Check it!  Vote!  Voting Ends on September 10th. 

Hey Ya’ll - - If you haven’t heard already, then the UBC Pro Tour is rockin’ New York this week June 23 - 25 - with the Finals in Central Park on Saturday, June 25th.  Check out their website for more info - www.ubcprotour.com.

More info:

2011 Unified Bouldering Championships - Eastern Mountain Sports Pro from NE2C on Vimeo.

This is not to be missed - some of best climbers in the world will be sending hard.  I know I’ll be there! 

Cheers,

Dan

Hey Everyone - -

It’s been a while I know - but hopefully I’ll be updating with much more regularity.  However, I wanted to take a moment to post about the new Climberism magazine Issue #6.  Climberism is a free online publication and this particular issue has a great feature on CT climbing.  Check it out by clicking on the cover below:

All you have to do is go to the website and sign and you’ll be able to view the feature.  Please check it out and support this awesome new addition to climbing literature!

Talk Soon!

-Dan

soill:

It’s Coming…

Hello all you friends of CRG. Are you jonesing for your indoor climbing fix?  We’re sorry to have to close the gym for a couple days but we promise, it’s worth it!

Just to give you an idea of what we did this afternoon, here’s a couple photo’s of our progress on the CT Rock Beatification Project.

Martha Stewart

First of all, I don’t think anyone is going to miss those canary yellow walls in the lobby.  We’ve been watching the HG channel and reading the great 7 Layers of Design book for pointers on how we can create a more warm, welcoming environment. Ok, not really. We’re still not sure what color we’re going with but the walls are getting patched and repainted tomorrow!

Masons Twist

Chris getting a workout with his sweet masons trowel.

What’s Up with Those Lights

Take a close look at the lights…see anything strange? One of these things is not like the other.

If you said “some of the lights are kind of blueish” you’re correct!  It seems like a small detail but we’ve decided to change the light bulbs in our climbing areas to 32 watt high-color definition lighting.  These bulbs make the colors jump out and the gym already seems much brighter than before.  We hope you like them.

New Sporty’s

I never thought I’d see the day…

Not sure what those are? Dan is teaching a Learn to Lead: Sport Climbing 101 class Saturday, May 29 ;)

We’re super psyched to finally have some proper sport anchors for those of you who like to lead.  No longer is it necessary to leave your quickdraws a the top of the wall.  In my opinion (NM) this simple improvement is worth a 3 day closure anytime.

CRG will open regular business hours on Friday, May 21, 2010.  We appreciate everybody’s patience.  We’re sure you’ll agree the cleaning and renovation is worth the wait.  And now…comments please.

Check out this new video from Big Up Productions - “The Insiders” - filmed at the close-by Central Rock Gym in Worcester, Ma.  Great Work, and an awesome endorsement of our industry.  Check it out!  

Send it on to your friends as well!

So it’s Oscar night.  woo hoo!  Just really sitting around not doing much so I thought i’d make a list of some random things that i’m amused by at the moment…  so here goes.

1.  Photobombing - you’ve done it, i’ve done it… here’s a website that’s devoted to this fine art.  http://thisisphotobomb.com/

Here’s a good one…

So apparently there’s a new feature on tumblr where people can “photo reply.”  I’ve never used it and don’t know if it works, but if it does, post your favorite photobomb and you’ll win a fabulous prize… as in i’ll make you brownies.

2.  http://www.roadmonkey.net/ Road monkey is an awesome website I found the other day that combines awesome outdoor trips to far-abroad places with meaningful volunteer work.  My favorite is the 2010 kilimanjaro expedition - sounds like a blast, who’s with me?

3. My burger / meatball recipe -

a.  Three types of meat - pork, venison, beef.

b.  Mix in ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, worcester sauce, cayenne pepper, minced fresh sweet onions, a little brown sugar, and bread crumbs as needed.  I never measure…

c.  Top with Gruyere cheese and fried onions.  Awesome.

I wanted to take a picture of this tonight, but I ate it too quickly to get a shot.  man, i’m full…

4.  Dead Like Me -Awesome series, that like so many, got canceled too soon.  Anyway, i’m re-watching the entire show on netflix at the moment and it’s awesome.  I so much prefer watching tv shows in one fell swoop rather than waiting every week for a new episode.  Lost is really starting to get annoying…

5.  A particular website that i can’t mention by name apparently because i’ll violate the “rules”.  thanks colin.

Anyway, I’m off to Lincoln Woods tomorrow - my first time, i’m excited - I’ll let you all know how it is later.

There are a few different “types” of people who come to a climbing gym on Valentine’s Day…

1.  Those lonely enough that they go to a climbing gym to burn off a little pent up frustration.

2.  Couples looking to “do something fun” but in fact are just trying to find an excuse to be “too tired” when expected to perform later on. 

3.  Parents looking for a good way to tire out the kids so they go to bed nice and early.  :-)

Whatever your motivation… enjoy the day, enjoy the climbs.  We have some new Boulder problems in the cave set by Julian from the Rock Club, and some new top-rope routes on the overhang set by Greg, also from the Rock Club in New Rochelle.  Fun, awesome, hard.  Just what you want on V-day.

Hey Ya’ll - check out this article from backpacker.com.  It explains some essential skills and gear if you’re thinking about going winter hiking / backpacking / camping, and is well worth a read.

http://www.backpacker.com/fall-gear-guide-09-cold-comfort-winter-camping-guide/skills/13513

Check it out.  Winter is fun.  Cheers.

-dan

evolvclimbing:

Here’s a re-cap of the 2010 Triple Crown from evolv athlete Chaz Warren =)

“Poised to be a Record Breaker”

Spray by:  Chaz Warren

<——-Chaz not climbing

Hot Shots by:  Alex Maguire

It seems as though the Triple Crown Bouldering Series grows from year to year and always promises to be bigger and better than the last.  This year was right on par as it was one for the ages.   With a shootout staged in all categories, the most diverse boulderfield in the south was left to decide the winners of the series.  However,  expectations and dreams of perfect conditions throughout  nearly vanished by a cold front that dusted the Cumberland Plateau in two inches of snow.

Spirits and psych were high on Friday night as competitors and sponsors arrived at Urban Rocks Gym.  Thanks to the cooperation of the owners, Urban Rocks provided a fresh and warm atmosphere that proved to be the perfect venue for the ceremonies.  As always, the tents outside were  filled with bodies in a huddle trying to stay warm as they shared laughs and heckled those who dared to pass by.  With beer, scorecard, and a quenched thirst, focus turned to the competition.

<—Chaz and Kasia Dynoing!

Competitors awoke saturday to a white out.  The sky was overcast and the ground covered in snow as everyone made their way to Urban Rocks to hear the verdict of whether or not the comp was going to be held.  For the sake of a more enjoyable and safer day of bouldering, the event organizers decided to postpone the comp until the next day.  In the meantime, participants were encouraged to tour the city as well as enjoy a discounted day of bouldering at the gym.  As expected, if climbing is possible it will be done.  The gym took in and donated the money of close to 100 competitors to the SCC that day.  AWESOME!!!!  Shortly thereafter the dyno comp, pad stacking, and raffle that had been planned took place as if the comp had gone down.  Fun was had by all and once again attention was turned to the comp of the day to come.

It’s a good thing they postponed it too.  The weather Sunday was perfect!  The snow that had fallen covering the boulders in an icy snowy glaze melted away and left nothing more than the ground a little wet.  The air was crisp and boulders cold as the competitors arrived at Montlake Golf Course.  By ten o’clock the comp was well under way.  After an hour, the field had already ticked several of the hard problems on their list.  The open men rallied around the area jumping from one double digit classic to the next.  Those in the star chaser category were obviously hurried, as they tried to collect as many stars as possible by climbing the most classic problems of any grade.  In the end, Jimmy Webb claimed yet another Triple Crown victory by posting the highest scores ever throughout the series.  Those trying to keep pace, or at least make him sweat, included Jeremy Walton, Brion Voges, and Brad Weaver.

<——— Kaylee Bush pullin’ down!

The 2009 series ended that evening as everyone met back at the gym.  With the climbing done, scorcards in order, and tents taken down, all that remained was the award ceremony.  The 2009 Triple Crown Bouldering Series raised over $23,000 for access around the southeast.  AMAZING!  This couldn’t have been done without the competitor’s desire to preserve our environment and gain access to yet another crag.

Hope to see y’all next year.

<——Pat Goodman singing and Kurt Smith not listening