So I’m looking to you 2011. This is the year. This coming season is going to be the greatest season EVER! Off season training has already started. Heck,I’m even bouldering at the gym. And once this brainless idea of running a quasi-marathon is done, the snow will be gone! And despite my never ending love of sleeping in the shade at the crag, this season is going to be full of unprecedented CRUSHING EEEVVVER!

But how the heck am I going to get there?

Dale + Drop-Knee = Crushing

Thankfully, there are great ‘mo fauxs like Dale. In Toronto you might recognize him as “dude behind the customer service desk at MEC”. In the US, however, you might recognize him as the dude in the Burger King commercial.

Anyways, Dale is a wicked-awesome guy.  Not only did he loan me his Red Rocks guidebook last year, he has also written a very inspiring article for Gripped Magazine titled “Think and Climb Hard – The Five Habits of Successful Climbers“. Thanks to the powers of social media, Dale was able to survey a tonne of pro/elite climbers from around the world and distill his findings into this great article. A definite job well done! Check it out HERE but don’t forget to come back here.

Why? Because Dale’s touches on some really awesome points as to why people start climbing in the first place. I know for me, I needed a means to get fit but I HATE the gym. At the time, climbing seemed fun and looked like a good solution. Little did I know how much I would LOVE it. Working out turned into a game. Working out the crux turned into awesome puzzles. And as I met more climbers, ever session turned into a hilarious game, like Jenga but more swearing, sweating, and falling. Which leads to another point Dale points out. The people around you at the crag or gym can really influence how you crush. I know for a fact, that if I don’t fully trust my belayer, I’m sure as hell not going to make a crazy move. Or if I’m cruxing and I’ve got a solid crew of people cheering me on, sometimes I can push myself that much harder. Basically, people can help forget the pump.

So Toronto, if you’re gonna “always be climbing” or if you’re just starting out, you’re in the right place at the right time.
On Saturday, January 8th, the Boulderz Climbing Centre session of Tour de Bloc is happening. If any of you are remotely interested, I suggest registering ASAP. Space is limited. For serious.

And if you still have crushing capabilities, the ‘mos will be cranking it at True North Climbing at around 3PM. This is a very beginner friendly place, so if you’re thinking about trying it out, this is your chance. Anybody who needs belay lessons should contact me so I can arrange lessons with the gym.

Facebook Event: New Year’s Resolution: Climb More. Or just climb, period.

Also looking ahead, I’m thinking about buying 10 passes to Boulderz to sign up for the Andrew’s Body Blast Sessions. If anybody else is interested, let me know. They’re every Monday night and pretty much guaranteed to work muscles you didn’t think you had.

So here we are 2011. I’ve finally bought a fresh bag of chalk and a role of tape. I’m 2 moves from sending that V5 but there is a lot of time. There are no plans to smoke, and a running schedule to make anybody cry. There are training sessions at the regular gym and the climbing gym.

There really isn’t much else to say except FLAME OFF, CLIMB ON.

And with that, I’m sending shout outs of holiday greetings to the ‘mos and fauxs around the world. I’m packing my rucksack to no, not adventure in the wild, but hang out with the wild family for 3 days. Wish me luck!

Seasons Greetings to all.

(I’m so happy I live in a world that I can post this kinda crap on Christmas Eve.)

Hooray! It’s my monthly post where I apologize for being the worst ‘mo climber blogger man EVER. But tis the season for goodwill towards your fellow man and to keep an eye out for cheap flights to Cuba.

With that, I totally admit it. I’m not a huge Christmas person. To be honest, I borderline hate it. The malls are chaotic, the streetcars are rammed with twice as much matter, and I spend a good chunk of time at Christmas parties faking interest in people. I know, I know. Its such a horrible outlook on the season, but this year I’m trying something different. While I tried to escape to California, I’m actually staying in Toronto during the holidays for the first time in YEARS. There is no Christmas adventure and it feels super weird.

Anybody else going to be in Toronto over the holidays? The plan so far is to pretty much live at the climbing gym if I’m not snowboarding. Drop me a line if you’re interesting in pulling plastic.

Looking ahead, I’ve already put out a date for 2011′s first T.O. ‘Mo OUTing. The plan is to head to True North Climbing on Sunday, January 9th to burn off all that holiday insulation.

Facebook Event HERE:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154180171296332

Almost two weeks after that, I’m flying down to Austin, Texas for 9 days to hang out the the GLAM Crew! Yeah, that’s right, Maple Leaf down in the Lone Star, and I’m super excited about it. The plan is to eat like an Umerikahn! I’m talking pulled pork, steak, tacos, Tex Mex, or any other vehicle to consume guacamole. If you know of any rockin’ places to check out in the Austin area, let me know! I’m playing absolute tourist that weekend. I’ve been told we’re going climbing too, but whatever! I haven’t been on real rock adventure since Rumney with the CRUX crew way back in September!

I think this is my crappiest blog post ever. I promise to post something over the holidays that makes fun of family Christmas chaos. Much like this:

OAC Shopping Night

Anyways, down to business. TWO THINGS. The first being the Ontario Access Coalition‘s SHOPPING NIGHT at Mountain Equipment Co-op! That’s right people, members get 10% off everything in the store. Not a member? Well, then you’re a douche. But don’t worry, you can sign up at the door. I am 100% going since its so close to work, I’m usually walking around MEC on my lunch hour. So message me if you’re interested. Facebook Event HERE.

Second thing is this years Reel Rock Tour at True North. Its next Saturday. I’m TOTALLY going, so if you need a ride or something, let me know. I have no idea how much tickets are, but I figure I’m going to make a climbing day out of it. Interest? Message me. Check out the trailer.

If you’ve never been, this is THE climbing-movie-tour-thingy to watch. Actually, I took the parental units to the screening 3 years ago to see The Sharp End. Here is the trailer.

The lesson is that particular movie isn’t the one you want to take your Mother to as you’ll spend the rest of the evening saying that you don’t do those things.

So yeah, let’s go shopping and watch movies! Its November and I can’t grow facial hair, so I gotta find other ways to entertain myself. Flame off, climb on!

While I’ve tried to keep this thing climbing first, ‘mo second, the recent string of teen suicides has really got under my skin. There is no denying it, when a 13 year old shoots himself in the head, there is something wrong with society. I stumbled on this video with Ellen and Anderson Cooper, and thought he brought up a good point. Can “fag” be the new “N” word?

Being politically correct has never been my proverbial cup of tea, but I myself have been marinating over the situation. While I can take it, while I am lucky enough to have friends I can joke around with, my indifference might be perpetuating cultural norms that need to end. So, I’m drawing a line in the sand, but I’m willing to meet in the middle. I’m making a conscious effort to eliminate the word “retarded” from my daily vocabulary, with hopes that some karmatic, rippled-effect makes it way across the pond.

Hell, I have hope for the future, and if making it better means finding new words, then I’m down. But don’t worry, even though Douglas Coupland says the future is a bit wank (see “A radical pessimist’s guide to the next 10 years“), I still maintain that “It Gets Better“.

And again, thanks to EVERYBODY who was at Joe Rockhead’s last Tuesday, who so lovingly opened up and shared your experiences and feelings. It take a sh*t tonne of balls and guts to put your heart out there. I really think it is an easy yet an important contribution.

Gawd, I miss rock climbing.

Anyways, Happy Monday and enjoy the video!

Congrats to the McBurney Crew at Boulderz Climbing Centre for a job WELL DONE! Their “Nuit De Bloc” for Nuit Blanche was amazing! Its the idea that everybody has when they’re talking smack with their buddies at the gym, but nobody ever does. The problems, as always, were so much fun. Kudos to Andrew for setting stuff that really makes you think and friggin work your body.

Usually, I HATE Nuit Blanche. The streets are crowded with losers, and performance art makes me want to throw things. This has actually made me look forward to next year’s Nuit Blanche. Great work, guys!

It can’t get any clearer. So come out this Tuesday, October 5th.

“Climb as you are” Night

On Tuesday, October 5th, T.O. ‘Mo Climbers will host a special climbing night called “Climb as you are” Night. Not only are we going to climb together, but will also have a video cam on hand so we can all contribute to the “It Gets Better” Project. The video from Toronto and queer climbing groups from across North America will be edited into one mass submission! So come out, climb, and if you want to, send a few words out there.

Gay, straight, boulderer, sport climber, whatever. Its an easy contribution, but an important one.

Facebook Event
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157468487606430

The Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject

The Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcVyvg2Qlo

Then there is some sad news. Kurt Albert has died yesterday from injuries sustained from a via feratta fall. One of the climbing greats from the 70′s along with Wolfgang Gullich, Albert is the reason we use the term “redpoint” as he would use small red dots to work projects.

As reported by Climbing Magazine

As reported by Rock and Ice

As reported by PlanetMountain.com