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Cheesemonster Grated and Grilled!

Carlie enjoys victory champagne and pizza!

Cheesemonster, that most beloved of Nowra classics. The route that causes Nowraphiles to grin with pleasure and Victorians to recoil in fear. The first route bolted at the mighty Cheesedale crag and still the most popular hard route in the country. Many bards have waxed lyrical about the pleasures offered by this 20 metre section of rock, but none so eloquently as those in the new Nowra guidebook, "start 4m right of Robochubby."

Today Cheesemonster 30 received two ticks! First cab off the rank was Carlie LeBreton who smashed the route after coming tantalizingly close in her previous two days of effort. Carlie is the third female to have climbed this grade at Nowra and the second to have claimed Cheesemonster's scalp. It's Carlie's first 8a+.

Half an hour later, Sean Powell stepped up and nabbed his first 30. Cruising the Monster on his second day.

Well done Carlie and Sean! Both ticking 30. (Note the 3 and the 0 they're holding up)

Let The Season Begin!

Cooler weather has arrived and Nowra is is prime form. Unfortunately, the mozzies haven't been told yet and it'll take a week or so for the little buggers to die off after they've enjoyed a very damp, warm Summer breeding season. Bring the bug spray!

Yesterday, Jarmilla Tyrril sent Dungeon Master 31 at South Central, setting a new standard for female climbers at Nowra. This route has cost Jarmilla dearly as she had a rope, quickdraws and chalk bag stolen from the base of the route last week after she went around to Cheesedale to belay Zac. The rope is a light green and dark green, flecked Sterling 9.4mm, quickdraws are Petzl Spirits and the chalk bag is a Beal one. Keep an eye out for them. I think the culprits are more likely to be local kids, it would very sad if a climber is responsible for this.

On Sunday, Ryan Holmes ticked his first 30, snaring the coveted scalp of Aloha Paradise at Rosies. Ryan had to work out some very specific hold beta to control the big swing at the end of the crux sequence. And on the previous day, serial sender, Matt Norgrove completed the link-up that includes the hardest sections of two 30s. Non-Dairy Monster starts up Cheesemonster then joins Non-Dairy Cheese-Like Substitute weighing in at 31.


Some plastic crushers have finding their feet on the lovely Nowra stone. Loesje Fletcher, Lindsay Fletcher, Joshua Boyce and Niranda Wright ticked off Uncertainty Pleasure 22 in the little cave at Cheesedale while visiting Victorian, Louis Godsell, smashed Wham Bam Thank You Maam 24.

A Wedding made in Nowra

Two of Nowra's favourites, Cerin and Marcus tie the knot tomorrow.

Marcus, the original winner of the Volume category at the very first 24 Hours of Power, may look like the wild man of Patagonia in this pic, but we know him as a chalkless crushing machine.

Cerin, famous for the first ascent of Cerin's Debut at Thompson's Point, set many young climbers' heart a-flutter in the nineties climbing scene before finding the man of her dreams and stealing him away to the wilds of South America.

Nowra Rocks wishes them well and we look forward to many strong armed offspring in the near future. Just give the poor little buggers chalk bag, please Marcus!

Mid-Week Ticks

With the skies finally clearing for a few days, Tuesday became the new weekend as thousands flocked to the sacred stone of the Shoalhaven.

Matt Norgrove brought his redpointing machine and his new levels of fitness and power with him and sent Cheesemonster 30 second go of the season after working it for a bit last year. Not to be outdone, Bryson Klein (14 years old) sent his first route of 2011, Gas Krankinstation 24 in the cave on the right side of Cheesedale.

Meanwhile, back at South Central, Dave Hoyle did Brown Badge 27 and was last seen setting his sights on Maintain The Rage 27.

Bryson on Gas Krankinstation

Welcome to Hogwarts!

Hogwarts received its first 4 routes last weekend courtesy of a team of crack young guns and a few very enthusiastic, bolting parents.

Tahlia, belayed by Minah, warming up at Cheesedale for the new route onslaught!

The team, comprising of Tahlia LeBreton, Bryson Klein and Minah LeBreton crushed the 3 star classics.

No that's not French Limestone, it's Minah cruising her first ever first ascent, and the first route at the crag; Wingardium Leviosa 13.

High fives with Carlie, the photographer as she clips the anchors.

Tahlia tackles the 3 metre roof at the start of Wingardium Leviosa!

They also added Expelliarmus 14, which starts up Wingardium Leviosa's roof and heads rightwards on the head wall.

Minah on the first ascent of Sirius Black 15. 6 rings to an anchor. A gem.

Bryson on the first ascent of The Golden Snitch 20, the current test piece at the crag.

All of the routes received repeats and were confirmed as classics.

Hogwarts is only 5 minutes drive and about 3 minutes walk from North Nowra shops. It's in the shade all afternoon and has the potential for more easy routes. Watch this space for more info...

Pre-Season Training

Planning a Pre-Nowra Season training trip. Check this video of Nowra's distant relative in South Australia for inspiration.

Start them young...

Just how young is too young to learn to belay?


Visualisation is an important skill for young climbers to develop, so Sigrid Hannu-Adams is wasting no time in starting to stare down Beefmeister 32 at Rosies.

2011 - The Year of Nowra

Minah LeBreton on Vandaholics (18) Thompson's Point

Shortly after Midnight on the first on January, Nowraphile and crusher of fine sandstone, Carlie LeBreton declared 2011 to be the Year of Nowra. The idea has caught on and gained momentum, meaning that 2011 is going to be huge!

Rod Young is nearing the completion of the most anticipated book since Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, A New Edition of the Nowra Guide!! The deadline for info, new routes and photos is the end of February, so get out there and complete those projects or bolt new ones for you chance at immortality.

Thomo's is prime before midday at the moment, especially if there's a breeze, and PC, The Grotto or the Bomaderry Creek Crags can all be good depending on the prevailing wind. But the rock's dry and a bit of spooge makes you stronger.

Then there's always the river, the nearby beaches and Jameroo!

Rod, Bronte and Minah rock jumping in the river below Thomo's.

T10 Northside 2010 - Rules

1. This is a social event. There is no registration or entry fee.

2. This events includes routes at crags around North Nowra; Lot 34, Mortein Wall, Rosies, Bartondale, The Bakery, South Central, Cheesedale, The Grotto (including all sectors from the Palm Tree Wall to the Powerlines Wall) and P.C.

3. The event starts at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday the 25th September at the North Nowra Shops Carpark. Score sheets will be handed out then. If you need a later start you can find us somewhere around South Central or the other Bomaderry Creek crags on Saturday morning.

4. Climbing concludes at 5:30 p.m. Please respect the rules by stopping climbing then. Scorecards must be handed in by 5:30p.m. at the South Central Carpark.

5. BBQ and presentation afterwards is at Shoalhaven Caravan Village.

17 Terara Road, Nowra (turn left at Moss Street when coming from North Nowra)

6. There are 8 categories:

a. Open Male – Volume

b. Open Female – Volume

c. Junior Male

d. Junior Female

e. Open Male – Points

f. Open Female – Points

g. Crag Lords Male

h. Crag Lords Female

In addition this year there will be an ULTIMATE ROUTE! This route is currently a project, but will be opened on the day for a first ascent. The location of the Ultimate Route will be revealed on Saturday Morning at 7:30am.

7. Volume Categories – climbers attempt to climb as many routes as they can, the total number of routes climbed are counted up as the climber’s score.

8. Junior Categories – Juniors must be 16 years old or younger on the 25^th of September 2010. Juniors’ rules are the same as the Volume competition, except that routes may be top-roped or led.

9. Points Categories – in the Points category, climbers try to do their 10 hardest climbs. Each climb is awarded points according to the following table:

GRADE	POINTS
18	1
19	2
20	3
21	5
22	7
23	9
24	12
25	15
26	19
27	23
28	28
29	33
30	38
31	44
32	50
33	57
34	64

All route grades are according to Rod’s 2000 ‘Rockclimbing at Nowra’ guide. More recently added routes and routes that are now considered harder should be checked with the organisers (Carlie and Rob). A couple of corrections to the grades of some routes in the guide will be given.

There are bonus routes that are worth extra points.

These will be announced closer to the event.

10. Open Climbers (Volume and Points) do not have to choose which category they enter until the end of the event, however only one category may be entered.

11. Crag Lords Categories – Every climb the climber completes counts toward their final score according to the following table.

Grade Range	15 or lower	16 - 20	21 and above
Points	1	2	3

12. All routes must be led (except by Juniors) from the ground to clip the top anchors from the normal finishing stance. Top-roping (for Opens), yoyoing, soloing, roped solos, simul-climbing and anything else like that is not allowed.

13. You may only count each route in your total or score once.

14. Chill out, have fun, make new friends and catch up with old friends. Your greatest competitor is yourself.

15. Remember these crags are in residential areas, look out for local kids, dogs and when driving through suburban streets. Take care where you park and respect the residents.

16. This is a fun event. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify anyone who we consider to be cheating, spoiling the event for others, or generally being a dick.

17. You are responsible for your own safety. Climbing is potentially dangerous and the competition organisers cannot be responsible for the security of the fixed protection, the solidity of the rock or the competence of your belayer. If in doubt, back-off, have rest or go home. Just don’t try to blame us for your mistakes!

T10 2010

It's been too long...

As season 2010 has kicked into full swing, it’s been action aplenty at The Home Of Power. The only thing absent has been a record of what’s been going down on this blog. So here’s my chance to put it right and satisfy the thirst for information that I know all you Nowraphiles out there crave.

New routes are always the most newsworthy occurrences, so we’ll kick it off with a mention of the awesome new lines everyone’s favourite dad-to-be Graham Fairbairn has added out at Babylon. G-Man has rejuvenated this old Nowra backwater by adding 2 stellar new routes up an impressive orange wall that previously only had a girdle across it. The left line is Something Jumpy 26 and the right Father Figure 28. Both 3 stars and there’s plenty more to do on this wall.

On the repeats front, there’s been stacks done so here’s a summary listed by climbers. Apologises to anyone or anything I’ve missed…

The most active climber has been Mick Wells. Another Croweater, come to test himself on the glorious rock of the Shoalhaven, Mick has worked his way through the classics, ticking off; Dungeon Master 31, Physical Graffiti 31, Non-Dairy Cheese-Like Substitute 30, Cheesemonster 30, Comin’ At Ya Pundi 29, Black Flag 29, Plastic Exploding Inevitable 29, Vehicle of Hate 28, Baby Just Don’t Bite It 28, Brother In A Bodybag 28, White Trash 27, Maintain the Rage 27 and Brown Badge 27. And heaps of other stuff. You get the idea, he’s done lots.

Matt Pascoe, back on 2 pegs and crushing, has achieved many PBs including; Skin To Skin 29, Baby Just Don’t Bite It 28, Top One Thomo 27, Brown Badge 27 and Maintain The Rage 27.

Local hero, Will Watkins onsighted The Hustler 24.

Mel Shields did that crotchety South Central testpiece, Scum 25.

Matt Norgrove ticked Brown Badge 27 and Plastic Exploding Inevitable 29.

Pete Tosen made it back down to Nowra, getting in an ascent of the neglected classic, Mr Bubbles 29 over at Bartondale.

Logan Barber slipped in an ascent of Brown Badge 27.

Marc Edwards has ticked off Sexy Is The Word 31.

Jason Smith tackled the Girls In The Hood 24 and pulled off an onsight.

Fred Bonnet did the classic Top One Thomo 27.

Tragedy struck on Brother In A Bodybag 28 when a taxi driver, frustrated with his own project, decided to give it a go and ripped off the crucial/key undercling hold on the crux. The undercling will forever be fondly remembered by all who were lucky enough to fondle it. Apparently the move still goes with a different sequence.

A couple of old favourites have received new steel. The starts of Ain’t No Sunshine and Lost Weekends have both sprouted shiny new rings.

I’ll add more and fill in the gaps soon! Keep cranking!

Mrs L the Strong

Nowra's golden daughter, Carlie LeBreton, has continued to apply her off-season power gains. Last week, she sent her first climb of the magical grade of 8a, Skin To Skin 29 in the Grease Cave, Thompson's Point.

Many years ago, when the rock was younger and the sky was brighter, as a 20 year old, Carlie climbed her first 28, Vehicle Of Hate. She then turned her attention to Skin To Skin. After much work, she could redpoint to a few moves from the end. Alas, at this time tragedy struck and injury caught up with her, robbing Carlie of all strength and stability in her right shoulder.

Carlie then spent years trying to recover her injury and with it, her intense psych. She also turned her attention to wooing and marrying her Prince Charming. Finally she succumbed to the inevitable and went under the knife and had the shoulder wrenched and screwed back into place. And so the rehab program began. Step by step she worked her way back to her former strength, power and fitness levels. As her skills grew, so did her confidence and determination.

After quickly adding 2 more to the 28s to her repertoire this season, she again turned her attention to Skin To Skin. The low crux move proved a little tricky to work out initially, but was soon sorted. On her second day on the route this year she redpointed past her old highpoint twice. The next day Carlie was at Nowra, Skin To Skin was ticked and she was the happiest girl south of the Illawarra.

Begone you neverending summer!

Returning from a trip to the Red River Gorge in the US with a spring in his step and plenty of juice in his forearms, Al Pryce has hit Nowra in form. He made an onsight ascent of Black Flag 29 and a first attempt send of Exploding Plastic Inevitable 29 at South Central and then made a short work of Attack Mode 32 over at PC. Spurred on by the new projects bolted at PC recently, he is reportedly relishing the chance to sink some steel.

As Season 2010 finally kicks off it’s thongs and pulls on a down jacket, the ascents are starting come. Logan Barber, recently moved from Western Australia to NSW under our climber resettlement program stamped his mark on South Central, cranking his way up Dungeon Master 31.

Marc Landers pulled off an onsight of Bachelor Busted Balling Bimbo 25 at PC, and added Thank You, Come Again 25 at PC and Lipstick 25 at The Grotto to his dance card.

Canberra lad, Ryan Holmes has kicked off his season with an ascent of Brown Badge 27 at South Central.

The season kicks in

With the rock as dry as a tin roof in Outback Queensland, the sends have been starting to flow. Carlie LeBreton has made her pitch for 2010 Player of the Season with ascents in the past 2 weeks of Ain't No Sunshine 28, Baby Just Don't Bite It 28, Brown Badge 27 and Maintain The Rage 27.

Scott Pritchard has been ticking his way through the classics, with ascents of Slut Whipping 26, Trigga Nigga 25 and Bachelor Busted Balling Bimbo 25. Matt Tsang, only only his 4th day ever climbing on rock, and his first at Nowra, flashed There Goes The Neighbourhood 24 and added an extension to Strike 22, mantling past the anchors and finishing on the Hunted Child anchors (it'll get its own anchor soon). The grade stays the same.

Wollongong climber Oliver Kerr has been ticking through the classics, cruising Mega Mac 25 and Butts of Beef 25.

Nowra TV Episode 2

Time for the second episode of Nowra TV.



Details of recent crushing coming soon.

Episode 1 of Nowra TV

Well here it is, the much anticipated first episode of Nowra TV. Sit back relax and enjoy...

There's a coolness in the air...

Yes climbers, that thing you dragged out of the bottom of the cupboard this week is a jumper, and it is probably still smells like the crag from last season. This can only mean one thing, Nowra season is nigh!

The mozzies are feeling the chill and going back to their miserable haunts, the rock is feeling sticky and the routes stand ready, waiting.

Sharik Walker has already got the ball rolling with a new 26 to the right of F.I.I.K. at PC. It starts out of the tree apparently, we're looking forward to Sharik revisiting it with a saw.

Carlie LeBreton pulled off a powerhouse repeat of Sex Machine 26 at South Central and even I managed to find a route I hadn't done before and did Exploding Plastic Inevitable 29.

Unreported from late last year was Nathan Hoette's link up of a skyline traverse of PC which starts up Dude Food, goes into Vogue for a bit and then into Church of Christ before following the summit ridge along past the Turn Your Eyes anchors to join Hopelessly Devoted to You just before its crux for the journey upwards to the anchors. Dedicated to Dude isn't an easy tick at 31.

Bring on the chill!

2010 - The Year of the Tiger

While this blog went into Summer hibernation, I am sure lots has been going down at the cliffs of Nowra. We were down there last weekend and the rock was like gold. The mozzies were out in force, but the climbing was sensational.

The RTA has finally opened the new road south of Albion Park, fulfilling a promise that Kevin Rudd personally made at last year's T10 to improve access for this year winter session. It takes at least 10 min off the drive, giving you time for at least one more redpoint.

So who has been ticking over summer? There has to be some hard core Nowraphiles that have been climbing, bolting and sweating over summer. Let us know of your ticks (the climbs, not the biting kind. Unless they were in amusing places).

It's going to be a huge year. What this space!

The T10 Video

Fresh from the editors desk is the T10 Video. Sit back, relax and relive that glorious day.