Nice video featuring Kai Lightner and Ashima Shiraishi in Flatanger, Norway.

For the most part, climbers everywhere don’t take the time to inspect each bolt before climbing. Rather, we rely on the expertise of the person who once put up the route. As time passes, there has been an increased sensitivity towards bolt corrosion and it has become most important for climbers to inspect bolts and hardware on any given route.

Bolt corrosion from Sicily. Photo credit: Unknown.

A PDF by the INTERNATIONAL CLIMBING AND MOUNTAINEERING FEDERATION was just released to discuss ‘Corrosion of climbing Anchors’. The PDF contains great information, including locations where ‘stress corrosion cracking’ is most likely to occur and what causes the corrosion. The PDF can be found by here.

Continue reading »

An exciting finish to the 2015 World Cup ended this weekend in Kranj. In the end of it all, our Canadian athletes did very well, with Sean McColl taking second place behind Adam Ondra, to mark his second podium of the year. Sean also placed second overall in the combined category for the 2015 season.

Sean during Final round. Photo courtesy of IFSC ©

Other Canadian hopeful, Elan Jonas-McCrae placed 18th after making semi-finals for the second competition in a row. Both of these competitors continue to progress on the word scale.

Continue reading »

Last night, the Tour De Bloc took place in Edmonton, AB at Rock Jungle Fitness. With good representation from across Alberta, the competition came down to attempts as the final set of problems differentiated the leaders of each category by just one try for the Men and three tries for the Women. Here are the Final results.

Alyssa Weber and Eric Sethna taking first. Photo courtesy of Rock Jungle ©

Women’s Open

1. Alyssa Weber
2. Julia Goldhoff
3. Eva Thompson
4. Jelisa Dunbar
5. Samantha Li
6. Amy Sultey
7. Regan Kennedy
8. Kate Sincliar

Men’s Open

1. Eric Sethna
2. Jason Holowach
3. Sam Tucker
4. Marc Eveleigh
5. Tristan Ploughman
6. Mark Derksen
7. Scott Eveliegh
8. Dylan Wyler

Special thanks to those who put on the event, those who came out to compete, and Tour De Bloc.

Fun video from the Banff Centre featuring Tommy and Alex.

The final IFSC World Cup of the season takes place this weekend in Kranj, Slovenia. The standings are very close and this final showdown will determine the 2015 Lead World Cup Champions in both male and female categories. All the heavy hitters are coming out and it will be a battle to determine who lands on top.

Two Canadians, Sean McColl and Elan Jonas-McRae will be apart of the action this weekend. Sean is currently in 10th place in the overall rankings, coming off a third place finish in China and placing 2nd in last years event in Kranj. Elan Jonas- McRae has had a break out year, with an overall ranking of 23rd and placing 13th in China.

Continue reading »

The 2015 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival is back! Starting today (Thursday, November 12th, 2015) and running until Sunday. The VIMFF Fall series features three nights: Snow Show, Rock Show, and Nepal: Before and After.

The Rock Show takes place Friday night and will feature Will Stanhope as he talks about Bugaboo Dreams, a four year project to free climb the Tom Egan Memorial Route on Snowpatch Spire with his partner, Matt Segal. Check out our interview with Will from earlier this week here.

Will Stanhope on the crux pitch of the Tom Egan Memorial Route. Photo courtesy of Will Stanhope ©

Continue reading »