2009 kicks it up a gear

With routes being sent at a blistering increasing rate, the pace has been furious lately at The Home Of Power. Two significant new routes have been added and many old classics revisited as a cast of thousands including newly anointed Nowra climbers and old favourites continue to express their joy on the beautiful rock.

New Routes!!

The first of the new routes to find its way across the stone that loves to be climbed was Al Pryce's Hamgirdlar 31 at Cheesedale. This instant classic starts up Wam Bam Thank You Mam 24 and heads right, crossing Al's 2008 addition to the crag, Strike of the Silver Fox 27 and punching further out the roofs. Meanwhile, Matt Adams rediscovered an abandoned Paul Westwood project starting up Old, Fat and Married 17 at Bartondale and continues powerfully up the bulging wall above. Mr Teeny weighs in at grade 30.

The repeats have been plentiful.

• Bloc master, Marc Edwards showed his versatility, redpointing the shortest and longest routes at south central; Sperm Bitches 31 and Dungeon Master 31.
  
• Mayor of Faulconbridge, Andi Richardson found time betwen ground falls to repeat Metamophisis 30 at Cheesedale and Comin at Ya Hyper 27 at South Central.
• Pistol Pete Tosen continued to roam the comeback trail with an ascent of Lover Boy 30 at Thomo's.
• Sir Tickalot, Luke Geelen continued on his merry way, adding Brown Badge 27 to his 2009 booty bag.
• Young Penrith gun, Thom Samuels had great day. Having previously climbed only one 25, he tore Nowra up, onsighting Mega Mac 25 and doing Red Baron 26 4th go!
• Heather finally stopped listening to Nathan Hoette's beta and heeded the wise words of the man with the golden touch, Luke Geelen, to send Top One Thomo 27.
  
• Wollongong's most eligible bachelor, Paul Mehag settled an old score with Frosty 29.
  
• On the bouldering front, Sheila Binegas did Nappy Nuggets V8 at Lot 33. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UILyFUicK20
  
• Canberra wunderkind, Dan Fisher has been filling in the gaps on his tick-list and churned his way through a host of classics. Including redpointing: Frosty 29, Krusty 28, Brown Badge 27 and Top One Thomo 27, and onsighting: Potato Junkies and Pale Yellow Underwear, both 24.