The Greeks and Romans envisaged most of their gods as young fit athletes. Even Apollo, the god of the arts, had a six-pack to die for, as well as a lyre and bow and arrows.

We don't imagine our gods as physical beings anymore, if we imagine there are any at all, but we deify our athletes, which probably makes it even more shocking when one of them dies.

Yesterday a 15 year old appears to have drowned at the Australian Surf Life Saving championships at Kurrawa as he was competing in a board race. The reporting is hysterical and inaccurate.

It strikes me that not only is our society becoming extremely risk averse, but many of us now think that immortality is a birth right. Any death is regarded as a death too many, even though death is the fate all.

I'm not suggesting that sporting events ought to be any more dangerous than they have to be, but I am suggesting that there is a risk of mortality in all activities, and it is not something to be shunned.

There are many reasons why this young athlete may have died. I doubt whether the surf played much of a role in it at all.

It's also more likely that he would be killed travelling to and from a surf carnival, or riding his bike along the road.

Surf life saving carnivals are part of the training for men and women who volunteer to keep our beaches safe. It's dangerous work that they volunteer to do, so their training has to be dangerous too. I think it's about time that we moved back towards celebrating those who embrace risk, and stopped looking for someone to blame if that embrace turns fatal, as though the authorities were Olympian Gods, micromanaging the affairs of human beings.

Graham,

It seems to be part and parcel of modern society - especially where children are concerned - to eliminate many risks associated with natural inclinations that form part of our physical and cognitive development.

I agree that it's in rough conditions that surf lifesavers are more likely to be called upon to go in and do their stuff. They need to train in strenuous conditions.

I was a bit of a risk-taker in my youth, although I seem to have reversed that inclination as an adult. I spent almost all my spare time surfing in my early teens. I loved being out on the water (all the other girls were happy to preen themselves on the beach). Our local beach, though, wasn't renowned for big surf, and it was only in the 'boiling grey surf' during winter that we were guaranteed good surfing conditions - so we'd flock down when the water looked its most threatening. If I found myself at the beach without my board, I would practice 'getting dumped', so I could hone my skills and reactions for when I was on my board.

I once climbed almost to the top of a Norfolk Island pine, simply because it was there...but I'd freak if one of kids tried that.

with the news cycle..being what it is
if its got vision..it leads][if it bleeds it leads]

its symptomatic[but your question sems to imply further][like baning surf carnivals[like they got rid of street parades..and cracker night...and them drunk smokers]

quote..""Surf life saving carnivals..are part of the training..for men and women who volunteer*..to keep our beaches safe.""

[so too volenteer firfighting/flood resque/emergency response services[how big was that deaths at work number'?

how manmy die in sports
or from cancers from food additive's
carncenogenes in our food water fuel..'airfresheners..
or adult diabetus..[that 'fat' people..*co=cause]

""It's dangerous work..that they volunteer to do,""

are addicted to doing

""so their training..has to be dangerous too.""

agree absolutly
many a fit persion has died...'training'
perhaps more so...when traing ALONE..that at any gathering[carnival]

""time that we moved back..towards celebrating..those who embrace risk,""""

NOT FOR LIGHT OR TRANSIENT CAUSE*
sports..isnt worth dying over
nor fame...[i refuse to lorde them]

i ignore them

""stopped looking for someone..to blame
if that embrace turns fatal,""

yes its so easy..to forget..we are ETERNAK/spirit
having an incarnated 'life experience'..uniquely chosing
*how that life [their life]..gets lived*

[but fully accountable..for any affect..they
[their obsession]..cause's..*or results in]

""as though the authorities*[beurorocrats.../leeching off talent]
""were Olympian Gods,micromanaging the affairs
of.."[MERE]"..human beings."""

ALLOWED to be gods
by 'the chosen ones'..riding their talented cash cow's
[sports rorts/sports club debts....into infinite indebitedness..

its the glory hunters
and those who can make you famous*

that youth reason..is worth dying for..
[lord them..for living..not dying]

..news reports..'a body'..found
[another child has drowned]

and that is terrible
but he served his 'life sentance'..[did his time]
lived out his alloted life sentance...[in this realm]

but what of the next realm
what happend to him..after his spirit left us
[that depends on us...you will recall that famouse rich dude[who died 'on the table'...saying there was nuthing[but he has lived his material life[and is spiritually blind]

the youth on the other hand
will have felt his spirit...slip from his flesh
[and do asmasing things]...it often can take some time..for our spirit..to realise..its not in its 'body'..no more..

never the less he would notice in time his astral body..is much like his material flesh...he is now unbound by space of time

nothing can hurt him now

his astral form[his new body]
is of light...he is now..the sum total..of all he wished to be in life

only one thing holds him back[now]
that is his beloved 'others'..who remain
he feels all their pain..their hoppes feelings thoughts[as they concern 'him'.]..he is going just great[but our suffering can and often does restrain him]..so know he lives
is ever present

he isnt dead
he has simply taken on his earned form

there is no such thing as living/dead
[energy cant be created nor destroyed
his life energy has transmognified]

[inform?]

ie..changed form

that is all

I don't know what the answer is to this problem
when youngsters engage in such dangerous sports.
Apparently this was the third death in recent times
in that particular area. We can only hope that all
safety precautions are being taken. Perhaps there needs
to be an age limit to participation in these kind of
events - no matter how talented the youngster is?
Afterall it's the adults who make the rules - right?

I feel so sorry for the families of these teens. It
would be devastating to lose a child in this way.

i know we are about to get..many solicitations
learn much about this spirit..when he was 'of man'[in the flesh]

but note the word 'immortality'..in the heading
thus seek to inform..some more mind imagry...
on 'im-mort'ality..into word..

there are no more 'sleeps'..in reality
yet many sleep[these are those of our youth..who died under the 'in-fluence'..[often material spirit's and drugs]..but more often..by way of belief..we have thrust on us..

faulse beliefs..like judgment day
[he now is underrgoing 'self judgment'
as he hears all who loved him..remember*

thier memories[emotions/loves hates fears worries etc]
it all just piles on..so lets recall not to talk ill of the 'dead'

and avoid mind recall..or worse inner turmoil
of what has been..[presumably]..lost..he aint dead
dont think things of the dead like you did the living

where he is there are no secrets
if you think it..he feels it[in reality there is no 'judgment day''[except what people think or say]..now they think you gone away]

another caution goes to those self obsessive types
who remain tied to their mortal flesh

and then there are those crossed over
but who insist they 'wait'..till the day of reserction

as spirits know...immediatly theu realise..'their dead'
is that they arnt dead[so those two huge lies]..hurt

then there is the things said..at the fun-er-all
waste no time of formal..but pray that the spirit[who 'may]..be spiritually blind/briefly or longer:..

;'its like adjusting eyes to the light..from the dark of night...
know..that the light confort all..burns the sins of the soul clean

no guilt blame shame
anytime you need them..*they will be there

next year many more of you
will know this/..4 sure*