flying allows skydivers to be able to control their flight in air and the Gray brothers are teaching students with more than 200 jumps how to use the suits.

The Brothers Gray have established themselves at Skydive Orange, in Orange, Virginia where they have so far trained more than 30 divers and, so great is there love of this sport, they are hoping to build a wingsuit community.

The lessons show you how to jump out of the plane into the frigid air then spread your "wings," slowing the downward velocity to an easy glide.

"Traditional skydiving wasn't enough for Mr. Gray, a Maryland man who served as a paratrooper in the military. He needed to fly."

WashingtonTimes 29.03.08 |Michael Farr

Kite Boarding in Mozambique

2008-03-03T01:13:00.000-08:00

This is our first experience of land boarding - we were in Mozambique where there are miles of empty beaches, the sand so white and clean that it is crispy under foot and squeaks when you walk. Dhows sail past in elegant silence and the occasional vendor appears on the beach offering his fresh catch for sale - anything from crayfish to rock cod, sail fish to calamari. It is a gourmand paradise for both food and hobby sports.

DARTS - who said darts aren't extreme?!

2008-03-01T02:28:00.000-08:00

I am sure Andy won't mind that I have 'blogged' his story - what a great game they must have had.

"just got to tell someone about what happened last night - i bobbed round to have a drink with a mate and so we had a game of arrows (darts) - now i know this sport may not be xtreme, apart perhaps from the quantity of ale supped by the enthusiastic supporters, but listen up cos it came to the last game, the score being 1 game each, my mate was on 80 and i had 82, up i stepped to the oche, first a 20, then 60, leaving me with a double 1 to finish the game and match. the tension was incredible, the non existent crowd were totally silent, the arrow flew through the air as though it had been launched by Robin Hood himself, and sure enough landed in the double 1 - game over with a three arrow finish. i've never done that before and probably never will again - so as you can tell i'm so xcited about this occurence that i felt i had to let the world know!! have a great day"

Way to go Andy. Keep us informed of the next match. And thanks for sharing your extreme talent with us!

plug in your mp3 and head for the slopes.

2008-02-28T03:56:00.001-08:00

John Childs-Eddy has put together a fantastic product to help you teach yourself, with expert advice, how to snowboard better. He persuaded the coach, Anthony Crute, to........... but why listen to me, here's what John himself says about the product:

"Finally! World renowned snowboard coach Anthony Crute breaks his 8 years of silence to teach YOU his powerful (and expensive) snowboarding secrets that anyone can use to quickly and easily go from: learning to turn, to sliding on rails, to landing 540 airs!"

"In fact, Anthony has not only spilled his guts on the fastest and easiest way to learn all the tricks you've always wanted to do... But also... He's let me put it all into an Mp3 audio, so you can take it with you to the hill, and have him teach you exactly how to do tricks while you ride!"

That's not a bad idea is it? Crystal clear air above, crisp white snow below, Mp3 plugged in and somebody quietly instructing and advising you exactly how to perform those moves you've been longing to do.

Good luck and happy boarding.

Click Here!

Want to brighten up your room? Here's how...

2008-02-28T02:09:00.000-08:00

My brother disappeared into his room for what seemed hours last Sunday and I eventually decided to go and investigate this unusual silence. A cacophony of colour greeted me in there and I found that he had virtually wallpapered the room in fabulous posters showing his 'flavour of the month' sports - namely kite surfing and snowboarding.

To see how he did it follow the link below:

Buy Posters at AllPosters.com

Want to see a snowboarding video - check out this link:

2008-02-27T03:01:00.000-08:00

This is a site I have just discovered - perhaps you already have. They have a wide selection of extreme sports videos. You should be able to browse around happily!

Snowboarding Video

WARNING: All Kitesurfers take heed...

2008-02-26T04:37:00.000-08:00

I came across this information whilst browsing through various blogs and magazines. I think we need to take it as a warning of things to come if we are not cogniscent of others and the right of others on the beach and in the surf...

Hawaii Kiteboarding Ban

The Hawaiian Senate recently came close to banning kiteboarding and windsurfing within 200 feet of other water users. Although the measure did not pass, the introduction of such a bill is a harbinger of further complications. Please always kite with caution and safety in mind.

ASNews Thurs: Do It or Lose It — Act Now to Preserve Access
Posted by Marina on February 18th, 2008

"Last week, a bill went before the Hawaiian Senate (no kiters or windsurfers within 200 feet of any surfer or swimmer) which could have been devastating to local and visiting kiteboarders and windsurfers to Oahu and Maui, not to mention the entire windsports industry. Simultaneously, kiteboarding was just banned at Pompano Beach in Florida, and Fort Lauderdale is currently under jeopardy too. Sites that have been closed or are under scrutiny typically share one common theme: irresponsible riding or lack of respect for other water users by a single rider or very small group.

Our guests on this week’s ASNews.net and The Kiteboarder podcast are Martin Kirk from Maui and Neil Hutchinson from Florida. Both are passionate advocates of safe kiteboarding practices who have worked hard to open, save and preserve access in their respective areas. Both also have some very strong feelings about what we as kiteboarders, both individually and collectively, need to do to so we and others can enjoy kiteboarding for many years to come.

Neil went as far as to propose the following:

1. Any of my sponsored riders breaking rules will lose their sponsorship or hook up.
2. Any of my existing customers breaking rules, I will no longer sell to them.
3. Any known rider breaking rules will not buy a kite from me and I will discourage my dealers to sell to them also.
4. I have not and will not sell a kite to anyone that has not taken lessons and does not know how to kite.
5. Any known rider breaking rules will not be allowed at my beach (no violence of course but we all know that if we take a hardline backed by our peers, most reasonable people will get the picture)

Hopefully other dealers and companies will do the same.

This is what I think we should all do:
1. Everyone needs to be a policeman in our their own community.
2. Set a strict example to new people coming into the sport.
3. Do not just try to police it on the beach — if all else fails after trying to reasonably deal with irresponsible riding or lack of consideration for others, let’s name names on the forums and make examples of people, letting everyone know who is responsible for getting us all shut down. If you are breaking rules or got somewhere banned, you deserve to be publicly exposed everywhere."

On all forums, kiters worldwide are very fast at criticizing company’s products for all to read, why do we not criticize kiters who are screwing it up for all of us?

Come on guys, be sensible. We don't want to be banned from all but a few beaches do we...

A Continuation of Yesterday's Musings...

2008-02-15T06:38:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I thought it was all about getting your 'ollie' right, now I learn that perhaps equipment has just a little bit to do with it too....

Burton and Noboard are proud to present the NoFish. Say yes to the no: it's not a snowboard, it's a Noboard. Based off a hybrid Burton Fish shape, the NEW NoFish is a board that combines speed, control and float with the freedom to move your feet, similar to the sensation of riding a skateboard or surfboard.
The original Burton Fish, co-created eight years ago by Terje Haakonsen and Burton Testing Supervisor John "JG Gerndt, allowed for a smaller board to be ridden in deep powder due to its unique shape. The NoFish takes that concept one step further by replacing the traditional snowboard bindings with an engineered rubber composite pad that sits 3mm into the recessed topsheet. The board is a softer-flexing Fish hybrid that combines some elements of the Burton Fish, Malolo and Piranha shapes into one. The rope, a nylon bungee cord used to pull the board closer to the feet for control, can also be dropped for surf style riding.

HOW TO IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS (AND YOURSELF) WHEN SNOWBOARDING...

2008-02-14T04:20:00.000-08:00

The snow is magnificent this year - in Europe anyway and the temptation to disappear up to the mountains at every opportunity is hard to resist. I thought I was pretty hot as a fairly newcomer to snowboarding, but my friends all seemed to outjump me - so what was I doing wrong?

Having watched, with awe, the snowboarding sequences in the James Bond movie I decided to take some tips... and, besides the old idiom "practice makes perfect"... here's how you do it (or so I'm told!):

Firstly when working on 'going big' on a snowboard the speed is important. You need to start somewhere on the slope where you feel comfortable going in a straight line - and then pick a spot a little further UP the hill! The second important element is how hard you 'ollie', or spring, off the lip of a jump. The harder you 'ollie' the higher and further you will go. To 'ollie' off a jump you need to stay low with your knees bent as you approach the jump, then just as you are about to take off, spring off the tail of your snowboard while you lift up with your front foot. As you ascend into the air bring both knees into your chest to continue the upward momentum. Good speed combined with a good 'ollie' is the secret to 'going big' on a snowboard. Just be sure to extend your legs to land and ride away smoothly - that should impress anyone watching!

Then watch James Bond in 'A View To A Kill' again, and get on out there...

But if you're still not convinced and feel you need even more help:

Click Here!

CHECK OUT THIS GREAT LITTLE TOOL I FOUND...

2008-02-14T02:18:00.000-08:00

It really is incredible ...

2008-02-07T03:59:00.000-08:00

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey

I was browsing through scuba diving blogs a minute ago and came across this entry (not scuba diving obviously but surfing...) - seems we all have dreams and aspirations for our kids!

Golden years

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey reunite for 'Fool's Gold'

By RICK BENTLEY McClatchy
First published: Thursday, February 7, 2008

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A look of great wisdom passes over the long blond bangs and onto the face of Kate Hudson. A faint smile comes to her lips. She's reacting to her "Fool's Gold" co-star Matthew McConaughey as he talks about the great plans he has for the child he is about to have with Brazilian model Camila Alves.

"Make no doubt about it, my kid will dance. He will be on the beach and he will be taking wild hikes," McConaughey says with great conviction.

The smile on Hudson's face grows larger. She reaches over with her left hand and offers a few comforting pats on McConaughey's leg. This is where the mother, not the actress, gets to be the teacher.

"You could literally give birth to a conservative Republican who is like a Brainiac with math and you could go 'I don't know where he came from,' " Hudson says to her film co-star.

Then she says that parents can plan all they want, but once a child is born the child sets his or her own course.

She offers as an example her own son, Ryder, with Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson. Despite being born into a family that sings, Ryder refuses to sing.

Extreme sports

2008-01-31T08:35:00.000-08:00

How much do you know about extreme sports?

"We do these things not to escape life, but to prevent life escaping us" says Bob Drury, a paraglider.

Extreme sports are no more "extreme" than traditional activities played at a much higher level. It might even be said that the distinction between an extreme sport and a conventional one has as much to do with good marketing rather than the levels of danger involved or the amount of adrenaline generated. If this wasn't the case surely rugby union should be termed an extreme sport!

Did you know that when the term "extreme sport" first surfaced in the late 1980's/early 1990's it was used for adult specific sports including scuba diving, bungee jumping, sky diving etc. However, nowadays the term applies more to youth sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding and BMX. A feature of all these activities is the adrenaline rush experienced by the participants although some extreme sport enthusiasts claim that it is more about developing their physical and mental skills, seeking mastery of their chosen environment and a desire to escape from the mundaneness of day-to-day life.

What do you think? We are delving into this subject in more depth on our site xtreme sport 4 u. Please feel free to visit and make some comments on our forum or here on our blog. We would love input from enthusiasts, anxious parents (!) or people related to the topic in other ways...

Kite Surfing is THE Top Extreme Sport

2008-01-30T05:29:00.000-08:00

In a national survey commissioned by AKSA (American Kite Surfing Association) kite surfing, a relatively new sport in North America, is ranked as the top extreme sport! According to Logan Long, a co-founder of AKSA, "it's just .. the biggest adrenaline rush available", and Cathi Long, another co-founder, adds "kite surfers are simply the sexiest athletes"!

Kite surfing is so hip at the moment that a day's kite surfing is even being auctioned at this year's Grand St. Valentine's Ball in the west of England. If you want further details on this venue just ask and we can supply them...

Extreme Sport including kitesurfing, scuba diving etc.

2008-01-29T04:11:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of what will be a fabulous new site on extreme sports of all kinds. We are starting with a selection of 10: kitesurfing, hang gliding, scuba diving, rock climbing, mountain biking, sky diving, potholing or cave exploration, wingsuit flying (REALLY extreme!), snow boarding and bungee jumping.
Please participate in our poll as we are doing market research to determine the most popular extreme sport and please let us know if there are any glaring omissions!
Our website is in the process of being built. It will report on each of the extreme sports covered, giving instructional information on "how to..." and "where to...". It will give information on what equipment is required (with links to sites from which the equipment can be bought), and will provide information on what competitions etc. are taking place around the world.
Thank you for dropping in. Please add your comments as we are really interested in feedback particularly from participants of the various extreme sports. As much as anything we really want this to be a fun site and with your help it will be.....
If anyone wants to put articles on our site with useful information this too can be discussed as long as the information is relevant.
You can find us at xtremesport4u but bear in mind that this site is under construction so please bookmark and check again next week.