LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - A new Irish Skydiving large formation record was set at around 7pm on Monday 6th August 2007, when 30 skydivers linked to form a shamrock-shaped formation over the Irish Parachute Club.

The 30 skydivers and 2 cameramen exited from two aircraft: a Shorts Skyvan (G-BEOL) and a Pilatus PC6 Porter (EI-IAN), which were flying in close formation at 15,000ft. The formation completed on the 9th attempt, and was held for around 8 seconds until breakoff commenced at 5,500ft.

Video below:

Please don’t forget that most of this equipment used in the record was stolen last week, and the search is still on.

-Robin-

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - Thanks to MountainTraining.ie for sending in this breaking news story.

Claude Rey, President of the International Federation of Mountain GuidesAssociations, has died after falling into a crevasse in the Swiss Alps.

Press reports indicate that the 63-year old Frenchman was at the rear of a group of five climbers on the terminal moraine of the Aletsch glacier early on Saturday morning when a snow bridge gave way. He was evacuated by helicopter and rushed to hospital in Sion, but died of his injuries.

Claude became a high mountain guide in 1972 and took a leading role in improving safety amongst guides, particularly with his work for the SNGM, the French Mountain Guides Association.

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - RTE News are reporting one of the worlds top free solo climbers has fallen off a cliff face 21m into the sea off Valencia Island in Kerry. Hopes look very unlikely he’ll be alive as he fell yesterday.

All we know:

• From United States
• He is understood to be one of the leading free solo climbers in the world.
• Gerry O’Brien of Valentia Coastguard said it was very unusual for people to be rock-climbing in that particular area.

We’ll bring you more as we hear it. His identity is unknown, but the Irish climbing community must know whoever it was was in the country.

UPDATE: More details coming in…

• believed to be in his thirties
• finished a climb with another man when he slipped
• Name confirmed as Michael Reardon by climbing.ie

Now it clicks. Michael had been to Ireland a few years ago and I remember him climbing or at least asking for solo advice around Dalkey Quarry.

Here’s a video including the dalkey shots from January:

Michael has been featured a number of times on Team Geared Up, as most recently putting up a new potential E7 route in the Burren a few weeks ago. It’s desperately sad it’s ended this way. Our thoughts are with Michael’s family & friends, a large number of which are in the Irish climbing community.

Update: Latest report in. Michael was washed off the base of a sea-cliff after potentially slipping on some seaweed after a successful climb.

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - Spotted in the London Metro as my cameraphone shows below. A 19yr old Irish student trying to get the best photo he could on a swing bridge in New Zealand (Abel Tasman) fell 20m into the water and ended up being airlifted out.

Photo Credit: Author Sea Kayaking with mounted camcorder in the Abel Tasman, New Zealand. By Author.