Oceans Of Fear DVD

By Fresh Air Crew

READY! SET! GO!

They launch out into the abyss and plummet away just inches from the rockface. This is a documentary guaranteed to keep you spellbound as multiple cameras capture the drama of a rare and special event.

Back in 1984 Andy de Klerk and a friend, Greg Lacey, opened 'Oceans of Fear', a bold climbing route directly up the centre of a vast expanse of rock in the Klein Winterhoek mountains. He promised himself then that he would return some day to climb it and BASE jump off the top for a complete Winterhoek experience.

Now, 14 years later, he has done his homework and his back. He freeclimbs the incredibly difficult route in fine style, setting up ropes so that his climbing partners, Charles Standing and Pete 'Zam' Samuelsson, can climb the sections that are beyond their capabilities. The 800ft climb that works its way through a series of awesome overhands takes two days to climb, and they have to bivouac halfway up on portaledges secured to the cliff face.

Tired but elated they reach the summit on the afternoon of the second day and set about preparing to jump. Having never skydived or BASE jumped before, Charles is unqualified to take on the challenge, so the pleasure goes to Andy and Pete. After thorough preparation they are ready to jump side by side, with Pete filming the rush with helmet and chest-mounted cameras.