Mail Online

ROGER FEDERER THE REAL ICE MAN

They always say don’t meet your heroes, but in the case of Roger Federer they were wrong. He was the consummate gentleman throughout... even when I tore his new Mercedes apart to gather supplies and fuel that we might need on our trip in the Swiss Alps. He threw himself into everything. Sometimes literally. The first thing we did was drop off this sheer mountain road, with the rope tied to the wheel of his car, descending down a frozen, vertical waterfall on crampons. Not easy for a rookie new to ice climbing.

Normally wearing these razor-sharp metal points fixed to mountain boots and navigating sheer sheet ice can be a recipe for some slips and gashed gaiters. But Roger had the balance of a bird, and picked up the technique so fast. Before we knew it we were down into this deep snow chasm and on our way.

Roger was definitely squeamish about pulling out the frigid remains of a fish from the side of a frozen stream, but he relished chatting around a little fire in a tiny cave, talking about life, his career and family. We even got to pee on the fire together, which, all things considered, is the ultimate bonding moment for any bromance.

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2021-10-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/281629603470303

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