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!