Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
‘Superior force’ can lead to unexpected tragedies
Table Mountain deaths highlight that adventure sports carry their own risks
When we do dangerous stuff in the great outdoors, safety is key. The right equipment is a must. People who know what they’re doing is a non- negotiable. But force majeure? That’s another thing.
Ayliffe points out that Slatem was legally registered to guide with his own guiding company, but also worked with Venture Forth, “one of the oldest and most established in the country” and “leaders in the training area”.
As he led the two foreign climbers up Arrow final, a “large block (piece of rock) was dislodged, but it’s not possible to know exactly how. It was most likely a block that had been naturally weathered under-surface, and could have been pulled on by Ian, or a block that he stood on. Or possibly one that detached above him. It’s impossible to know.”
“The block caused Ian to fall, and a split second later, the block struck his belayer below, killing her instantly. With no belayer, Ian suffered a long fall and was killed.
The third climber was out of the line of the falling rock, and protected in a good “stance” (position), and was fine.”
“Ian did EVERYTHING by the book. All systems were solid. The deaths were the result of a piece of fate that sadly is part of these sports, incidents that are unavoidable, unseen and just random life events,” Ayliffe concludes.
We find it hard to accept sometimes, but some moments in life are decided by chance.
Adin Masencamp’s ninth place at the Jeep World Junior Championship at Bombo Beach in Kiama, Australia, was the best of the seven South Africans competing in the event for U18 surfers.
Four of his compatriots Jake Elkington (Kommetjie), Joshe Faulkner (Jeffreys Bay), Sophie Bell (Salt Rock), and Kayla Nogueira (uMhlanga) got 13th places, while Max Elkington (Kommetjie) and Ford van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) got 25th places. Join the development group Surf Outreach for their Summer Sounds fundraiser at 165 Main Road, Muizenberg next Saturday 20 January. Cool bands and loads of prizes. Tickets are R100 and available at www. quicket. co. za/. Proceeds go to providing life skills and education in the lives of disadvantaged children from the surrounding communities of Muizenberg.
Good luck to Team South Africa, who head to the ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship on Hainan Island next week, January 19 to 25.
The event was first held in 2013 in Peru, when our Simone Robb won the individual gold medal. Making up the team are Open Men Alfonzo Pieters and Sam Christianson; Open Women Christy Gilmour and Roxy Davis; with Paul O’Connell the manager.
Small surf today and tomorrow in the 3 foot range with moderate southerlies today. That’s so-so for the western peninsula and a no- no for Muizenberg, which looks 1-2’ and sloppy. However, Muizenberg tomorrow sees a moderate SW to W wind. This means clean, side-offshores across a 1 or 2’ swell. Other side wobbly and onshore, with the swell building in the afternoon from 3 to 4 feet.