The Revolution Bouldering Series commenced on 24th January and finished 13th June. Mounatin Equipment sponsored this event which was held at The Pitch, soon to be renamed Evolution. Staff participation wasn't mandatory but as you can guess we let some loose for the events. Great spot prizes from La Sportiva rock shoes to Tools of the Adventure Stunt Mats and clothing were well received. Most importantly our event guy, Al Pryce, was on the stall with ridiculous one off sale prices on performance rock shoes, for those who's shoes weren't in such fine winning form. Best to blame the shoes.

Check out the summaries for each event...

 

Round 1 "a bouldering comp for the masses":

The first of the Revolution bouldering comps kicked off on the 24th of January and attracted 73 keen climbers from around Sydney. The rumor of lost cost, low stress competiton for the masses had spread and the Pitch Climbing Centre ( soon to be Evolution Climbing and Training) did not disappoint. The route setting team dished up 80 problems throughout the gym that tested climbers of all sizes, shapes, ages and abilities. Climbers had 3 hours to strut their stuff on the wall while attempting to complete either 8 of the hardest boulders they could, or if they considered themselves to be a pumper, they could do their best to destroy their bodies by climbing as many problems as they could.

There was blood, sweat and tears but most of all lots of back slapping good times and inflamed forearms. The evening ended with a bit of food, a few bargins from the Mountain Equipment stand and a bunch of spot prizes provided by Mountain Equipment, which included La Sportiva climbing shoes and gift vouchers for the lucky people who hung around to support this succesfull event. From the Mountain Equipment team, see you at the next one.

Junior Females
Top 8:  1. Brittany Fletcher  2. Loesje Fletcher  3. Lindsay Fletcher
Total:   1. Loesje Fletcher  2. Brittany Fletcher  3. Lindsay Fletcher

Junior Males
Top 8:  1. Liam Johnston  2.Michael Urquhart  3. Matthew Tsang
Total:   1. Matthew Tsang  2. Michael Urquhart  3. Brandon Pace

Open Females
Top 8:  1. Carlie Le Breton  2. Laura Crump  3. Maya Santangelo
Total:   1. Carlie Le Breton  2. Laura Crump  3. Maya Santangelo
 
Open Male
Top 8:  1. Rob Le Breton  2. Andy Richardson  3. Sean Powell
Total:   1. Marc Landers  2. Warwick Payton  3. Scott Pritchard

 

Round 2 'Total Annihilation':

Round two of the popular Revolution series saw a bunch of new faces step up to experience the Total Annihilation (of your forearms). Climbers where ready to defend thier titles whilst donating several layers of skin to the nasty problems laid down by a fierce route setting team. If you were at the first comp and thought the problems were good then you were in for a treat. The crazy guys and gals armed with drills were in fine form, setting some of the coolest boulders I have seen at comps for some time.

Marc Landers was keen to defend his pumper title in Open Male, running around like a headless pumper which paid off for him in the end, while some new faces snuck in to steal victories in other catagories. Liam Johnson was the only other competitor to hold his title in the Junior Male Top 8 catagory. Tools of  the Adventure got on board for this one and donated some of their movement shorts for prizes Which added to the kitty provided by Mountain Equipment. The overall vibe at the comp was kranking and once again the staff at The Pitch worked hard to produce another killer session. Until next time.

Junior Females
Top 8:  1. Sophie King  2. Britney Fletcher  3. Loesje Fletcher
Total:   1. Sophie King  2. Loesje Fletcher  3. Britney Fletcher

Junior Males
Top 8:  1. Liam Johnston  2. Sam Higham  3. Dylan Batty
Total:   1. Michael Urquhart  2. Brandon Pace  3. Alexander Hall

Open Females
Top 8:  1. Charlotte Petersen  2. Laura Crump  3. Broni Finnigan
Total:   1. Charlotte Petersen  2. Laura Crump  3. Broni Finnigan
 
Open Male
Top 8:  1. Axel Tritton  2. Andy Richardson  3. Andy Smith
Total:   1. Marc Landers  2. Scott Pritchard  3. Nick Stubbs

 

Round 3 'Ground Zero':

The stage was set and ready for Ground Zero to explode. An eager group of bouldering wana bee's were ready to be let loose on a gym full of fresh problems just sitting and waiting to be climbed. The route setting team had been preparing all week, drill in one hand coffee in the other and a head full of outrageous idea's on how they could inflict pleasure from pain. Steve Gardner stepped up to the plate for this one taking out the Open Mens top 8 while Marc Landers was denied the pumper title being taken out by some younger and fitter men. Susan Decourcey took out the small junior female category and Charlotte Petersen looked strong taking out the open females.

The Mountain Equipment stand attracted alot of attention with some great offers on La Sportiva climbing shoes, and although there were not as many competitors at this comp the atmosphere was still cranking and a great time was had by all. Well maybe but at least the clutching of their forearms told me they got their money's worth. Hope to see you for the 4th and final round.

Junior Females
Top 8:  1. Susan DeCourcey  2. Alex True
Total:   1. Susan DeCourcey  2. Alex True

Junior Males
Top 8:  1. Michael Urquhart  2. Liam Johnston  3. Alexander Hall
Total:   1. Michael Urquhart  2. Alexander Hall  3. John Whitelock-Jones

Open Females
Top 8:  1. Charlotte Petersen  2. Laura Crump  3. Nicole Farrell
Total:   1. Charlotte Petersen  2. Maya Santangelo  3. Monica Tang
 
Open Male
Top 8:  1. Steve Gardner  2. Connor McPherson  3. Nick Stubbs
Total:   1. Luka Karanovic  2. Scott Pritchard  3. Marc Landers

 

Round 4 'Nuclear Winter':

Well the time had come and the stage was set for the Revolution series to go out with a bang and once again the team at the Pitch delivered an outstanding  event. After getting stuck in traffic for 2.5hrs, the result of an accident, the second half of the Mountain Equipment delegation arrived not so fresh from work. Well done to Sheila Binegas from Mountain Equipment who placed 3rd in Open Female, A great effort considering she only had 1hr of climbing time. Come in to Mountain Equipment to see her trophy proudly displayed on the front counter.

Mathew Tsang put on a great show to take out the junior category and earned himself an outstanding achievement award from Mountain Equipment, but the highlight of the night came from Jan Zbranek who completed every problem in the gym and obviously took out the Open Male category. To do the top 8 problems is great effort but to then proceed to finish all the problems means this man is a serious pumper. Laura Crump climbed with style to win the Open Females for the first time in her top 8. And Mountain Equipment Sponsored climber Scott Pritchard came second in the Open Male all problems category which made him the most consistent over the 4 comp series.

Mountain Equipment would like to thank the Pitch(soon to be Evolution climbing and training) and all the volunteers who made this series a great one. Also we would like to thank the competitors who came along to battle it out, without your support the comps are not the same and would not happen. At Mountain Equipment we are passionate about climbing, We love seing the climbing community come together and do what we do, Climb! So once again thankyou and see you out there.

Junior Females:
Top 8:  1. Sophie King  2.  Loesje Flether  3.  Zuzana Zbrankova
Total:    1.  Loesje Fletcher  2.  Sophie King 3.  Zuzana Zbrankova

Junior Males:
Top 8:  1.  Mathew Tsang  2.  Liam Johnston  3.  Michael Urquhart
Total:   1.  Mathew Tsang  2.  Michael Urquhart  3.  Liam Johnston

Open Females:
Top 8:  1.  Laura Crump  2.  Charlotte Peterson  3.  Sheila Binegas
Total:   1.  Charlotte Peterson  2.  Laura Crump  3.  Maya Santangelo

Open Males:
Top 8:   1.  Jan Zbaranek  2.  Steve Gardner  3.  Pete Tosen
Total:    1.  Jan Zbranek  2.  Scott Pritchard  3.  Nick Stubbs