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a rock... If he succeeds, Nilantha will be setting his sixth consecutive record in ‘Rock Descending’, as he has managed to maintain an annual record of conquering many waterfalls and rocks over the past six years. This time’s challenge, is more than 1000ft in height, and will prove to be as rigorous and daring as any of his previous conquests, he said. His successful track record includes the likes of the 628ft Diyaluma Falls, which he descended in a mere 19 minutes and 30 seconds, World’s End which, was his first conquest, in 1999, which, he completed in one hour, breaking the existent record by 23 minutes, and the Mathugama Pahiyangala, also in 1999, said to be one of the biggest rock caves in Asia, that can accommodate up to 3000 people within its alcove. This he descended in a record timing of 14 minutes and 34 seconds, breaking the previous record of 35 minutes. He also managed to pull off a dual feat of descending ‘Little World’s End’ in just 15 minutes and the Bambarakande Falls in a matter of five minutes and 20 seconds (beating the then standing record of 40 minutes), respectively, in two consecutive days, in August 2003. His passion for heights began when he was just an 18-year-old A/L student of Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda. Having been quite the sportsman as a student, Nilantha never seemed to be quite content with the sports he participated in and longed for something more thrilling and uncommon! Residing in Kosgoda, an essentially flat ground area, he said that there was actually no real place for him to carry out the necessary training. Also, as he finds it hard to lug around all his heavy gear from place to place, he hardly gets any opportunity to train, he says. However, a few weeks before a set challenge, he puts himself through a general physical fitness routine, to help prepare him for the grand day. He explained that descending a waterfall according to a pre-determined plan was impossible, as one can never predict the temperaments of it. However, rocks are relatively easier to conquer. As ‘Rock Descending’ isn’t yet locally acknowledged as an official sport, awareness and support for it, is relatively low, said Nilantha. Now, particularly, due to the tsunami, most of his regular sponsors in the hotel trade too have backed down, he said. Nevertheless, as ‘Rock Descending’ is an internationally recognised sport, if given the encouragement and exposure, it would enable him to represent our country in the international arena. Anyone interested in helping this bold young man financially, for his upcoming venture, can contact him on nilanthazoysa@yahoo.com |
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