Cummingston

On Sunday I went to cummingston with some friends. We went to Cummingston because the weather looked like it was going to be the best over that direction. We never managed to do a lot of routes as it was really cold,but we managed some:

Staircase Crack 12m Severe (lead it)

Diedre of double doubt 12m E2 5b **
The Prow 12m E5 6A **

I really liked climbing the Prow E5 6A because it was overhanging and steep the holds were quite good but it would be a scary route to lead because there is very little gear placements.

Here are some pics of the day:

New Climbing Gear

After competiting in the Ice Climbing World Cup 2009 at Val Daone, I was approached by Villa Natale from an Italian climbing company Climbing Technology who awarded me a prize for being the youngest competitor in the competition, they also offered to support my climbing activities for the this year.

As we had to leave before the final prize giving ceremony Villa Natale and Guido John Bramley from Climbing Technology arranged to forward my prize and also some climbing equipment.


I was really excited when I opened the large box that arrived by post this morning, to find a complete rack of climbing gear.


Thanks very much to all at Climbing Technology

Ice Climbing World Cup Pics

I have put some photos of the Ice Climbing Comp on my Flickr Page. They can be found


Here (Italy) And Here (switzerland)

Scottish Youth Boulder Championships

Sunday was the first ever round of the Scottish Youth Boulder Championships. Sunday morning was the Qualifiers, it consisted of 15 boulder problems, we had 2 hours to complete them. I went round with Dylan as we agreed that we would take shot about going first. Dylan and I managed to complete the problems in 1 hour. At 3.00pm was the start of the semi final. There was no isolation, so we could watch each other. Dylan was out first then me and followed by another three. Three of us made it into the Final Dylan Me and Ruaridh. The final Boulder Prob/route was on the roof, we only Had 2minutes to complete it. I was out second to climb I managed to get over one of the tricky swinging boards then had 5 seconds to get 3 moves to the last hold, so I made a small dyno to the next hold and managed to touch it before the time was out. Then it was Dylan to climb he got to the same hold as I got to but he held it and therefor managed to get the extra point which made him win.



The results from the Boys 11-13 catorgy.

Dylan Mackenzie 1st

Steven Addison 2nd

Ruaridh Maskaskill 3rd



I really enjoyed the competition and really liked the boulder probs hope it will happen again next year.

The full results can be found here:http://www.scottishyouthclimbing.blogspot.com/

Ice Climbing World Cup Saas Fee

Yesterday I just got back from the second round of the Ice Climbing World Cup. The competition was held in a 11 floor car park in Saas Fee Switzerland.

On Friday afternoon was the men's qualifiers which I was competing in. We had to go into isolation at 12pm, then route preview at 12.30. I was first out to climb at 12.45.

Three members of the UK team sussing the moves out.
Tim giving me some info.

I managed to get on to the swinging ice block and put my axe thought the rope, I got pumped trying to get the axe out of the rope and hit my axe into the ice and tried to do a figure of four but I never hit the axe in deep enough and it came out.

Next out to climb from the UK team after me was Tim Emmet. He done really well but a few holds short of making it into the semi final.

Then it was Malcom Kent, Andy Turner And Rob Gibson go.

The next day was the semi finals and the final. So Dad and I decided to go up a gondola to 3000m and get some pics whilst the semi final was on.

We got back just in time for the men and women's final.

Markus Bendler on the last move of the final route.

Ice Climbing World Cup

Last weekend was the first round of the Ice Climbing World Cup 2009 in Val Daone, Italy.

On Saturday I had to get up at 7.00am for the briefing of the comp. The Isolation started at 8.30am so I went in With Andy Turner and Rob Gibson into isolation. I was in Isolation for about 45 min before I got called out to climb.

This year I managed to reach the starting hold easier!!.

I managed to get about 4 metres up the wall before I fell off. The moves were really far apart from each other, the move that knocked me off was about a metre away on a really sketchy hold. I was really happy because I set my self a target to try and get better than last year. And I achieved it!! came 27th out of 31.

Rob Gibson on his qualifying route.

Andy Turner starting his route.

All the other results can be found Here.

Ice Climbing World cup 2009

Tomorrow I am going away to Italy to the ice climbing world cup again this year (and I can't Wait) I have been training for ages trying to get stronger and practicing on long moves. Scott Muir has very kindly giving me a shot of his Boreal fruit boots that I used last year (only need two pairs of socks this year!).