South African obstacle-course racing world champion Thomas van Tonder has achieved a world-first feat by traversing the Bloukrans Bridge outside Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape using monkey bars. The challenging 280-meter long bridge, with 600 bars, was completed in 47 minutes and 37 seconds, with Van Tonder suspended roughly 216 meters above the river below. This remarkable achievement was accomplished on his first attempt, under favorable weather conditions.
The start of the challenge proved to be the toughest part for Van Tonder, as he had to climb a 45-degree incline, lifting his hands above his head to reach the next bar. This quickly sapped his energy, and just five minutes into the challenge, his hands began to hurt. Van Tonder realized he was in for the challenge of his life, having prepared for over a year with six months of dedicated, focused training at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center in Salzburg, Austria.
Van Tonder's preparation involved tailoring his training to become stronger while keeping his weight down. His training shifted significantly, with a focus on upper-body conditioning, building the strength and endurance to carry his own body weight, and improving his grip endurance. Despite his confidence, Van Tonder admitted that the challenge was much harder than he had mentally pictured, with many points on the bridge where he questioned whether he would make it to the end.
The middle section of the bridge proved particularly tough for Van Tonder, as he had to adapt his technique and switch to a shuffle, using both hands and making smaller skips. This slowed him down and made things much harder, as the bigger bars are not designed to hang from comfortably. Van Tonder's safety trolley also got stuck on some branding at one point, requiring him to stop and sort it out.
Van Tonder expressed satisfaction with the preparation and execution of the challenge, from the rigging and emergency rescue plans to his nutrition, weight management, and physical conditioning. He believes there was little more he could have done to prepare for the challenge. The only adjustment he would make to the course would be to reduce the size of the middle bars to match those on the incline.
Van Tonder's achievement serves as an inspiration to others, encouraging them to pursue their big dreams and visions, no matter how crazy or unusual they may seem. He hopes that his kids will look back at this achievement one day and see that their father didn't quit, and that others will take something from his experience.
The successful completion of the challenge is a testament to Van Tonder's determination and perseverance. With support from the Red Bull team, Van Tonder was able to push beyond what he believed he was capable of, ultimately achieving a world-first feat that will be remembered for years to come.
Key points
- Thomas van Tonder completed a world-first crossing of the Bloukrans Bridge using monkey bars in 47 minutes and 37 seconds.
- The challenge involved traversing a 280-meter long bridge with 600 bars, suspended 216 meters above a river.
- Van Tonder's achievement serves as an inspiration to others, encouraging them to pursue their big dreams and visions.
