Weakend

Its been a little while since the last COC update, mainly because not much has been happening. The only thing remotely newsworthy is Grosey somehow managing to get in a very public internet fight & slagging match with a disgruntled punter over something that was written by the Big Al. Life just isn't fair sometimes...

The boys and I are off to the best cliff in Australia for a weekend of crushing, that's right, T-pain awaits. Psyched to be getting back on the serpet with Big Al. Fingers crossed that I will manage to get more climbing done than my last trip away where 2.5 routes were done over three days, none of which were actually dry.

Winter in Victoria can suck, but hey I'm being optimistic, spring isn't that far away and the conditions will soon be perfect. The key being that you want to be fighting fit when the weather comes good.

I'm really motivated to start some serious training again, as ive been a bit slack in recent weeks. That means a good solid 10 weeks of training before the spring offensive... I need to be stronger, fitter & lighter. Which means beasting on the fingerboard with my new favorite exercise, the encores. Smashing laps on hard routes at the hanger and running more often.

But I need your help, I am easily distracted by long burly boulder problems, silly dyno's & shiney spoons which in essence does little to help with the above weaknesses... So if you see me masturbating on a silly link up, remind me that im a weakling and send me back to the board where I belong.

Someone needs to step up and do the 10sec one arm on barry!

Philby

Murphey's Law

Well I think it was Murphey Brown, that suit pants wearing blonde chick who's on Boston Legal now, who said that shit always goes wrong at the worst possible time. Or something like that.....anyway I've got two weeks off from the end of my exams to the start of my clinical placements. Fuck yeah I said to Steven, the rat that lives under my floor boards, I'm outta here. But as luck may have it, Tuesday night at the Lactic Factory ended with a bizzare feeling in my right middle finger. First thought it was the joint, you know the feeling when it needs to be cracked, but by the morning it had swollen a little and was very tender around the A2 pulley region. Sigh....what to do for a couple of weeks instead of climbing. This has been a shit year for injuries, I should start getting used to something going wrong. However bad luck and adversity (all beit not much in this particular case) are what make our pleasures and achievements all the more special. So the plan is to rest for a week, then rehab on some V12's and V13's. It worked to Dai right? Or maybe I'll join Ben, who's in town with brother Lee on tuesday, in some forearm hypertrophy training, and get massive.

Other News: "Fat" Nick Sutter, has again proved that the renaissance man is not a myth. Recently ticking Daniel O'Tiger 30, now with broken early hold (courtesy visting WA shortman), Who's a Naughty Boy 31, and his own Bikini Revenge 31/32 at Muline. Chris Ticknor and Sam Morley have also ticked their first 30 with a plucking of Demon Flower. Nice One Lads!!

- Grosey

Prep of the Euro Trip!

So a lot has happened in the last month. You know when people say they feel like they are living 2 lives? Well, I must admit I sometimes feel like I am living about 5...

I promised someone I would 'blog' my travels. Blog? What is this thing? Why would anyone want to read an online journal? Aren't journals meant to be your deepest darkest secrets? Where you bring up your innermost feelings about everything and everyone. And therefore, if someone were to 'accidently' stumble upon this journal, they experience the thrill of reading about the authors..lets say..5 lives? Yet- with an online journal- you know people will read it, so you only say what you want people to know? Where's the fun in that?! 

But anyway! Let's try my first ever blog! 

So I have been spending the last year and a half frantically trying to save money- juggling three jobs (sometimes 4). Watching fat people drown in pools. Little kids poo in water. Helping my favourite 96 yr old lady go for walks in the sunshine. Instructing corporate middle aged people to run up the stairs 10 times then do 10 push ups. Then have a coffee with them...lots of fun. Waking up at 5am. Doing the work thing, then maybe socialising a bit. Then maybe doing a bit of a boulder. Or a swim. Or some running. All in hope of getting euro strong. 

It's all pretty exciting. I never thought I would be able to climb the stuff I have recently. I suppose it all started a year and a half ago in New Zealand. When I tagged along with some strong men from Melbourne. I thought to myself, I've just spent the whole year studying for my final year of uni, been outdoors twice, indoors maybe 10, so lets go on a 4 week bouldering trip to Castle Hill with strong guys! Good way to boost the ego. By the time I got home, after all the stories of Europe travelling I knew I had to go. But before that, I had to be able to climb past a 23 (my PB). 

So I started a strict training regime. I put a hangboard up in my house (when I say 'I', I mean Josh helped me) and I started bouldering at the Lactic Factory. After all, I have always lacked power, and it's more fun climbing there than anywhere else around Melb! 

Training regime was- organise work and social events, and see where the climbing fit in. So that left me 2 days a week, sometimes 1. So I would send a text out, and rock up for a few hours to crush. That hangboard- I still don't think it has any chalk on it. Dust musn't be mistaken for chalk. 

This 'training' was supplemented by a once a month Gramps trip. First time to Muiline/Gallery and I was getting absolutely spanked on the supposed 'warmups'. Again, going with fat Nick and Josh boosted my ego. I managed to scramble (use knees/elbows/grunting) my way up crank'n'dangle (24). Woohoo! 

Eventually, I ticked some classic routes- Invisible fist, Mr J, Labrynth, Chasin the Shadow. Then, I was totally inspired by Ross on Eye of the Tiger. Grade- who cares- hard. But it looked awesome and I wanted to play. So I did, and I s-t-ruggled. Each and every move. BUT 6 months later (6 trips) I made it to the top- knee bars/knee pads and all! 

Next was Monkey Puzzle, I thought it would be nice to do a 28 before I left. It suited me really well- all the bouldering training I had been doing helped me with the 100m endurance fest. Sweet. 

Easter- I had high hopes. I had 4 days and I felt fit. Yet- I did nothing. As stated in previous blogs- absolutely nothing. I tried Venon, but got to the last draw. So I thought I would try to finish it before I left the country. Some Tasmanians were around during the week, and so was Gay Dave. And seeing as I had to work weekends, I thought it would be great if I drive up by myself, tick Venom and get ready to pack. Alas, this isn't what went down. Those crazy kids convinced me Slurp'n'slime (Serpentine) was easier and better. And being the gullible person that I am, I believed them. First day on- again- s-t-ruggled. Couldn't get to the top. First crux, yea ok, hard. Second crux- not so bad- did it first go. The 'easy to the top' part- couldn't get past it. But, it was the most fun I had had on a belay ledge- Gay Dave, Dough, Grug and myself balancing up there with 3 slings each...? 

So I left, dejected...3 more times. And 4 days before I was to get on a plane, I got out of bed midday. Had some breakfast, strolled up to the best cliff in the world, and tip toed my way to the top in the glorious sun (after almost coming off after the last draw). 

I thought I was ready..for my first stop in the UK. After a few crazy days in Dubai, it was London next. I had no accom booked but my friend had a nice single room booked. It was my lucky day, coz the power was out in Russel Sq, leaving all fire stairwells not alarmed. Making sneaking up the fire escape to sleep on the floor far too easy..

5 hour bus ride later- I arrive in Sheffield for a long weekend/bank holiday. I walk into a house full of climbing people and get asked 'pink champagne?'! Party time. Till 8am the next day. Earlier for some. And even later for others (11pm next night). 

First day was solo/bouldering at Burbage Nth. Left the house at 7pm hungover and feeling about 20%. 

Second day- Trad climbing at Rivelin. My head was a mess. Fumbling up HVS something somethings. Grading here is bizzare. It was the hottest day of the year. Girls were sunbaking in bikinis and boys were shirtless and in shorts. I on the otherhand was in pants and jumper- 'boiling hot' was 20 deg. 

Third day- Stanage- Marble wall. Fell off some great E2 crack thing. I'd never fallen on my gear before, but I suppose it works hey! Comes with courtesy bruises and blood on the back of your hands..

Fourth day- Millstone. My favourite so far. Stunning 20m lines. Regent Street- alot of fun! 

Fifth day- rain and wind meant we went to Malham. A shiny polished limestone sport crag. hmm. All that fitness I thought I had? Lies. Wet shiny rock proved to beat me back down to reality. 

So I've decided to have a rest. Drink some tea, read a book and test this blog thing out...and ponder on the fact that everyone here is so lovely. And don't work!? Definately a lifestyle I could get used to...till I run out of money. Then they have all sworn to keep me captive as a sex slave/steal my passport and chain me up as a belay slave...

Until the next time, I'll be heading to North Wales and Pembroke for the next few weeks...in this life anyway. Who knows what's going on in my other secret 4 lives! One can only imagine. 

Fun and Games

This easter was more than just hanging out in the dirt and climbing. It was about having fun with friends, talking shit, drinking and participating in silly challenges. One such activity confronted a primative fear well associated with climbing; the fear of falling.

I've now done the Taipan Jump three times, and the thrill doesn't get that old. There's something about holding onto more than 40 meteres of slack rope while staring down one the wall's most iconic features, Serpentine. This is the perfect exercise for developing logic's power over gut feeling. You know ropes are designed with twice as much force considered and that the bolts will hold, but there's still that little butterfly dive bombing your weet-bix into submission.

This video was made with 6 guys and 3 point and shoot cameras, a green cape and some furry blue shorts. Enjoy.

- Grosey

also at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m60Ks_4qD70

Thank God It's The Weekend Hey!

Well, its the start of my weekend anyway. Sitting in an office all week, cold calling hundreds of business', repeating the same sales pitch, all the while dreaming of that rad credit card crimp I was pulling off on Demon Flower just a day or two before. Depressing. However, money earned allows one to piss off Friday (or in this case Thursday) night, chuck the still damp tent, rank sleeping bag and dirty plate, bowl and fork in the car, crank the tunes, and battle the rest of the population out of the city with the blaring of a horn and a flick of the finger. 'Screw you all' I think as I move through the car park that is Alexander Pde. Secretly I think they should all envy me, for I alone have had the awesome idea that leaving the city for quieter, greener pastures for the next two days. Until they turn up in caravans, chainsaw in hand, screaming at the kids on bikes that breakfast is ready.

Now I know it may seem a tad hypocritical, considering I have had a hand in my fair share of noisy late night (and all night) ragers in campgrounds, but I reason my innocence by believing that I come out to the bush to get away from the luxuries and reliance of creature comforts we are bubble wrapped in, living in the city. This idea that it is still considered 'escaping', even though we take a portable version of out city selves.....rubbish. Over the long weekends, Stapylton resemebles a portable version of the Melbourne, along with its own traffic jams, nuffy drivers, warring neighbours and kids playing cricket on the street while the folks sit on the back porch by the BBQ nibbling Jats crackers and knocking back glasses of cheap chardy.

But, alas, this weekend will be awesome. I'm taking my Scottish mate Andy out bouldering for his first taste of Grampians sandstone. He's been here 3 months and still hasn't been out there.....what a chump hahaha! So for the weekend, yet again, and as will happen many many more times this year, i get to 'escape' the city life, forget everything that does't really matter anyway, and go climb some sweet, sweet orange sandstone with my mates. What could be better!?

Play safe this weekend kiddies. Happy birthday Timmy!

Al

Way of the Weekend Warrior

Bushido was the way of the Samurai.......Bullshit is the way of Weekend Warrior.

Thats all for now......I'm just over getting out once a month (which has been the case), having to relearn a sequence and then fall off from the jugs at the top because of a lack of match fitness that can only come from climbing on rock.

Melbourne...you have great coffee, great night life and you're not totally full of pretentious wankers....but fuck, you are too far away from the climbing to allow a hack like me to be any good.

Ok, so I can't change Melbourne's geographical location, or the grampians for that matter. Yes, I'm stuck here for the near future. But mentally I feel like a pile of mud today, and this is one of the two reasons why. Thought I'd share a thought, so no need to leave comments, I'm aware of how pathetic this is, but I can't whinge about the other reason so this'll have to do.

Pleb's Promotion

Less than one week before departing on her maiden voyage, Andrea 'the Pleb' Hah has jumped upon the rapidly filling send-train that is Serpentine. This iconic route, graded 29 on the old scale, breeches the center of Taipan wall and is one the majority of climbers dare to attempt. Perhaps due to a rich, colourful yet intimidating history or maybe because it is a mixed gear multipitch. Eh, whatever....this route is a shitload of fun and people should get on it. Andrea showed great dedication to the cause, enduring several days hanging out with Gay Dave and the Tassie 'Tards. How she managed not to laugh herself off that belay ledge I will never know. In true A-Team style, Pleb post-send, smashed several Dark and Stormies (her favourite drink boys ;-) ) and proceeded to destroy everything within an arm's reach using a bloody mallet; this is the done thing nowadays. So what does this all mean? Have we found a rock-star in the making? Perhaps. Time will tell. Until then Pleb will be writing a travel journal from her 6month+ trip to Europe, so stayed tuned for it....exclusive to COC.

PS: Doug 'Dougal' McConnell has sent Rage 29 and Sidewinder 27 in the past week. He can now retire from the Taipan ledge. Nice one ballbagger!

- Grosey