Hey guys!   So we're 5 days into our trip to Spain, we've had four days climbing so far and me and Andy (despite what many thought may happen) have not killed each other (yet). The truth is, we've found that what was missing from previous trips together was our mutual love of Jim Carey and Will Ferrel movies. Together we have enjoyed an almost endless array of quotes from all their movies that have indeed kept us from tearing each other apart. That and of course an afternoon trying to remember the name of a TV show that both Andy... Continue reading

Hey Guys! So... We have finally arrived :D It has felt like an age waiting for the day I would return to this amazing place and finally it is here. Andy and I arrived two days ago around 11pm, everything was dark, no sign of rock but a very faint outline on the already blackened starlit sky where I knew the cliffs lay waiting. The familiar turns in the road as we drove up through the valley shone out to me like a welcoming crowd of long lost friends, occasionally a brief glimpse of red sandstone (the underlying sediment below the rocky limestone... Continue reading

TCA Bouldering Competition Round 2 Saturday was the second round of Glasgow TCA's winter bouldering competitions. The first round held last year I had won, surprising myself in my bouldering ability which I had always thought of as clinically weak : P I guess it still is on a comparative scale with my endurance, but seeing as I'm a focussed route climber it was nice to enter a bouldering competition and come out on top - ONE UP TO DA ROUTE CLIMBAZ!!! The second round in my opinion was even better than the first. I really enjoyed the style of setting... Continue reading

Last weekend saw me jet-setting off to the emerald isle, land of the leprechauns, shillelaghs and Eddie Barbour (some Indian/Irish 8a+ flashing machine that now resides in Edinburgh). I was working for Neil Gresham Masterclass which in turn was contracted in to run a coaching series for Vertigo Outdoors, a Dublin based Outdoor Adventure Company. Vertigo Outdoors is run by Rob Davies, his wife Debbie and their business partner Willie. They run an awesome operation over there, from coaching aspiring climbers and running outdoor rock sessions to adventure days in the mountains whether its walking, climbing, mountaineering or mountain biking! Diligently watching... Continue reading

We where meant to be heading down to the county for some Kylo action but on a quick glimpse at the darkened skies this morning we decided that a trip to TCA may be a better option (at least a slightly warmer/drier experience). Check it out, just click on the pic! Mr McClure had recently set a new white circuit at TCA and having heard a lot about his setting (almost all of it positive of course) I was eager to test them out. Steve McClure on the First Ascent of "O'Draconian Devil" (8b+) in Kalymnos. I did this route last... Continue reading

Hey Guys Tonight I was coaching young David Miedzybrodzki at EICA: Ratho. David did a brilliant job competing in probably the hardest category in last weekends YCS, the Youth C Boys. He placed 4th in the event but is pretty psyched to see if he can improve on that in further rounds in an effort to get a place on the Scottish Team and make the finals. The coaching session today was based largely around returning to the competition routes and boulders that he struggled with on the day. Out of the three competition boulders, there were two that David didn't... Continue reading

I know I said yesterday was tough, well today was tougher. Following on from yesterday's South Scotland YCS Round 1, today I was working with a huge group of Scotland Norths top climbing clubs, the Granite City Rock Stars. Usually I coach these guys in their home wall, Transition Extreme, today though was a special occasion. Because of yesterdays YCS, we benefited from the new comp style routes and boulder problems and so we made a mock competition for the kids. Unlike a YCS, we did 5 routes instead of 3 as well as 3 boulder problems. The psyche eminating from... Continue reading

Today was yet another big day for me, it was the YCS Round 1 for the South Scotland region in which a large number of young rock stars that I coach were attending. Not only was I coming in to support my young padawans in one of the biggest events for them this year, but also I was in to work with some other young talents from up North who have made the 2 1/2 hour journey from Aberdeen for a tough weekend climbing at the only indoor climbing centre on earth where it can actually snow inside! On that note... Continue reading

Hey Guys Today was this year's British Youth Open event held at none other than the best climbing wall in the UK (and what I proudly call my home), the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena. The British Open is an event unlike many of the other National competitions, it's not classed in the same league as the British Championships (BLCC) which means the pressure on the athletes is probably slightly less although it is still used as a selection event for entry onto the team. All those who enter the Youth Open are diligantly watched by the team coaches and management and... Continue reading

Yo Guys I've been sponsored by Evolv since I was 17, thats almost 5 years now! I have tested shoes across the wide range of different companies from 5.10 and Scarpa to MadRock, La Sportiva and Red Chilli. I've climbed on rock and on plastic with probably every companies current blast at performance rock shoes and what do I have to say for it? This shoes better than that one? Their rubbers crap or their shoes don't fit? In all honesty, I can't really say anything like that for the most. I know that I don't personally like the MadRock or... Continue reading