Teens climb that mountain high
The local rock climbers are appealing to the community to help them achieve their goal by raising funds for their trip to the world champs.
THREE local rock climbers, who have made the SA team, are going to Moscow, Russia to represent the country at the 2018 IFSC Youth World Climbing Championship in August.
Danielle Visser, Faran Steenkamp and Erin Sterkenburg received their letters a few weeks ago to inform them of their selection to the world champs from 8 to 16 August.
The climbers have a deep passion for rock climbing and have shared why it has changed their lives.
Faran Steenkamp
Faran started climbing at Thomas More College in Primary School and first made the KZN Climbing provincial team in his Grade 6 year.
He thanked his coach, Michael van der Ham, of Southern Rock for his time, commitment and expertise and Gerald Camp of Thomas More, a KZN rock-climbing legend, for his dedication in ensuring sport climbing is a school sport.
Faran trains for 11 hours a week through the school and the Southern Rock Master Class and is now getting out to the climbing areas of Krantzkloof Nature Conservancy on Sundays.
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He has to juggle his training for climbing in-between competitive maths (he made top 10 of Junior Maths Olympiad last year), Robotics (his team with Dylan Launspach won KZN and made it to Nationals last year) and he also has to practice for his Piano Grade 7 ABRSM exam later this year.
Faran said he would like to study at Dartmouth and the Ivy League College which has excellent academics and rock climbing as one of its sports.
Danielle Visser
Danielle began high school at Westville Girls’ High last year. The school has rock climbing as a sport so she tried it out.
After only three months, she won the KZN competition and received her KZN colours. She then made it into the national competition held at City Rock JHB and was placed sixth.
She was selected for SA trails in Johannesburg last month and made the SA team.
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Danielle said she has never had a passion for any sports until now and trains 12 hours a week.
Her dream is to become a wildlife vet so the rock climbing fits in with her love of the outdoors.
Danielle is almost 15 years old and has a lot on her plate but said she loves her busy life and she can’t wait to show Russia what talent South Africa has to offer.
Erin Sterkenburg
Erin, who is in Grade 8 at Westville Girls’ High School also began climbing last year.
She joined the school’s climbing club which really just intrigued her, but soon found out that there was a climbing gym in New Germany, which she joined.
“For me, climbing never seems like something I have to do, it is always something I want to do and I look forward to each climb. I am really excited to be competing overseas this year and one day, I hope to be able to compete at the Olympics,” said Erin.
She said she has learnt that the climbing community is full of fascinating people who encourage those around them, and believes that these people have made her love for the sport grow even more.
KZN coach Michael van der Ham
Michael van der Ham, the KZN coach, said he had been working as the manager at Southern Rock for the past two years and is the KZN head coach for this year.
He and his team have created a training group at Southern Rock called Master Class.
“The aim was to really bring climbers of all abilities together to grow the sport in KZN. It has been hugely successful with a number of our kids qualifying to climb in the KZN team and SA team. We are all immensely proud of their achievements,” said Michael.
Sponsor their trip
There is a huge cost for these adventurous kids to fulfil their dream. They are hoping that the community will be able to help them reach their goals by sponsoring their trip. Deposit contributions in: KZN Climbing, FNB Branch code 250655, account number 62281171399 with ‘Russia’ as a reference, or contact Sylvia Ravenscroft on 083 339 7962 or 031 701 2793.
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