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Abseiler in Blue Mountains falls 30m

Rosie

21-May-2005
12:25:49 PM

Just found this article in The Australian:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15359601%255E1702,00.html

Abseiler 'serious' after cliff fall
May 21, 2005
AN abseiler who fell 30 metres down a cliff in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, has been airlifted to hospital.
The 26-year-old was abseiling at Baltzer Lookout, north of Blackheath, when he slipped about 8am (AEST) today.
His companion used a mobile phone to dial triple-0.
The Westpac Rescue chopper airlifted the man to Westmead Hospital with multiple head and chest injuries.
A Westpac spokesman said he was in a serious, but stable, condition.


IdratherbeclimbingM9

21-May-2005
3:43:19 PM

I wonder if the injured person was an abseiler (per se), or a climber who happened to be abseiling?
(... Can't trust the media on these things).
Either way it is bad news and I wish the person a speedy recovery.


neats

23-May-2005
2:58:12 PM

Kinda reminds me of that base jumping in the blueys story on 60mins last night...


runnit

23-May-2005
6:00:46 PM

yeah, that 60 minutes thing was a horse's arse. "people participate in extreme sports because they want to feel superior to everyone else." i've never met a climber, skydiver or BASE jumper like that

i would love to see something where the reporter doesn't make the participants sound like psychos or reckless idiots

back to the original topic but, good luck to the person who had the accident. surviving a 30m fall is pretty amazing itself, it'd be awesome if they eventually walk away from it. all the best


anthonyk

24-May-2005
3:03:38 AM

On 23/05/2005 runnit wrote:
>yeah, that 60 minutes thing was a horse's arse. "people participate in
>extreme sports because they want to feel superior to everyone else." i've
>never met a climber, skydiver or BASE jumper like that
>
>i would love to see something where the reporter doesn't make the participants
>sound like psychos or reckless idiots

i really think broader society has absolutely no idea about climbers- what they (we) are like, what its all about etc. actually i love that thought.. proud to be part of a true alternative

Rosie

24-May-2005
9:38:44 AM

On 24/05/2005 anthonyk wrote:
>i really think broader society has absolutely no idea about climbers-
>what they (we) are like, what its all about etc. actually i love that
>thought.. proud to be part of a true alternative

I think the weirdest part of the "extreme sport" label is that, for most of us, rockclimbing isn't really that extreme. You climb slowly and carefully, placing gear to keep you safe. If you fall, it's generally not very far. Most of the challenge is in keeping your cool. It is only dangerous or exciting (for spectators) if something goes wrong.
I reckon if the average 60 minutes watcher came out to spectate at, say, Araps they would be shocked by how "un-extreme" it really is.

I hope the guy who fell is doing OK, anyway. And I hope his friend is doing alright - it would be a horrible experience for them both.


Eduardo Slabofvic

24-May-2005
10:18:07 AM

It’s all about perspective. I would consider 60 Minutes to be extreme, and climbing to be normal.


GG

24-May-2005
10:59:42 AM

No, it is extreme...(hows that for a winning argument)

mockmockmock

24-May-2005
2:05:15 PM

I guess it's relative, there was that big kerfuffle about the bike rider doing 170 with a pillion on the way back from the island. I've done that. Safe as houses until that one day. No different from our 'extreme'. Hope the guys don't give the sport up and get back on the faces again. I 'heard' they rapped off the end of the rope. still 30m is a kinda bit short of the deck. anyone hear different? were they looking for a rap station?

Best to all

Ralph


anthonyk

24-May-2005
2:37:36 PM

On 24/05/2005 Gareth wrote:
>No, it is extreme...(hows that for a winning argument)

i guess extreme sports are seen as activities where people do potentially dangerous things for the thrill of it, the adrenaline rush. climbing is different, its about maintaining control in a dangerous situation, whereas most "extreme" "sports" are about feeling out of control in a seemingly dangerous situation that is actually quite controlled.

climbing is more of a sport too because it takes skill and has a challenge to it. jumping out of a plane with a parachute or off a bridge with a rubber band tied to your feet is more a passtime not a sport.


Romfrantic

24-May-2005
2:43:43 PM

Indeed, climbing is a "calculated risk" activity...


nmonteith

24-May-2005
3:19:30 PM

On 24/05/2005 anthonyk wrote:
>climbing is more of a sport too because it takes skill and has a challenge
>to it. jumping out of a plane with a parachute or off a bridge with a
>rubber band tied to your feet is more a passtime not a sport.

Being guided up a rock climb is just as much of a 'passtime' as going skydiving with an instructer - or going bungee jumping. It is when you start taking any passtime to the next level that can you start treating it as a sport. As soon as you need to pack your own chute, make your own judgment about weather and choose your own landing area does sky diving suddnely get much more serious. When you add the fact you are jumping off a cliff and only have a few seconds to pull the chute it turns into a very skilled activity.


GG

24-May-2005
3:30:07 PM

ex·treme ( P ) Pronunciation Key (k-strm)
adj.
Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest: the extreme edge of the field.
Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense: extreme pleasure; extreme pain.

Extending far beyond the norm: an extreme conservative. See Synonyms at excessive.
Of the greatest severity; drastic: took extreme measures to conserve fuel.

Sports:
Very dangerous or difficult:
Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport:
Archaic. Final; last.

I AM A MILK MONITOR :)


runnit

26-May-2005
6:23:18 PM

On 24/05/2005 anthonyk wrote:
>most "extreme" "sports" are about feeling out of control in a seemingly
>dangerous situation that is actually quite controlled.

i wouldn't say BASE is a controlled envrionment by any stretch of the imagination (the most controlled you're looking at are the 3000' cliffs in Norway and they still get a couple fatalities) and skydiving maybe about feeling out of control for a first timer/1 off tandem passenger, but after a while that wears off and it's more about learning how to move 3D in freefall (ever dream that you're flying?) At the top levels, skydiving is definitely a sport. It requires a lot of training, balance and fine body control (like climbing) but with out the strength

having said all that, i have to agree with your comment about maintaining control while climbing


anthonyk

26-May-2005
6:36:51 PM

fair enough. i always thought of it as a reference to pepsi-max sponsored commercial tours but i guess you're right, skating and downhill stuff are in the same category too. sport and pastime are basically the same thing anyway, except a sport is meant to involve some sort of physical proficiency, hence the difference between being able to move over awkward holds and strapping a pack to your back and jumping. but yeah mountain biking and all that stuff are well skilled and very sketchy.

*post edit- just realised my last edit ended up as a seperate post for some reason


runnit

27-May-2005
7:45:39 PM

i know what you mean about the whole 'extreme' term >= P

i'd say hanging out at the drop zone is just like going on a climbing trip with a bunch of mates, you're just out doing what you love, there's no real intent to go out and feel like you're doing something stupid

i can't really comment on BASE jumping that much coz the main contact i've had is through jumpers who also skydive, never done it myself, but i think the real sporting aspect comes in with the ability to do ariels off the launch (very similar to spring board diving, a lot of BASE jumpers use the pool to train for this), track AWAY from the cliff/object, fly your canopy accurately and most importantly, to read the conditions and work out if you actually should be jumping

just for info, there's some good stuff on the Australian BASE Association site www.basejump.org


mousey

29-May-2005
8:01:47 PM

"...want to see themselvs as better than everyone....'
maybe the punters &dinner party climbers,i dont think that has anyrelevance to the trueclimbing (see also: snowboarding,surfing) community, but...ahhhh i could rambleabout this for ages, but f--- it!!! who cares what image we give,unless our image is our motivation!!! thats what sets apart the punters from the athletes...


Nick Kaz

29-May-2005
8:25:59 PM

Not BASE and not strictly skydiving but worth a look anyway:http://www.flybirdman.com/videos/loic.mov (4.65Mb).


anthonyk

30-May-2005
1:47:25 PM

but back to the original thread, i hope our abseilier is doing ok. no news is good news i guess.


GG

30-May-2005
3:20:33 PM

What Abseiler ? :)

There are 22 messages in this topic.