Sailor Nick Ward survived yachting’s worst ever disaster, the 1979 Fastnet Race, after his crewmates abandoned him along with their boat Grimalkin. Thirty years on, he opens up and talks to Markham Nolan about the experience. And he’s preparing to go round the rock again.

Wilderness Medical Training’s Commercial Director Barry Roberts has been on mountain expeditions and had teammates on trips all over the world (Pakistan, Greenland, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Nepal and Tibet)… here he tells us how to survice almost anything

California’s Greg Long has taken top honours at one of the world’s most prestigious big wave surf events – the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.

A few years ago Portrush big wave surfer Al Mennie and tow partner Andrew ‘Cotty’ Cotton (from Devon) were involved in serious incident at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo. During a training session in massive 30-foot mid-winter swell, Cotton drove the jet ski off a massive wave whilst towing Mennie. It left him to facing the beating of his life and Mennie in the impact zone with no jet ski ready to whisk him away from danger. The incident was both career- and life-threatening. Outsider’s new surf editor Richie Fitzgerald caught up with Mennie to get the low-down on that day, how he bounced back from it stronger than ever and his plans for the future.

To make sure you get the very best out of your winter holidays and come home safely, try this simple two-step practice which prepares your body for long days on the hill.

Normally, hill walking in Ireland during the winter involves going out during the day, coming back in the dark and going for a pint, assuming you’re not too wet and mucky to be let in anywhere except a car-wash that is. Reckoning that turning things on their head once in a while is good for a laugh Declan Cunningham decides to reverse the trend.

A couple of months ago, Outsider’s Roisin Finlay and Vanessa Lawrenson went climbing in Kerry. Here Roisin fills us in on how the Kingdom’s sea cliffs tested her mettle.

Words: Roisin Finlay
Ueli Gegenschatz is just a regular guy, or so he claims. Sure, he is a white-collar office worker selling insurance by day for a Swiss company…but in his wardrobe hangs a wingsuit which he wears whenever he gets an opportunity. And, he admits, he loves to fly.
Now call me crazy, but is anyone [...]

Howling Ridge is often considered a rite-of-passage ascent in the Irish mountains. For many, it marks the transition from mellow rambling to more adrenalin-fueled ascents involving rock faces and ropes.