The September issue

The bumper September issue is crammed full with all the stuff that didn't make the cut throughout the year. Sounds B grade?

Here's how the year went on the B roll:

Expedition Equipment continue to support jjobrien with awesome shoes, quickdraws, harness and ropes, from top brands like Red Chili, Wild Country and Sterling rope.

Nothing B grade about that.

Michael Garrahy proved you do need a spotter and boulder mat. Thanks for clearing that up for us Michael.

I got back on Gasoline Rainbow.

 

Joe and Eddie Burril got fitted out with Diesel Jeans from the wardrobe of jjobrienclimbing. That's what can happen when you turn up to a crag like Coolum in trackies. 

John and Sandra wander the streets of Lijang.

 

We never got to say good bye to Clint. 

 jjobrienclimbing and red phoenix style attend Mercedes Benz Fashion Fest, and bring back the looks.

Climber John Freely meets Katie Perry. News worthy? I thought so too.

Nina shows us how beautifully delicate a chalk bag can be.

Angela gets a new do, love it.

Lee ticks Evil Kenevil and Nuts in High Places.

 jjobrienclimbing does a fashion shoot at Cloudlands for Red Phoenix, too much fun.

 Judd and Sandra went to the beach and did some finger shooting.

Sandra grew some coffee in our rain forest garden, Judd helped to pick it, pulp it, ferment it. We roasted it and had the most wonderful cup of single origin organic, rain forest grown, fair trade, low miles coffee.

Regrettably it did involve some child labour.

Then off to the cave for climbing.

And most importantly jjobrienclimbing gets a new grand daughter, Lara. How sweet is she?
Could there be a happier Grandmother?

Thanks to all who have followed this blog, I've had fun, I hope you did too.

jj

Vegemite and Chilis

Gareth Llewellyn and Simon Mentz travelled the country for Vegemite.
Vegemite sponsored them on their quest to photograph Australia's 100 Classic Climbs.
Red Chili and Wild Country sponsored me to climb on their Vegemite Promotional Video.
The deal was that they post their stories on Facebook.

And we all did what the big corporate giants told us to.

The Climbers " Made from Vegemite"

Look out for their upcoming book in 2012.

ps. it was in the script that I fall off the top of Evil Wears No Pants.

jj

"Urban" Girls.

Four high powered girls from Urban Climb take on the weekend high traffic area of "Has it got a Chevy Motor?" 24 at Coolum Cave.









On any Sunday, "Chevy Motorists" are bumper to bumper cruising their way slowly up,
and taking the fast lane down, Coolum's Route No. "1"
More punters have run out of fuel, pulled over for a break, or just crashed and burned on this popular tourist drive than anywhere up and down this sunny coast.
jjobrienclimbing was there to get the traffic report.

Danger - steep grade ahead - 45 degrees.

Flaming redhead Bochere Rand stops the weekend traffic in layered pea green and fuchsia. 

Searching for the road ahead.



 Bo wasn't always an Urban Girl.
Here's the dirt:
Self confessed Country music tragic and equestrian, her home town of Bellingin NSW is equally famous for dairy and hippies.



History note: The jjobrienclimbing Kombi (not real name) could often be found parked by the Bellingin River in the early eighties,
and not for the dairy.

Tara puts her foot down and lays some rubber for the sloper. This sloper has sent more people flying than ...

Ontarian Tara Davidson fesses up to having a shoe thing. Me too. Is it Volleys for you too?
She's back and energised from a tour of Rocklands Sth. Africa.      Fav Oz crag: Frog.
Drum and Bass and Jazz, hey lets compare notes. I'm still loving Thomas Marriott

Huong Nguyen is famous for a high voltage smile that could power an electric car.

There's the smile.

Quietly ferocious

High torque - high traction.

Trina Lat: Drum and Bass follower, cook, chocolate lover. Sounds familiar, me, me, me again. 

Look out for the Trina Lat - Physiotherapist shingle coming soon. 

Senior beat consultants from jjobrienclimbing  recommend Kongkast Hong Kong's Drum and Bass Podcast to all climbers who like their beats hard and complex.

Climbers, this is why I never let Trina climb on my rope. Teeth alert.

Started climbing in the Philippines, I must go someday, now her fav crags are Brooyar and Coolum Cave.

Weekend Chevy Motorists.

jj

Sweet FA (First Ascent)

You've worn his kneepads.
You've read his forum.
You've done his training.
Now let's see him climb.

You know the rules: If you bolt a new route, it's your project. No questions.

However, if you leave the State it all gets a bit ambiguous.

William Monks bolted an extension to Friends in High Places, leading into brave new territory between Gasoline Rainbow and Cleared for Take Off.

Will made a public announcement opening the project on 29th July 2011.

By 10:00am on the 30th Lee had sent it.

The lower section is in common with sedate and slopy Friends in High Places 21

But the top goes nuts !

Along the way there's some spectacular scenery, big strong moves, razor sharp edges and the odd kneebar.

 Did I mention the kneebars?

That is one spooky top out.

Climbers, you know the feeling: You are a long way off the deck, your rope is coming from below the overhang, everything slopes the wrong way, and you are pumped spastic.

Lee displays his trophy. The faded red tape that once marked the route's ownership to Mr Monks.
Thanks Will, for a terrifying new addition to an already intimidating wish list at Coolum Cave.
Tentatively graded 26.

Photo: Sam Cujes

Senior climbing photographer and style director from jjobrienclimbing was there to get the story.

jj

Danny Friedman

Danny was always the guy on the other end of the phone.

Danny I need 200M of rope. Danny I need 50 harnesses. Danny I need 100 carabiners.

Danny works at K2, I manage a school camp.

So it was a delight to meet him and find out he's a really sweet guy and a motivated climber.

Now when I say sweet guy, it turns out he's got a creepy side.

Like you, I browse the net for comforting stories about kittens and sunshine.
Danny's guilty pleasure is immersing himself online in the ugly world of gruesome crime.
     I know, what a sicko! But it turns out he is a trained Forensic Scientist. OK, forgiven.

I feel sick, let's see some climbing.

Danny set off in 2009, climbing the modest grade of 21, to Turkey, Kaly and Ton Sai, picking up four grades along the way.

 

Then more Thailand, Castle Hill and Bluies. And before you can say deoxyribonucleic acid he is ticking "Spoonman" 28

Danny says his goal is to tick 8a by the end of his Euro Tour this year.

His friends say he is stronger than he thinks.

Senior climbing analysts here at jjobrienclimbing have reviewed the available data and can confidently predict he will better it by 2012.

 I don't want to make this sound like a dating profile but here's the twist:

He's a sweety, no doubt. He has a jones for Gummy Bears, but don't expect him to sit through a Rom Com with you.

He likes his films Noir, and his music on the dark side.

Danny is off to the Grampians tomorrow, presumably to leave his fingerprints all over Taipan Wall.
The investigation continues.

jj