The Hulk! Raaaaa!

Headed to the crag where the the big green monster resides on Saturday. It was boiling hot but when got down to the rock it felt pretty cool. Unfortunately it was also quite wet. We started to dry holds off and conditions felt ok if a little spoogy. Now I know V10 isnt really much these days but the 'Hulk' has always felt nails to me, far harder than the 'Thing' which stands at V11 so to do it would be awesome.

I have never got anywhere on it before, just pulling on felt hard but today I could pull on and almost static the first move. I was pleased but still didnt think it would go. The second move is definately the crux but I crushed that el static and proceeded on wet holds to the top!! I was extremely psyched! Even on wet holds I felt really strong! As always I had been filming others on the 'Thing' but my unexpected ascent was not recorded. Oh well!

Did a core session yesterday with a British Olympic diver; some good stuff and I do ache a bit today!

Motivation-A very strange thing!

Not got any recent photos so here is one my friend just sent me from Hueco of 'Power of Lanjager', V11.

Not blogged for a while but then havent had much to write really. I havent really been psyched for anything around the Peak so have just been training; lots of core and fingerboarding. I am feeling pretty strong but not so fit!

Went out the other day to show Ned and Mina around Roche Abbey. They both thought the rock quality was brilliant and problems good to. I managed to do 'Addiction', V10 from sitting first go which was cool as i wasnt even going to try it.

After that we headed to try an amazing V11 at a crag near by. It revolves around 2 (very) big moves; I got quite close to both of them but felt very tired very quickly, am psyched to go back as its one of the best problems I have tried for ages and it feels HARD, which is always a bonus!

Got a few weeks left till Paris, unfortunately one of them will be spent at work. Then I am off to Font for 3 weeks!! Woop woop, I have only been in summer so am looking forward to some better conditions hopefully! Then am going out to Swiss for 3 weeks, I cant wait!!

5 Days On!!

I am going down south this weekend for a family do so I thought I would try and cram a lot into this week, climbing wise at least!

Sunday: I headed out onto the lime, conditions were very hot and pretty rubbish, managed a few ticks and a few splits!
Monday: I fingerboarded, and enjoyed this very much although my skin did not. I had personal bests on my frenchie sets.
Tuesday: Campused; Although I felt tired I managed 1-4-7 five out of six sets (very good for me)! Did a few eliminates on the comp wall.
Wednesday: Headed over to Manchester to stay with James and Em for the night. We had a quick session at the wall doing most of the harder problems, then enjoyed yummy food (thanks Em) and watched films!
Thursday: Headed out on lime again, what a mistake I should of finger boarded. It was so humid, possibly the worst conditions I have ever climbed in. Then it rained and we got wet!

So a few days of rest and eating nice food; next week I am just training! I was pleased with climbing 5 days on and not feeling too tired on any of the days, maybe I am building up just a small amount of fitness?!

A bit of blurred/dark picture of 'The Fool' (V8+) at Beef Buttress. Dont know why but I like it!

Training, Lime & Training

Started training again and am lovin' it I have to say. Have started campusing (cause I am rubbish at it) and fingerboarding as well as trying to mix up the climbing with indoors and outdoors. Although conditions have been far from perfect I have managed to tick a few problems this last week at some of the more esoteric limestone spots.
Each session has ended up with a split tip and the need to go back and finish off a problem, oh for good conditions!

Here is a video of the 2nd ascent of a brilliant V9 called Alacrity. Its at an undisclosed area for now but all will be revealed soon enough.


Untitled from david mason on Vimeo.

I have also done a few other 9's at a place over near Rotherham. These problems are some of the best that I have done on limestone, showing that our area is far from mined out!! I will try and get some other pictures and video up soon.

In the mean time, I have to let my tip heal and onwards with the training, fingerboarding tomorrow. Woop woop!!

And so it Begins....

I began training again on Monday and to say that I am psyched is an understatement. I did a fingerboard session on Monday evening in the comfort of the new houses cellar. I didnt sweat once, amazing! I only did three different exercises but 5 sets of each and I think they will help a lot, I am gonna try and do this twice a week with maybe a pockets hang session too.

Today I headed to the works with new British Champ Ned; we did a campus session and then tried the yellow circuit. Campusing was good, I have never really done any sustained campus training and am very psyched for it. For the time being I am just doing Simpsons training that is posted on the Moon website. Gonna try and do this 1/2 times a week. The yellow circuit is hard with some real dirt on it, managed about half before pumping out! Fitness is my main area to work on and luckily Ned is always psyched for this so hopefully he can kick my ass in to gear.

I tried a one arm front lever today! Wanna do this before 2009 arrives!

BBC's

Yesterday was the British Bouldering Championships in Millhouses Park, Sheffield. I was a bit apprehensive about competing due to my shoulder and so started off very slowly. Unfortunately nearly all the qualifiers seemed to have some sort of right shoulder move on them. After a while I started to pick up a few points and towards the end I was in with a chance of qualifying for the finals. However a few foot slips and the cautious climbing from earlier kept me out. I finished in 10th with 8 going through to the final. I was pleased to have been close with no training and holding back during the comp but also a bit disappointed because I think I could have qualified if I had been a little bit more outgoing. Oh well, next year!!

The finals problems looked good (think they would have suited me). Effort to Shaggy and Tom for representing the Bingly massive in the finals, Stew and Dave both climbed really well but young whipper snapper Ned pipped them both on the last problem, big ups to the boy! He climbed really well and deserved it!

The whole event seemed to go really well so congrats to everyone involved!

Photographs for your Pleasure!

High Spirit 8a+/b

Left Hand of Darkness 8a+

Voigas 8a+

Frogger 8a (and cobweb)

Sunshine after the Rain