Hey Guys   I haven’t updated the blog since Spain for one reason and another, the other being I’ve been mega busy (which is a good thing). A number of things in particular have taken my attention from blogging but all equally which would fit well into a blog, so here it is... EYS’s   The big event was of course the European Youth Cup being held at Ratho. I was part of the route setting team for this event along with Neill Busby, Neil Mcgeachy, Gary Vincent and visiting head route setter and French National Coach, Paul Dewilde.   Luke... Continue reading

Hey Guys Just a quickie seeing as I blogged quite a bigg'un the other day :D Well, you know how I said I was off to try this variation on "El Mon de Sofia" (8b+/c) called "Project Moro" (8b+/c)... :P It was really funny actually. The weather had been rather bad during the night, very stormy and wet. Nat and I woke up to wet bags and shoes in the opening to our tent as the zip to our door has broken :( A little annoying, yet another reason to pass my driving test and buy a van! As the weather... Continue reading

Hey Guys!   I’m coming to a close on this years Spain trip. It’s all gone so fast, it seems like only yesterday that I was heading out with Andy in the plane and now it’s almost over L. I’ve had a really great time climbing in Siurana this year both in terms of personal climbing and with my friends those new and old.   This year’s trip has certainly been an educational one for me. Although I ticked the hardest grade I’ve ever climbed, I definitely got my butt spanked on a few other routes of different styles proving... Continue reading

Hey Guys   I haven’t actually been on the Internet in around 2 weeks now! I’ve been focussing all my energy on coaching in this time so I apologise if you’ve been trying to contact me for whatever reason and have been unable to. Neil Busby hanging out in the roof resting jug on a tricky 7c at Margalef   Some people reckon coaching is an easy game, you just rock up to the crag, belay a bit, throw up a few top ropes, basically climb all day, then go back to the campsite and chill out… Well I’ve got news... Continue reading

Hey Guys Sorry for keeping everybody in the dark these last two weeks, in truth I have been a little lacking in inspiration to write a blog. I haven't ticked anything since doing my 8c "2x30" - the day after I did it I got on the 8c/+ variation "Pati Noso", almost ticking it on my second time on the rope! But after getting that high point on the route I also pierced a hole in my pinkie, which then made climbing through the crux impossible for me… This was really frustrating seeing as how I had made such a great... Continue reading

YAASSSSSSS!!! So I've finally ticked my first 8c :D To be honest, probably from a severe lack of trying more than anything. I haven't really been focussed on ticking 8c, I prefer to consolidate a grade before jumping ahead of myself. This style of attack at climbing improvement in my opinion is much better than simply throwing yourself at harder and harder climbs, so this 8c for me came at the right time. I had just climbed my 13th 8b+ of the last year (a good consolidation number :P) and it was definitely time to step it up a notch. The... Continue reading

Hey Guys Things are definitely heating up now! The weather has taken a bit of a change, from being pretty darn cold to swelteringly hot. Of course its always possible to climb in the shade, but what we've been finding is if you climb in the shade in the evenings, after the rock has had been heated up for the whole day, it still isn't perfect conditions. I would gladly be getting up at 6:00 am to catch the perfect temps, but thats not so easy when your belay partner is Andy "still on bar night shift sleeping patterns" Latta (thats... Continue reading

Hey Guys The UK's biggest (and best) bouldering wall is going to be offering all climbers an amazing opportunity to come test out the facility. Whether you are a seasoned climber eager to test his/her self on some hard boulders or have never climbed before, there will be loads happening throughout the day the is sure to keep you occupied. Plus the best bit is its all totally FREE!!! The TCA Glasgow is an amazing facility for any climber whether beginner or advanced. I regularly train there to better my skills as a boulderer as the quality of setting and of... Continue reading

Hey Guys Yesterday I did another 8b+ called "Mr Cheki". This route is in a sector called Can Pigui Pugui, a place I have visited only a few times out of the many weeks spent climbing in Siurana over the years. Although this is one of the more popular venues for those climbing in the f8's, it never struck a chord with me. Probably because of the relatively short nature of the routes there. I have always been one for big, impressive lines that cover lots of steep terrain in wild dramatic settings. El Pati for instance is somewhere that really... Continue reading

Hey Guys Our first week is through in Siurana already : ( It seems that every morning I wake and hope that the trip isn't going as quickly as it seems, but trips always do. Its getting to that point now that Andy and myself are noticing our movement on rock is improving and routes we previously saw as being a little out of reach are indeed closer to possibility than we imagined. Andy onsighted his first 7b yesterday, "Decidit en petit comite" at Can Piqui Pugui sector. He made it look pretty easy and I am positive that its nowhere... Continue reading