I’m heading to Nowra for two weeks from 2-17th July and I’m all yours. I will be conducting several climbing workshops on rock. If you are interested in joining me please chose from a private session where you’ll have me all to yourself OR grab some friends and I’m happy to coach a bunch of you in a group session.
Please contact me to book your day and if you have any questions.
I’m really happy to be asked to do this interview for Red Bull check it out here. Thank you Jo Stewart who turned my babble into something readable.
Hello there
Don’t be shy. If your interested in joining me in either a one off 3 hour clinic, OR in a progressive training series running over 4 weeks (if you can’t make all four sessions, then you can always join me for one, two or three sessions – if space allows), then read on.
Coming soon I am hosting the following coaching sessions. Please choose the level and experience that most suits your climbing ability and the format that best fits your schedule.
Please contact the gym to book your space!
Look forward to seeing you soon…
My Train Smart clinic is targeted at climbers who want to learn how to train smart. The goal is to turn your time in the gym into meaningful training, not just climbing. I will unravel the secrets of training and empower you with the tools to utilise your time in the gym to its full potential. Bring climbing shoes, harness, chalk bag and lots of psyche! Spaces are limited to 10 participants per clinic. Contact the gyms to book your spot.
Canberra Indoor Climbing Gym – Mitchell (update 20th June: only 2 places remaining)
Sunday 26th June 10-1pm
38-40 Essington St, Mitchell ACT 2911
Phone: 02 6262 4863
Hangdog Climbing Gym
Sunday 31st July 9-12pm
130 Auburn St, Coniston NSW 2500
Phone: 02 4225 8369
Do you want to crank the next grade but don’t know how?
Are you willing to confront your weaknesses?
Are you prepared to put in some hard work?
If your answer is “YES!” then let me help get you on track. Coming soon I am hosting a 4 week progressive training series targeted towards intermediate climbers (V3 – V6). Over the 4 week program I will introduce climbing and training technique, tips and tactics. And on a weekly basis I will have the opportunity to analyse your climbing, assess your strengths and weaknesses, pull it all apart, put it all back together again, and coach you to the next level!
9 degrees Boulder Gym
Sundays 17, 24, 31st July & 7 Aug 5-7pm
3, Sydney Corporate Park, 85 O’Riordan St, Sydney NSW 2015
Phone: 02 8970 8567
Coming soon I am very excited to be hosting a 4 week progressive training series targeted towards intermediate and advanced climbers. Over the 4 week program I will work with you to consolidate your technique, improve your lead-climbing competency and introduce some red-pointing strategies. I’ll also equip you with a range of training methods to improve your climbing into the future. Each week I will have the opportunity to coach you through any difficulties that you may have.
Villawood Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym
Wednesdays 20, 27th July & 3, 10th August 6:30-8:30pm
5/850 Woodville Rd, Villawood NSW 2163
Phone: 02 9728 2825
Here’s what happened the day I sent Mind Control (8c+, 34) at Oliana in Spain.
Before I started up the route I questioned why I was even having another attempt, my first attempt was average to say the least and I felt embarrassed, I felt “so not in the league” to be even trying something so hard. “Open your eyes Monique”, I thought, “look around you, climbers are crushing hard routes without much ado and you’re faffing around on the start of something beyond your ability”. Oliana has become somewhat of a testing ground where climbers come to pitch themselves on hard routes, a place of high hopes, where dreams are made or broken. Oliana makes me feel humble, sometimes too humble and I stop believing in myself. This self-dialogue has got to stop and I’ve got to be positive. I change my mindset and as soon as I tie into the sharp end I am focussed, not for a send, for a training burn just to see just how far I can get. This would at least give me a marker for which to improve on with future attempts. My goal was to make it through the lower crux and make it to the hole, the halfway point of the hard climbing.
My rationale for having another attempt that day was quite simple. The route was free, it usually has a line up at least three people deep, this time however there was no one waiting = no pressure = I could work it as much as I liked. I had no skin but tomorrow was a rest day so there was no point saving it for later, saving it for what? There was no later. The weather forecast said it all, over 30mm of rain was due on the following Tuesday, it was Thursday and this would give me three days of attempts. From previous trips I knew that once the tufa on Mind Control gets wet it stays wet for a very long time. Even on this trip I’ve waited two weeks for it to dry out, so that I could try the route, and today it was totally dry, it wont get any dryer than that. So what are you waiting for Monique? Stop your whining and get on with it.
I picked my way through the lower 7c (27) section and made it to the first rest without problem. I rested for a bit, probably not as long as I would if I were really having a red point attempt. I was grateful that I hadn’t abandoned my t-shirt on the ledge lower down, the breeze had picked up but I was not cold.
With no expectation I set off, it was 30 moves up the ‘runway’ with only two quick shakes to make it to my goal of the day. If I could do that I would be ecstatic, I’ve only made it past the hole one other time. Two days ago I’d reworked my sequence up the second part of the ‘runway’, more moves but higher percentage. I hadn’t linked it yet but I knew it was better than before because I could at least repeat it consistently. In the flow of the moment I somehow managed to make it through the first section up the ‘runway’ and then power screamed my way through to the hole. Yahoooooo! I was so ridiculously pumped and graciously happy at the same time. I’d achieved my goal. I was completely thrilled. Some people had been yelling encouragement to me as I was climbing the last hard section and while I was resting at the hole I remember thinking, “don’t bother watching anymore, I’ll be here for a long time and I’ll most likely fall off the next move”.
I kept going and going and going, I wont bore you with a blow-by-blow detail, even though I’ve already taken enough liberties with that. I never once thought that I would make it to the top, remember this was a training burn and I was pumped beyond belief. I don’t know why I was still “on” the climb. I stuck the upper drive-by move, clawed my way to the next hold, power screamed every time I changed my grip in order to shake, got a little something back, set off again completely pumped, remembered my sequence to stick my left hand on nothing and bunny hop my left foot up, got to the next hold, thought OMGness I am still “on”, just keep climbing, remembered that my right foot goes on that downward sloping piece of rubbish but just go with it anyway, got to the top of the tufa completely blasted, still not entertaining any thought of getting to the top, I was just wondering where I would fall off.
My last draw was meters below me and I only had four more moves to go. With blurred vision and pumped out of my mind and body – I never believed I could feel so blasted and still be climbing, well not climbing actually only just hanging on like velcro to the rock. What happened next was automatic, left hand side pull, left foot back step on tiny tufa thingy, right hand switch to thumb crimp on top of tufa, left hand launch to high pocket, think OMGness I’m still “on”, right foot on tufa, push hard to high right undercling, foot swap through to gain left clipping hold. Clip draw, blink, realise that rope has dropped out of the undersized quickdraw (obviously not BD) because my finger stopped the gate from shutting. Think, “oh shit what do I do now?” Move position. Move position again. Whatever you do don’t panic but go back to original position because the other position isn’t doing it for me. Think, “can I clip it again or do I grab the anchor?” Clip draw again, move finger out of the way so that rope does not get pushed out this time. Scream. Scream. Scream again. Punch the air. Scream. Wahooooooo!
I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Days later… I am still on a high.
Thanks so very much to everyone who has supported and believed in me!
Thanks TravelPlayLive magazine for the interview! Click this link for the full interview –> TravelPlayLiveApril
TravelPlayLive Magazine
Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2016 is amazing…
I’m delighted to announce that Simon Carter (hubby) and I have teamed up with World Expeditions to host a climbing trip to Sicily this October. Yes THIS October so make plans now. This fun and interactive climbing trip is set in the idyllic seaside climbing destination of San Vito Lo Capo, which is home to over 1000 routes (mostly sport climbing) covering a wide range of grades. Over the course of this trip, Simon, myself and two local guides will facilitate up to seven days of fun-filled climbing along with personal and group coaching to help you take your climbing to the next level. Rest days will be spent exploring this wonderful Mediterranean destination and doing other activities (paddle boarding, kayaking and cooking classes). You will have ample opportunity to practice your climbing skills and attempt any routes that inspire you. In addition, for those interested, Simon will be eager to discuss techniques of climbing photography and work with anyone interested in improving their photography skills. For further information about this trip click here.
To promote our ‘Sicily on the Rocks’ tour, Simon and I are presenting a National speaking tour in February to Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. It should be a fun evening so come along and have some laughs, bookings essential.
Recently World Expeditions wanted to get to know me so they asked me a few questions. You can read their ‘On the Couch’ interview with me here and they also did one with Simon, which you can see here.
Happy climbing!
Monique
Limestone is such great rock for climbing! Here I’m climbing Daniboy (8a) a few years back, it’s at Kalymnos, Greece. But the rock in Sicily is just as sweet.
Brrr the chill is in the air so what better time to hit the gym for some serious winter training. If you are interested in gaining some training insights and fully utilising your time in the gym then perhaps consider participating in one of my training clinics. I promise you they are heaps of fun and very interactive. I provide full course notes so you’re not spending time writing you’ll be doing loads of climbing.
My Climbing Fundamentals clinic is targeted towards beginners and intermediate climbers who wish to unravel some of the complexities of climbing. If you’ve ever wondered how some people can simply breeze up climbs then wonder no more…Through a fun and interactive program we explore; precise footwork, balance & body positioning, hand holds and how to use them, breathing, resting & recovering, mixing it up on wall angles and route reading. This clinic will see you well on your way to mastering the key fundamentals of climbing technique.
My Train Smart clinic is targeted at climbers who want to learn how to train smart. If you spend a lot of time in the gym and aren’t getting results then learn how to “train”, not just go climbing. I will unravel the secrets of climbing technique and provide a training structure for you to maximise your time in the gym (and outside the gym) to its full potential.
My Breaking Climbing Plateaus clinic is targeted at intermediate and advanced climbers who wish to learn ways in which to push through mental and physical barriers. Have you been climbing for a while and have hit a wall? Don’t know how to progress to the next level? Well during this hands on clinic we discuss possible reasons for reaching a climbing plateau and learn strategies to push through these plateaus. The clinic explores; technique, fear of failure (numbers), mental game, falling, creating a tick list, mixing it up, building a pyramid, expanding your comfort zone and route selection.
Spaces are limited to 10 participants per clinic. Contact the gyms to book your spot.
The Climbing Centre
Thursday 11th June 6-8pm
3/16 Borec Road, Penrith
Phone: 4731 1130
The Edge Rock Climbing Centre
Tuesday 9th June 6-8pm
9/10 Hudson Ave, Castle Hill
Phone: 9899 8228
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym – Villawood
Saturday 30th May 3-6pm
850 Villawood Road, Villawood
Phone: 9728 2825
Northern Beaches Rockhouse
Saturday 6th June 4-7pm
Unit 4E “Winbourne Estate” 9 – 13 Winbourne Road, Brookvale
Phone: 9905 6202
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym – Villawood
Saturday 23rd May 3-6pm
850 Villawood Road, Villawood
Phone: 9728 2825
Climb-Fit
Saturday 30th May 8-11am
Unit 4/12 Frederick St, St Leonards
Phone: 9436 4600
Hope to see you there brown bear!
Following on from the positive energy and feedback from the training clinics that I have been running in Sydney over the past month I am now very excited to announce a flying visit to Brisbane and the Gold Coast where I will be presenting more clinics.
My Competition Tactics clinic focuses on the mental and physical preparation for climbing your best on comp day. You’ve done the hard work and training leading up to the competition now lets look at how to get a great performance on the day. We will practice onsighting two routes in the clinic and discuss the tactics involved before climbing, what happens during the climb and then analyse how you did.
My Train Smart clinic is targeted at climbers who want to learn how to train smart. The goal is to turn your time in the gym into meaningful training, not just climbing. I will unravel the secrets of training and empower you with the tools to utilise your time in the gym to its full potential. Bring climbing shoes, harness, chalk bag and lots of psyche!
Spaces are limited to 10 participants per clinic. Contact the gyms to book your spot.
COMPETITION TACTICS CLINIC – 2 hours
Urban Climb
Friday 27th March 6-8pm
Unit 2, 220 Montague Road, West End
Phone: 07 3844 2544
TRAIN SMART CLINICS – 3 hours
Rocksports Indoor Climbing
Saturday 28th March 9-12pm
224 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley
Phone: 07 3216 0462
Urban Climb – FULL
Saturday 28th March 3-6pm
Unit 2, 220 Montague Road, West End
Phone: 07 3844 2544
Paramount Adventure Centre – FULL
Sunday 29th March 8-11am
38 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads
Phone: 07 5593 6919
Crank Indoor Climbing – FULL
Sunday 29th March 1.30-4.30pm
2/537 Kessels Road, Macgregor
Phone: 0421 994 216
Hope to see you there!
