Every trick in the book.

He's got a job at the new Coles. He's got his P licence. 2 weeks of school left. But something is missing. A new tick.

Matt pauses at the start of his new second pitch route to allow the camera to make a wardrobe decision. Yellow La Sportiva?

And we go with the white Bob Dylan singlet.

He gets the gear sorted, I work out the angles, and it's go time.

The route straight away sucks him in close with a gaston, undercling, stem combo.

It pushes him deeper into the scoop, unknowingly playing to his flexibility strengths.

Kneepads by Upskill

 It goads him onto it's thorny bollards and tries to lure him into cutting loose, thus ripping his fore arm flesh, he resists and stays firmly attached.

Then it's the old "hang on my magic hold till your arms drop off" trick.

. 

There's Bob staring at you.

He sees through it and punches on.

 Uh oh.        Climbers, we've all fallen for this one. 
It's the massive lunge off the slopey crimp and the end of the route story.

This route knows all the dirty tricks.

 Even Matty falls for it this time.

PS. Matt sent the route today 13/11/2011 calling it Tropic Thunder, 27

jj

Birthday Boy

 Remember the Straw Brothers?     Eric the elder just got older.

There's no particular story here, just the very photogenic Eric did some climbing and I took some snaps.

I don't always go with the fall shot, but this one I think retains all the energy and body tension of the move.

 I reckon if you hold that exact pose, but get a bit closer to the rock, you should be able to pull that move off.

Everyone deserves a Lei on their birthday.

The statistics on strangulation rates of tropical island belayers is higher than you might expect.
All the gang gobbled up this lush cake in his honour.

Chicken for Pink October

I couldn't find a model with bluer eyes, so here's Chicken Vuorinen. Chicken is his real name I think, but he gets Chicko a bit.

This is one organic Chicken, fed phat on folk music and permaculture.

He scratches a living in Outdoor Ed 

Let's get this story started. Get your shirt off Chicken

Chicken says he doesn't have a style.

jjobrienclimbing&style says he does.   Mate, you're a HIPPIE.

ink by: jjobrienclimbing

October is the Cancer Councils' pink ribbon month.  jjobrienclimbing endorses the cause and encourages climbers to spend and raise pink dollars all this month.
Chicken does his bit for conscience raising in this pink accessories ensemble of cap, rope and knee pads, framing a pink heart necklace.

Flightless here on Coolum's steepest,  this Chicken thrives on a rope but is just a comfortable free ranging on blocs.
Chicken has been working his way up Queensland climbing's pecking order for a lot of years now.
Not one to be cooped up, Chicken likes to get around and although he rates Coolum as world class his favorite run is Mallorca DWS.

Climbers, you can get Chickens very tasty look at  Red Phoenix (site currently under re-construction)

jj

Reel Rock Tour 2011

Don't miss this.

The Aussie opening was in Brisbane last night, so many climbers, so much fun.

Climbers, I'll make it simple for you, here's what to do:

A: click on the poster below for dates in your neighbourhood.

B: Get a ticket and get inside.

Or maybe get a ticket at the door.

Catch up with the cream of Brizzies climbing crew.

Get yourself some Pizza.

 Keep eating Damien, almost show time.

 Thanks Brad and Tim

Get your look happening.

 Get in line.

Get inside.

And be amazed.

Easy.

jj

The Straw Brothers

Alex:  

 Just say for example you were from Colorado and you had dual U.S. - Australian Citizenship.
Then imagine you were fanatical about snow boarding and climbing.
And your older brother was too.
Take into account that Colorado has aguably some of the best powder in the world and is not such a shabby place for climbing either.

Then lets just say you chose to live most of your life in Brisbane.
Either there's a girl I don't know about, or he's running from the law.
Eric: As above, but 3 years older.

Good choice boys?

 Eric:

..The Straw Brothers take to "Black Leather Dungarees" at Coolum and find out all about the hype, the pump, and the pure excitment of one of the Cave's best and highest.

..

Alex on "the slab" section of the route. Not a slab. Just not as crazy steep.

Whether you claim to be a boulderer or a boarder, you are going to need a beanie.

Otherwise who's going to believe you?

Climbers, don't just dream about being as cool as these guys, do what I do  - copy their look.

Get the "Climber Beanie", hand made from un-dyed Alpaca and Merino wool, at Red Phoenix Emporium

Or at least click on the link to see the boys represent Red Phoenix, the uber cool, cult style outfitters to the very chic. 

Good choice boys.

jj