Me too. Hell, I’m happy to organize it if there is support to do it and support from people in contact with the gyms, I’ve only been up here for a couple of months and have only been to the Hangout, once. Will hopefully start climbing at Rockface on my lunchbreaks as I’m just in Leederville for work.

Comps were great social times, and a bit of healthy competion for everyone from beginners to the veterans.

There used to be comps, and quite a sense of community. That has dwindled the past couple of years. Not sure why! I think its commitment by the gyms to organise the comps and the lack of volunteers to help out. I am sure with an influx of keen people the sense of community will return. There are plenty of us who frequent the gyms and climb on weekends. While the roped climbing in perth is not so exciting, the bouldering is pretty darn good. Just got to get out there. places like Pipelines, Millars, Mt COok, and a few other satelite areas are worth frequenting and great places to boulder grades between v0 and v9. Millars has about 100 problems with Pipelines at about 70, Mt cook though low on numbers is awesome in quality 30-40 problems there. At all these there are some world class lines thrown in!! Yes WORLD CLASS. So dont worry to much about the lack of spirit in the gyms, if you want to generate communtiy get folk out of the gyms and on the stone, No one wants to talk about how cool that boulder problem was on the bouldering wall at the Hangout. But everyonei s psyched when they find a project outdoors. Thats where its at. So get ya mates, searh online for the guides, hell i think theres a couple on here (CAWA), and get out there. Then come into the gym and regail everyone of the great weekend you had on the stone!! ENJOY

Zach,

yeah i hear what ya saying dude. But what your after goes hand in hand with what i said (kinda). Given that perth’s influx of climbers is low, its hard to maintain a sense of community based soley on the gym scence. Regardless of the events people will inevitably become bored with it and the gym will become routine. I do hope you manage to generate some life back into the gyms, but without having the outdoor component it will fall back into complaicency within a year or less. SO by all means, generate comps, but at the same time, start an email train up and let people know of a weekend plan. Regardless of weather you can always plan to go out, and if you make it out occasionally, the spirit within the climbing community will burn that bit longer. I understand the constraints that exist to get outdoors, but they are not so hard to overcome.

Dont be daunted by comeing into a new gym and getting to kwo the locals, climbing folk are pretty approachable. ANd what ever your climbing level, most of us are psyched to watch anyone pushing their own limits.

Enjoy your afternoon at the rockface…

For those chomping at the bit to help with comps (good onya :> ) – go on to the West Australian climbing blog by Ross Weiter (the link is on the CAWA home page). In the piece about the September CAWA committee meeting there is a call for volunteers to help with a competition, complete with contact number. The owner of that number will probably be on a climbing trip this long weekend but you can always leave a message.

Nice string, gents I am trying to scope out if there is a support for a “climbing event” for the winter of 09. The idea is to have fun and a great day. I personally don’t care who is strongest, and hate the idea of isolations and standard comps. Mainly I need volunteers and if I can build up a team of 5+ people it will happen. My current idea is to have several fun events including bouldering, a speed climbing comp (racing against a clock up a long grade 15 that anyone can do), milk crate climbing comp (!), a climbing fashion show and a pro DJ with some cool music. But I am an old fart and need some young people to help me out with ideas so call me on 0422 927962. So if you have any skills or are just keen then let me know, any ideas are welcome as I really just have just the sketchiest idea at this point. ciao.

What the… is that sort of gramma and language, Brett? If your going to communicate an idea, at least make sense. I know this is just a climbing forum, but for crying out loud, speak english not some low class, shit sounding short hand!

very funny kids now please put your dummies back in and climb back into your cots.. its late and you need your sleep

Edd, thanks for the, uh, support… I think? Constructive criticism appreciated, though I feel the need to point out a few things. My intent was for a bouldering comp, although as Al pointed out earlier, maybe “comp” was a bad name. Would be looking to get a variety of skill levels in so more social but still with a competition feel, too competitive and you run out of upper level climbers that would come and lower ones get scared away, too social and it’d just be a gym crash. And the comment of “In the end there are only half a dozen people (if that) in WA at a standard that matters anyway” is a bit sad isn’t it, considering you said people should leave their egos behind. It’s a comp, so competition by name. But the good thing about having all levels participate is that low level climbers can get good beta from more advanced climbers. As far as sponsors, I’d be happy to get a couple quick-draws let alone a rope thrown in. I’ll leave it up to Ross for the moment as it sounds he’s got a better start on it than I do, and frankly I don’t have the time to organize something though I’m all for helping out right now. You’ve got some good arguments but I think the majority of them are jaded and unhelpful, sorry, just my two cents. Mostly because I think you’re line of thinking was some sort of state wide comp for glory and bragging rights and my idea is more of a social comp get everyone in to climb and meet, win some prizes thing. I couldn’t care less who the best climber in WA is, certainly isn’t me as I haven’t been on rock or in the gym for about 6 monthes, I’d be lucky to pull a V3 right now : ) I’ll keep feeling things out and maybe if I feel like really running a project or pushing something and have the time to dedicate to it properly I’ll try my end, if I fail miserably, meh so be it.

Hi all,

Its good to hear that there are some people out there willing to help set up a competition/fun day.

I myself have been thinking about getting something organised, a bouldering event in a public space (councils permitting of course)to bring together the community and introduce new people to the sport.

Would be great to hear your thoughts on this.

Cheers.

Phill

I was thinking along the lines of either a park or on the beach somewhere like City Beach. Get a steel framework put together with ply for a bouldering series, easy and hard for beginners to try and pros to dominate. Perhaps someone already has something of the sort that can be used? I dont know. Routes can be changed throughout the afternoon as the comp goes on (would need the help of a good route setter), perhaps if the gyms get involved they could supply the holds for the event?

Not sure how easy it would be to create the actual boulders you are talking about but a good wall could work.

I love the idea of holding it on the beach, bit of BBQ action, some good music etc…beach would be busy with people anyways so im sure curiosity would bring in a few more people.

Try for some sponsorship, prizes etc. Good opportunity for gyms to get involved and up their memberships? Raising awareness etc, i have spoken to a few people that havent even heard of Urban Ascent and as a relatively new visitor to Perth i would never have found that place without help.

Again as has been said before, its all about getting people to actually show up and get involved both competing and promoting.

I am still getting a feel for the Climbing scene in Perth and appreciate that you do not have the greatest ammount of local outdoor climing on the door step but rockface is fairly busy and im sure there are others out there that would like the idea of an outdoor event somewhere.

Perhaps then we arrange for a brainstorm down at rockface one evening nextweek sometime, have a bit of a climb and discuss ideas etc, i will ask a few people and see if they are keen to come down and get involved.

Share some ideas, talk about whats been done before and what we would need to do to get something off the ground.

??