First comp of the year! I was so excited to fly down to
Tassie for the weekend. It had been so long since I had competed at Rockit
Climbing Centre in Hobart and I was also really excited to get a taste of some
outdoor Tassie climbing after the comp as well. Unfortunately not many
interstate climbers could make it down for the weekend, but I was excited to
see a few of my old buddies there and I also got to meet a bunch of new people
too.
Cameron Johns Photography. Preparing for the climb |
During the first qualifier climb however, I felt quite
shaky. I rushed it and managed to get flash pumped in the roof and fell off a
few moves before the top. I could possibly blame it on not being warm enough…
but I think I was feeling a little jittery and not quite in the right mental
state. I was more focused on wanting to top the climb and have it over and done
with as opposed to focusing on what I needed to do to get there. I guess it’s a
very easy thing to do on your first comp climb of the year, but something I
should probably have prepared myself a little more for mentally.
Open A females Qualifier 1 climb |
The second qualifier climb looked like so much fun and I felt like I could top
it before I’d even got on the wall. An orange streak of crimpy, slopey and
funky holds snaked its way up the super long, steep wall with very technical,
sequencey sections… I couldn’t wait. As I climbed this route, I felt far more
relaxed, natural and confident on the wall and I managed to top it! The climb
was really enjoyable and put me in a good mindset leading up to finals that
night.
Qualifyer 2 mid climb. Cameron Johns Photography |
Happy thumbs up after topping my second qualifier climb. Cameron Johns Photography |
When finals came around, I was out third. I was disappointed
to not have done so well in the first qualifier, but incredibly happy to not
have to wait as long in isolation because of it. The Open A females finals climb
was such a cool route, but very tricky to visualise. It was like a whole lot of
technical boulder problems linked in to one long, green, pumpy confusing climb.
Going over the route during our visualisation time, I had a lot of; “well…I’ll
have to figure it out when I get there” moments, but it all seemed fairly
straight forward once we finally got to climb it.
Heading into the steep wall on the Open A Finals Route. Cameron Johns Photography |
Before the first draw, there was a very balancy section with
two tiny crimp underclings on the vertical wall which I think everyone felt
very close to falling off on. The climb then traversed into the left steep wall
which had three large slopey pinches, a sketchy heel hook and a big strengthy
lock off move (just to make sure you were getting pumped).The route then went straight up into a terrible slopey ball in the roof which
you had to press up into before heading out through the overhang and finishing
just over the lip.
The awkward reach back through the roof of the Open A Finals Route. Cameron Johns Photography |
Just before the roof, I remember being super pumped and
slightly confused by a terrible distractor hold out to my left which I
thankfully decided to ignore. I was so tired but managed to get my feet up high
and used every muscle I had to press up into it. Surprised, I had actually managed
it and was wedged up in the corner between the hold and the wall, awkwardly
trying to look behind me for my next hold and how to get to it. I was so exhausted
at this stage, that I thought I had no hope in actually doing the next move… so
my best bet was to at least try and grip the next hold. I reached back
awkwardly to find an in-cut jug, but if I didn’t control my swing I would be
flung off the wall. With every ounce of strength I grabbed the hold and tried
to control my swing, almost forgetting about the rest of the climb ahead. To my
surprise I actually held and matched it and was hanging with my feet dangling
in the air, desperate for another footer when I remembered one on the wall
behind me. I quickly swung my foot over just in time to keep me on the wall. I
was only two holds away from clipping the anchor and was pleading my arms to
last a little longer. Thankfully the last hold was fairly positive and I was
finally able to clip the last draw. I had topped! What a battle!
Finally secured that footer on the Open A Finals Route. Cameron Johns Photography |
Topping out with the final hold on the Open A Finals Route. on the Open A Finals Route. Cameron Johns Photography |
It was really cool watching the other Open Finalists that
night. The girls were climbing really strong but didn’t manage to make it past
the mean green ball in the overhang. The Open A Male route was super funky and
balancy and made a great show for the spectators. After presentations we all
went home for some much deserved rest.
I spent the next two days climbing outdoors with Roxy Perry
and a few of her climbing friends from the Rockit gym. Sunday, we spent the
afternoon climbing at a really awesome little hidden treasure called Sandfly,
which had some beautiful and really fun routes.
Me at Sandfly crag, Tasmania |
Monday night I had to fly back home to Brisbane… but we
spent part of the morning climbing at the beautiful Mt Wellington Organ Pipes
which was absolutely amazing! I flashed my first climb there which was called
“After Midnight”; a mega-classic, 50m, one pitch, stunning 24. We had perfect
weather and the absolutely amazing views and exposure made it a really awesome
way to round up my little Tassie trip.
Me abseiling back down "After Midnight" at the Organ Pipes, Tasmania |
I would like to send a huge thank you to Flight Centre
Active Travel, Pinnacle Sports and ICP. I am so grateful for their ongoing
support this year and I am so excited to have this opportunity to share my adventures,
journey and dreams with them beside me. You guys are amazing :-)
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