Don’t be a coconut, learn the steps

A FELLOW colleague of mine has decided to take up the traditional sport of palm tree climbing on Sunday afternoon after a couple of friends dared him to retrieve a coconut.

Being a motoring journalist and not following the five basic steps of palm tree climbing, colleague Val van der Walt got stuck and missed an important event.

Any novice can take up the sport and get information on Google which would benefit one’s first climbing experience.

By following the five basic steps, one could safely retrieve a coconut.

Step 1: Place one hand on the opposite side of the tree at chest level, and the other hand at the same height on your side.

Step 2: Jump up and plant your feet on each side of the tree, with your knees perpendicular to your body.

Step 3: Jump up with your feet, like a frog, and at the top of your jump grab the tree again with your hands and feet’

Step 4: Continue up the tree in a series of jumps.

Step 5: To get down, reverse the actions by jumping down the tree.

Unfortunately for Val, he literally bares the scars from his ordeal, as the roasties from coming down on his hands, wrists and legs remind him of how silly he was.

If one wants to take up the sport, keep in mind how dangerous it is and always use safety equipment.

Professional arborists have been climbing trees since the late 19th century in the United Kingdom and North America.

Tree climbing as an organised recreational activity using modern climbing equipment emerged in the early 1980s in the United States of America.

This sport is very popular amongst islanders and is a good way to ‘reach new heights’.