December Post

I went into regionals with the attitude that I would have fun and try to qualify without hurting myself. I climbed zero crimps but still was able to do well enough to make it to divisionals in 5th place. From that point on I was determined to heal up. Despite all the measures I took to speed recovery, a couple weeks later it was time to travel south for some bouldering. I could not climb harder than V1 or V2 and so I originally decided to not go on the trip. After further consideration, I changed my mind, and decided it would be worth it to go anyways. I could not have been more right. We were in Chattanooga from the 22nd to the 30th, and we had a blast! Despite many rainy days, we still got a few awesome days of climbing in. I managed to do many of the area's classic V1s 2s and 3s, as well as the Wave, an awesome V6 that I had wanted to do. Thankfully, it was almost exclusively left handed, which is my non-hurt hand. The rest of the crew, Jeremy, Elan, and Dylan, all crushed and had a blast. I was super psyched to meet a ton of crazy strong climbers too. We met up with some friends of mine from Chicago and had some rainy gym days. We made a ton of awesome memories, and bonded incredibly. Now, it is one week from Divisionals. I am currently climbing V3/4 in the gym. My plan is to progress one grade per week, so long as I remain pain free. I will go into divisionals with the same attitude as I did regionals, and will hopefully have just as much fun.

Gretna, etc

The month of November has been pretty busy for me, and I have also seen some big jumps in my climbing. I went to the Gretna competition and had a blast with my Timonium crew and #teammarkyece. I was super happy to put down a bunch of new boulders that day, as well as send the amazing Islander sit, which goes around V9. I placed 2nd in advanced and took home some super cool Atomik Pipe Bombs. Now, as my skin is finally getting good, (thanks to anti-h) I have seen big leaps in my ability to try hard and send. I flashed a V9 in the gym and just about sent (fell off last move) an 11 in one session.

Rusty and I also made it out to Rocks State Park last Friday.  We warmed up and I was happy to repeat Truck Driver on my first try of the day, and it felt much easier than the first time I had sent it. Then we moved up to try Moby Dick, the famous Jason Kehl line up a striking prow, perfect compression V10. This was to be my first time trying the boulder. In about half an hour I did all of the moves, and the send was quickly beginning to feel very possible. The first time I tried it from the start I made it up to the crux when my foot blew. I rested for a while and went for the second burn. Unfortunately, in my rest, my lack of clothing (a tank top and cargos) made me go cold in the 20-30 weather with high winds. I tried anyways, and on the hard bump out to a slopey crimp, I felt a shock of pain go up my arm. From my finger tip to my elbow was searing and sensitive. F@&*. I was bummed to say the least. I wasn't going to send the amazing boulder in one session. I was injured. I can't climb after I was just doing so well. Regionals was in 2 weeks. LRC was in 1 month.

So, the past week has been filled with a ton of ice, sulking, ibp, and core. Lots of core. I felt no improvement between each day and was really quite upset. Then, I received some treatment from a family friend who is a doctor of some sort. She supplied me with a multitude of oils and told me to rub them into my hand twice a day. I followed her instructions, and miraculously now one week later, my finger has little to no pain. Regionals is looking much more attainable and I cannot wait to get back on the wall, and back to rocks to finish of Moby.

Oh, and Thanksgiving was awesome and I ate a ton of delicious food and reconnecting with my family members who most of I have not seen in 12 some years.

Midnight Burn

            Yesterday was the 19th annual Midnight Burn competition at PRG Oaks. The competition is known for bringing in big names such as Magnus Mitboe, Matt Bosley, Nick Picarella, Vasya Vorotnikov, and Brian Kim. I competed in youth in the morning and although I felt pretty out of my element and not super strong I still was able to win my category. I then planned to put my scorecard through to Open and try to make finals, but unlike years previous this was no longer allowed. Apparently I was only allowed to compete in one or the other, not both. I still decided to stick around and watch the show, although after adult redpoint I was very frustrated to see that if they had allowed me to put my score in I would have qualified for the open final against some of my climbing role models. For whatever reason Vasya and Charlie, who had RSVP to show up did not come, but Brian Kim, Nick Pic, and Sol, were all there to crush, as well as other strong dudes. Watching those 3 in finals was insane and extremely motivating. I have a lot to look forward to and to train for! ABS season is moving along nicely, I plan on going up to atleast one darkhorse series, and I have officially planned a weeklong trip to Stone Fort this winter!!

Vertical Rock and Coopers

The first competition of the season was two Saturdays ago held at Vertical Rock. The Boneyard Boulder Bash! I had been looking forward to the event and was planning on staying to compete in open afterwards. In the youth redpoint round I started off slow and then surprised myself by flashing the third hardest problem. Once I did that I realized the level of the climbs and sent problems 2-7. Then I could spend the rest of the comp projecting the hardest two. I figured I only had time to send one of the two so I chose to focus on the one more my style, large powerful moves on pinches, rather than finicky crimps. After maybe 6 or 7 tries I sent and was super psyched to have done the hardest problem in the gym. I won youth A as well as the overall score for the youth competition and was really happy! I also got a badass golden skeleton trophy. Then after an hours rest (and someone taking my climbing shoes) it was time for the adult redpoint round in my busted up shoes. I was able to redo the hard problems and qualified for finals in 2nd. The first of two final boulders was very much so my style a dyno to heel hooks and big moves on pinches and slopers. I sent on two attempts, after an unfortunate foot slip. The second climb was a slab (oh, great) involving a balanced mantle that I just could not do. I finished off my first open competition in 3rd!

We also made it out to Coopers Rock, WV for a day trip. It was my first time out there, and although we didn't get on that many boulders, it was still nice to finally see the area after so many trips cancelled due to weather. I got to do so many fun moderates!

September Training

As the leaves change colors and begin to fall so do the temperatures, finally. After an incredibly humid summer the weather is finally becoming climbable and I could not be more psyched to get outside. The past month it has been quite rainy, however, I have managed a couple good trips to Mount Gretna, and gotten a few sessions in on local projects. In the gym I have unfortunately been plagued with terrible, raw, bleeding, skin for quite a few months now, despite many attempts using different products. I recently, thanks to some friendly advice, am using garlic and rubbing alcohol, which has been working quite well. Unfortunately, it is no the most nose-friendly. I just finished up my period of endurance training, and am very excited to be moving into my power phase. With competitions soon approaching (the first one this saturday) and am getting super psyched. This weekend, the competition at Vertical Rock, in VA, I will be competing in both the youth, and adult open category.  My goal is to make open finals, and have a good time. It is an exciting time with both competition and outdoor season knocking on the door!

September Start

Since, my last post I have sent another indoor V10, have started school, and gone through some personal achievements. This past month I have been training. A lot! Yesterday I was glad to have done two one-arm pullups in a row per arm. My climbing in the past month has improved ridiculously and I feel stronger than ever! As school has started I have needed to limit my time in the gym, slightly. It is an unfortunate yet necessary loss. The comp schedule for this year has been posted and I am so excited to try hard! I cannot wait to keep getting stronger and pushing myself to send hard outdoor! I have been doing a lot of hangboard training to combat my weakness (finger strength) and so far I have really seen results in my climbing! Happy September

Update

Wow. So my last post was in January after divisionals. Since then much has happened, including all of routes season haha. Since my last post I have bouldered V10 (indoors), came first in JIBS (with Cameron Horst behind me), horribly failed at being a route climber, decided to not train for routes or compete in them again, went to summer camp for a month, and started projecting V10 outdoors. Also, I am now a sponsored athlete by Primo Chalk, makers of the softest, driest, and best smelling chalk on the market. Route season can be summed up in one single word. Pumped. I was always pumped. Regardless how many sessions of 60 moves I performed I was always pumped. When it camp to competition my only hopes were that I could power my way through the climb before lactic acid filled my forearms. I was headed into divisionals in 3rd place from regionals and lets just say that divisionals did not go well. I did, however, get to try speed climbing, which I shocked myself and qualified for finals in. I did not stay to compete. My new project outside (other than my secret FA boulders hehe) is Right Hand of the Leper (V10) and Moby Dick (V10). I think both will go once the cool temps come in. I have also began to run in an effort to lose some weight and climb harder. Psych is high this summer and big things are coming.