This Saturday sees the return of the SHAFF film festival. On Saturday The Climbing Works are hosting a joint party at the Workstation in sheffield. Tickets are free from The Climbing Works front desk or if you have a SHAFF ticket stubb, you can also gain entry. Music will be provided by The Climbing Works DJ's and after the last Climbing Works party, this is all set up to be another great night.
The weather has been great over the last 2 weeks and I have to tell everybody about despatching a five year nemesis of mine. Check out my Scarpa blog for more details and photo's.
This week, the red circuit is coming down....sorry! I know that there are other circuits due for a change, but the red has become a priority to change because the colour of the holds is hard to distinguish from the newer orange circuit when the holds are all chalky. However, because we're nice people really, the red circuit will be replaced by a new circuit of the same grade with yellow spotty holds that there shouldn't be any problem identifying! Also, the results of the bouldering league will be published in a day or so, along with details of how the winners can claim they're prizes - generously provided by Berghaus, who sponsored the series.
Other stuff going on - the sparkies are fitting some new floodlights to brighten up the dark corners at the ends of the comp wall and around the campus board, the comp wall has been reset with a load of tasty problems if you haven't already sampled the delights, and we will start work on a second new circuit towards the end of the week. We also now have some state of the art gynastics rings to train on too - please ask our receptionists for more details on availablity of this equipment, as well as advice on some basic strength exercises.
The very popular orange Scarpa circuit had been due to finish on the 17th Febuary (last Sunday) but due to it's popularity (and Scarpa's generousity) we've extended the final date for completed circuit guides till Friday the 29th Feb.
Originally there was only one pair of Scarpa shoes up for grabs for a lucky winner but because the circuit has been so popular with our members Scarpa have generously upped the FREE shoe count to 13!!
For your chance to win, you MUST complete 40 out of the 41 orange circuit problems, fill in the circuit guide and hand it back to a member of staff before the closing date. We'll pick winners in the first week of March and post the names on the blog. The winners will have the choice of a FREE pair of shoes from the Scarpa rock shoe range.
A quick update on the latest going-ons in The Climbing Works.
Next Friday is the last round of the Berghaus Bouldering League. It's pretty close at the top and so it should be a cracker! It's next Friday night (22/02) starting at 7pm.
On the Saturday night of the festival, The Climbing Works is sponsoring the festival party at the showroom which means it's one not to be missed! More details as we get closer to the time.
The Chris Sharma public lecture on Sunday 16th March is now completely sold out. All 225 tickets went in about 10 days. If you're a disappointed Climbing Works member you should still register your details (name & contact details) at the front desk as we may have some exciting news in the next couple of weeks. For those taking part ( or are a member of a University club) in the BUSA comp on Saturday 15th March, there is a special Chris Sharma lecture occurring that night. If you're keen to attend you must get your captain to contact us before the 1st March to obtain tickets.
The popular Clinic free physio advice on Thursday nights returns next week (21st Feb) at 8pm. There will be no physio session on the 14th.
Starting this Wednesday evening (13th Feb) at 7.30pm The Climbing Works are starting up a new Adult group session for people who are relatively new to Bouldering.
The basic idea behind this new group session is that it will be for people who have just started climbing and it's aim is to help you progress and enjoy bouldering. There will be no cost to attending the session (just your usual entrance fee), you'll be with people of similar ability who are relatively new to the sport and you'll have the help of an instructor who will give help and assistance on problems as well as introducing some ideas & techniques you may not have been aware of before. It's going to be an informal session so there will be very little structure and it should offer a relaxed and easy atmosphere for those wanting some help in progressing, learning new techniques and meeting other climbers of similar ability. So if you're new to the Sport, stuck on a climbing plateau or have just done an Adult induction at The Climbing Works this is the session for you.
All you need to do is come down at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13th Feb and let the staff on the desk know that you're in for the new Adult group session.
Working at the Works is just like other jobs. Staff and managers have to meet and discuss important issues, there's staff training to be done and like many other companies, sometimes we have to give up a day at the office to travel to these meetings. Today was one of those days and as you can see below we had a terrible location for the meeting & the cheeses had to spend hours staff training : )
Percy, Sam, Steve, Lu, Jon & mini-Picks at the Plantation
At last, Christopher "Jason" Pickles has received the ultimate accolade for his achievements, and has been voted Britains Manliest Man - a fact none of us at the Works had ever disputed..... So big up to the Pickles, and please check out the following link to the Salford local rag for some of the cheesiest photos I for one have ever seen. You'll never live this one down, Big Pic!
Seeing that it was all of 5 days since we had added anything new to The Climbing Works it was only right that we set some very hard problems.
Thursday saw Andy Earl & Percy Bishton set the new Elite Scarpa Circuit. Basically it's 10 problems for men, 10 for women - all at the grade of hard & harder. If you can complete all 10 in 1 session you win a pair of performance Scarpa climbing shoes. There's a video below which will give you more insight into it all and the full topo + rules is on The Climbing Works website here>>. You have until the 19th Feb (only 18 days) before it comes down so for all the wads out there...best get down quick.
On the same subject of Scarpa circuits, the new orange one has had great feedback and we've got a box full of completed circuit forms. Remember that the final date for completed forms is the 19th Feb, so if you want to be in with a chance of winning a pair of Scarpa climbing shoes you've only got a couple of weeks left so get cranking!
On the other end of the spectrum of grades Sam has set a new 20 problem easy circuit that ranges from font 2 - 3. Perfect for kids, warming up or people new to bouldering.
