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!