AssetID: 56102697
Headline: Monkey bar business! South African completes death-defying crossing of Bloukrans Bridge
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN A South African obstacle course champion has completed a world-first by crossing beneath the arch of one of South Africa’s highest bridges via monkey bars. Thomas van Tonder completed the purpose-built course beneath Bloukrans Bridge in 47 minutes and 37 seconds on Monday, as part of the Red Bull Bridge Bars project. The bridge, which stands 216m above the Bloukrans river and connects South Africa’s Western Cape and Eastern Cap, is home to Africa’s highest bridge bungee jump. Van Tonder’s challenge involved crossing 600 bars along the bridge’s arch, negotiating a steep ascent, a short, flatter section near the top and a controlled descent. The course, described by organisers as the longest monkey bars ever built, was designed to test his grip strength, endurance and ability to maintain control as fatigue set in. Van Tonder began the crossing at 10:21 local time, with his heart rate at 150 beats per minute. The opening section proved particularly demanding. Following the bridge’s arch, the course rose at an angle of 45 degrees, forcing him to face away from the direction of travel and pull himself upwards from bar to bar. By 10:34, the sustained effort was already taking its toll on his hands and arms. “We simulated and trained as much as we could, but nothing can really compare to just the continuous beating that that incline puts on the same muscle group,” Van Tonder said. He admitted that the difficulty exceeded his expectations. “I came in a bit cocky. I came in a bit confident, and that incline humbled me for sure,” he said. At the crown of the bridge, the gradient eased, but fatigue made it increasingly difficult for him to maintain his grip and establish a consistent rhythm. Van Tonder broke the remaining distance into smaller targets, communicating each one to Richard Lievaart, the head of rigging and safety director overseeing the project. “I'd say that was, to me, the mentally toughest part,” he said. “I found it really difficult to get any rhythm. The hands just didn't do what I in my mind thought they would be able to, just keeping them closed was so hard.” The descent presented a different set of difficulties, with gravity increasing Van Tonder’s speed between the bars. He had to regulate his momentum while maintaining his grip, as the protective tape around his fingers began to wear through. During an upside-down shake-out, he felt his head beginning to throb and realised he needed to return to an upright position. Despite his exhausted hands, he pulled himself back into place and continued. “The fatigue was way past what I expected it to be,” he said. As the finish came into view, he concentrated on reaching the end one bar at a time. During the final 20m, he repeatedly reminded himself to check each grip before moving on. “Make sure, make sure, make sure, make sure every single bar,” he recalled telling himself. After completing the crossing, he said the tape on his fingers had been ripped through. “At least I can close them again now. Yeah, they hurt,” he said. The challenge took Van Tonder beyond the familiar setting of conventional obstacle course racing, requiring sustained physical effort and concentration throughout the crossing. The three stages of the course each presented distinct demands: the steep ascent placed prolonged strain on the same muscle groups, the flatter section tested his ability to manage fatigue, and the descent required him to control his speed while maintaining his grip. Explaining why he had chosen the challenge, Van Tonder said he wanted to attempt something he could not be certain of completing. “This is by no means something I know I can do, which means it's the right challenge,” he said. After crossing all 600 bars and reaching the opposite side of the bridge, he reflected on completing the attempt. “I have finished what I started. I set the big, crazy goal, and we actually get it done,” he said. His time of 47 minutes and 37 seconds marked the completion of the first recorded crossing of its kind beneath the Bloukrans Bridge arch, according to the project organisers.
Keywords: feature,photo,video,red bull,south africa,stunt
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