Mountans for a few hours.

Saturday morning me and my brother headed to the Blue Mountains for a couple of hours, my main aim was to show my brother what climbing was about and just have a good time in the mountains. We did a few easier routes at Shipley then I decided to head to Centenial Glen when it got a bit hotter to show my brother Wave wall and the other areas. I thought whilst I was in the area and becasue it was not too hot, I would try to do Tu Tu Sullied Flesh, 29. I had been doing a bit of training but not very much as I have been busy with other things, anyway I managed to do it easy whilst putting the draws on. I was pretty stoked with that. After that I did a few easier routes on wave wall to cool down a bit. Overall the day was a success and am keen to do a lot of climbing over the summer. Whilst it will be hot, I will have time to get out unlike when Im stuck at uni.

Balkans Day Trip

We braved the heat once again and headed down to Sydney for some bouldering. This time it was myself, Aidan and Andrew. I am suprised at how keen the local Newcastle boys are. Without doubt most weekends they are keen to get out and about. It was a successful day for everyone. Aidan and I both did "The Pincer Movement" V5, I have never been on this thing, it is such a classic, one that you could do everytime you were down there. I also did the low start to "Boogie Knights" which Ive herd comes in at V9. I also did the low start to "Sloper Dan Milosevic" again I herd this comes in at V9 but thought it was a bit easier so ???? 8????. To finish off the day I also did "7th Day Ascentist" coming in at V9 (soft maybe) too. I feel whislt it was a bit of a battle for me cause it was so hot hanging onto slopers, in cold conditions I think it would be fine. Here are some pics from today.

Big thanks to the Newcastle boys and Chris for spotting, also a big thanks to Aidan for these shots he has taken.

Blacker Magic

Here is some footage of me doing Blacker Magic V9. It was very hot and conditions were not very good at all. This is such a cool cave, im so keen to come back and do more here. Im angry to see junkies have left their used syringes in the back of a cave, on the right hand side if you are looking at the cliff. Its bad enough they are shooting up there, but the least they could do is take their disease sticks with them.

Been Busy

Well, I guess you noticed, I did not have any success with Pooferator. Its still unfinished business (for the moment). Its been super busy with uni work as the end of the year is comming up, also been busy organising Wedding things. However, I have started to get out a little and look forward to getting out even more from now on. I did "Rocket Man" V9 a few weeks ago. I did not expect this as I was not training at all because of uni. It was a last min trip in hot conditions, but I am super keen to go back and send the link, the V10/11 L'homme Obu.
Im off to Crumbly tomorrow to try to send "Blacker Magic" V9.

Will it or wont it EVER happen?

POOFERATOR, This Shipley climb has been without doubt the longest thing I have ever worked! I have done it like a million times with one fall, but somehow I can never seem to link it to the top. Hmmmmm, all things going well I am going to try to send this route on Sunday. If I do this thing it will be the best feeling, probably equal if not better to when I did Attack Mode 32 way back in 2004. Whilst I probably wont get photos this weekend, if I do it ill be sure to get some done.

Good Times

Well it’s been a while since I posted anything. Last weekend was Thommos 20th anniversary (T10). Organised by Rob and Carlie, many climbers dressed up in the most fashionable 80’s attire and hit the cliffs seeking a massive session on the rock. Many, if not all climbers got exactly that. The day was a great success, heaps of friendly faces many I had not seen in years.

I was in the top 10 category trying to send 10 semi hard routes, I did not succeed in that. I did manage to send a few harder ones and I came close to sending more but falling on victory jugs. I managed a repeat of Narcosis 30 and Lover Boy 30, however I fell on the last hold of Slip Slop Slap 29 and fell once on Baby Just Don’t Bite It 28. The rest of my routes completed were 25 of below, after trying the above routes I could not seem to manage anything harder.

The second day I woke up pretty wrecked.

Here are some photos from Aidan Smith, another Novacastrian crusher.

Thanks so very much to Rob and Carlie for organising this event, it must of took a lot of work.

Revolution comp held at the pitch

Well it was the 4th revolution comp held at the pitch on saturday night. The turn out was great, there were so many people there, many I had not seen for some time. I raced down to sydney after work and got there right bang on 6pm, just when the comp started. I was super nervous as I have not competed in a revolution comp before and have not competed in many others either. It took me a little while to work out which wall I was to start on, so many quality problems. The comp consisted of a 3hr pump fest and no finals. In the 3 hrs you were to do the 8 hardest problems you could and also do as many as you could. This gave you 2 scores, all up score and the hardest 8 score. Overall I was really happy to be down there, it was such a great session to have at such a excellent gym. Overall the results were:

1st place: Yarn (Excuse the spelling)
2nd place: Steve Gardner
3rd Place: Myself.

Thanks heaps to everyone who helped set up for the comp, I cant wait for the next comp there!

Nowra season

I just came back from another day at Nowra. I had the flu going down there and had spent all day in bed the day before, so I was not sure if I was going to even get on anything hard. I warmed up on still life and thought to myself, I wont be back here for a while, so I should at least give something a go. So I put my draws on Narcosis, 30, in the little grease cave. To my suprise it felt easier than it ever has. I adjusted a few little things with the route, then sent it easily. My little bit of training paid off. I will be getting some photos when back down there in July, as I was only there for a few hours I could not set up any photos. I hope to spend a fair amount of time there over july and have my eye on a few routes and boulders there.

Back from nowra

Nowra was great. We had two days there and it was just what I needed. I am now super keen to be back down there and be climbing back to my usual strength. I didn't do bad though, I was still close to getting Narcosis in the cave and I could also still chugg a few laps on Aint no sunshine which is great. My strength is coming back quick so I am hoping I can send some new things in the near future. Will post some photos once am back from the next trip, this trip I was just so keen to be back climbing I didn't even think about getting the camera out. Next trip to nowra should be start of june, just before I go on prac for four weeks. Hope to tick some new things then.

NOWRA NOWRA NOWRA

Its nowra time. Well I am going to nowra this weekend, I've been doing a bit of training and am so so excited to head down there and do some climbing. Its been over a year I think since I have been there. Saturday morning at 5:00am its ON! This will be a great test to see where I am at in my climbing abilities as I do not have the same sorts of training as I am used to. I think it will be fine though, I feel good and hope to get some real motivation from this trip.

Cooling down = more climbing & waves.

Well its cooling down again, I haven't climbed much over the last couple of months but am starting to get more motivated to start training and do some trips away. There are still some unfinished projects of mine foating around which need to be done. I have also scooped out a few new ones which I would like to send this year. Another good point is that winter swell will be arriving soon, which means great waves and plenty of fun. As I am now living in Newcastle, I am always looking for people who may be keen to get away climbing or go surfing with, so if your keen let me know.

More surfin up at Hawks Nest, great day.

Hot hot days

Well, its been too hot to climb so I have been filling in my time surfing. Surfing for me is really addictive, similar to climbing in that way. Newcastle is a great place for surfing, except of late. It has been pretty flat reciently. There have been waves out just not very big thats all. Anyway here are a few photos of our camping/surfing trip up to Hawks Nest on Australia Day long weekend. Feb I will prob start training again and hopefully will re-gain my motivation to send some routes and blocks. Hope to see everyone around.