Magnetic South & Sanparks Training Course

 

CHRIS CREWDSON'S LETTER

On behalf of Magnetic South, SANParks and Woodridge College Surf Life Saving Club, I would like to express our ABSOLUTE APPRECIATION to you all, for so very generously giving up your time and the sharing of your knowledge on matters – SURVIVAL.

When Anthony and I first discussed the concept of introducing this course to our 2012 Otter African Trail Run planning, I had an expectation that it would be GOOD, however in reality it was more than GOOD it was ENLIGHTENING.

The simplicity of your course format and its ability to get the message across in both theoretical and practical terms was excellent.

I believe that everyone of us who had the privilege of the course will now have the confidence to implement what was learnt in some way or another and it was very gratifying to see the camaraderie develop so effortlessly  between the various entities > Magnetic South, SANParks and Woodridge College Surf Life Saving Club.

For Drew and myself it is a comforting feeling knowing that no matter what the weather gods throw at us this year, there are 12 individuals who have had an insight into what it takes to firstly take care of an athlete who requires “special assistance” but more importantly look after themselves, should we need to carry on into the night and assist MCSA MTN RESCUE, with any search and rescue, should we be called upon to do so.

Wishing Survival Training SA continued success and we shall certainly wear your shirts with great pride.

Kind Regards
Chris Crewdson

MAGNETIC SOUTH'S OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Trail running by its very nature brings to the table injury risk factors and remote locations. These elements place a large responsibility on the race organisers to ensure that they have the safety and response logistics in place to cope with these potential situations. How much more so when one is talking about a Trail run that covers the full length of the iconic 42 km Otter 5 day Hiking Trail.

Magnetic South, the organisers of this years highly successful event, were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a trail run specific Survival Training Course kindly sponsored by Survival Training South Africa. Thirteen of the Magnetic South core staff benefitted from this skill-honing training for the 2012 Otter African Trail Run, presented by Hi-Tec and GU.

The attendees included five members of the SANParks Rangers doing duty within the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park, three Woodridge College Surf Life Saving rescue swimmers, who were an intrinsic part of the extensive Bloukrans River Otter safety team and five crew from Magnetic South itself.

Lectures and practical sessions were all held in a remote wilderness location to simulate conditions on the Otter Trail with topics as diverse as to how to recognise and treat hypothermia to the psychology of survival itself. The course was the perfect chance to identify these key issues to the team stationed out on the trail and responsible for the well being of this year's Otter Trail Run participants.

For Petrus Maree and Chris Crewdson, who headed up the 2012 Magnetic South Field Team, the survival course followed on a ten hour SANParks sanctioned pre-event scouting run of the full course, thereby emulating the stress and fatigue likely to be experienced by the participants.

"Not only were we able to confidently despatch a highly skilled crew onto the Otter Trail, but the Survival Training Course also provided a rare opportunity for the various independent entities involved in the safety logistics to interact at a core level and create the fundamental team spirit required. Our crew was able to respond to the changing conditions with absolute synchronicity - as one honed unit. The positive feedback from the 2012 athletes in this regard was testimony to the calibre of the field team "  commented Chris Crewdson Magnetic South, Course Director.

Very grateful thanks go to Anthony Rodger, Nathan Hill and Neil Megersee c/o Survival Training SA for all their time and efforts to assist Magnetic South with a truly memorable Otter Trail Run event that not only attracted a top international field and has put the Tsitsikamma and Garden Route on the World Trail Running map, but has set the bar for others to follow. Full results available at www.magneticsouth.net