Weekend Whipper: A Midair Somersault in South Africa
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A few weeks ago, we looked at how climbers can avoid getting their foot stuck behind the rope and flipping upside-down.
Unfortunately, even with great footwork, it’s still possible to invert in mid air, especially during a huge fall.
In this week’s Weekend Whipper, Greg Wright takes a 25-foot tumble on “Explorer” (24/5.11c) in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
He’s nearly at the top of the route when his foot pops. Although Wright drops feet first, his last piece of gear was a few meters below him and off to the right, so his rope is off-center. He lands, lurches forward over the rope, and flips.
“I was knocked around pretty bad and found myself hanging upside-down over a 550-meter drop,” he says. “My shin was cut up, my shin and forearm were bruised, and I had a bit of whiplash. It was a rough fall.”
Luckily, Wright was wearing a helmet, and he didn’t end up with any broken bones.
The lesson? “I extended a piece of gear unnecessarily, which added to the length of my fall,” he says. Sometimes, the extra rope drag is worth it.
Happy Friday, and be safe out there this weekend.
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