Don’t stop and smell the roses or do anything silly like that otherwise whack, mid-year will hit you in the face and leave your cheek stinging. Its well past the important mid-year markers; winter solstice, winter magic and E.O.F.Y. sales. Where has the year gone? I don’t know but its time to get on with living what’s left of it. After Spain earlier this year, like returning from any long trip, it’s a reality check to get back to work and sit at a desk for a while…sometimes it seems like a very, very long while. We’ve been playing catch up on many fronts but thankfully my sanity has been saved by the wonderful Michael Law. He handed me his crack project. Pure gold! It’s in my own backyard, well not quite, there is a catch, its five pitches down nestled amongst the Grose Valley gumtrees, awesome for soaking up the winter sun and the dramatic views, but a pain in the neck for working a new route. After days of weeding and cleaning out the crack, I had some shots and was oh so close to sending it, but no cigar, not yet. This little ditty will have to wait until I get back.
We were late leaving for our Queensland winter escape and so the Australian Sport Climbing Nationals caught me flat footed, but I was eager to participate. They were held at Villawood and ran like a well-oiled machine. Great fun, banter and energy inter weaved its way throughout the two-day event. Thanks to the sponsors and congratulations to the winners, competitors, organisers, route setters, belayers, volunteers, parents, spectators and everyone else who contributed to bringing a positive celebration of Australian climbing together.
Daniel Fisher blasts his was through the roof and into first place.
The Open A men and women shared the finals route, here’s me punching out a powerful move. It was enough to get me first place.
The following weekend we drove to Queensland, stopping in at Frog Buttress along the way then on to Brisbane for the Queensland Bouldering Titles held at Urban Climb. The music pumped, the air was abuzz with electricity, some climbers clad in eccentricity, and the problems were dazzling. It was an exciting kick-start to our trip, and fun to win the comp and take out some prize money.
Lucy Sterling, the only female to top Problem #1
Male winner, Kuei-Chi Peng on Problem #4
Problem #2 was not run-of-the-mill
some flexibility came in handy on Problem #4
