Aiguille End-of-Summer Updates

By Kayla Baker

Wow, has this summer gone by fast or what? It feels like just yesterday it was the Fourth of July. But even though the summer is coming to a close, I'm sure all you good students out there can't wait for classes to start back up soon! Aiguille's summer hours will be changing again shortly, so keep an eye out for our opening hours to be a little bit later during the week. 

Aiguille's 2012 Summer Climbing & Challenge Camp

By Kayla Baker

Summer is a time for relaxing with family, hanging out at the beach, enjoying an ice cold lemonade by the lake, and rock climbing with friends… (wait, did you say rock climbing? Yes, that’s right! It’s that time of year again for Aiguille Rock Climbing Center’s 2012 Summer Climbing & Challenge Camp!

Off Belay - In Memory of Susan Dean

By Tara Ziegler

Tragically last week Aiguille lost a longtime friend, Susan Eitelman Dean. For those of you who did not know Susan, she was known as 'Sweet Suzie' around the gym and fully lived up to it. She was always making someone smile and never without one herself. Forever a friend to everyone she encountered, and always ready to climb, Susan made the perfect climbing partner. Susan, 32, leaves behind devoted husband Matt Dean and 2 year old son Andrew.

Aiguille's New Waiver System!

By RyAnn Lugo

As, most of you have noticed, Aiguille scientists have discovered a way to convert our primitive paper waiver system over to an electronic waiver system (Just kidding. We are not scientists). This is a major system upgrade so, starting on the 15th of this month, EVERYONE will need a new waiver, regardless if you have filled one out or not. And you're probably thinking, "Well it's about time! Paper waivers date back to, like... the Jurassic Period, when dinosaurs roamed the earth with my grandma." Well, we couldn't agree more! (But, seriously. Do you know how many staff members we lost trying to keep T-Rex from getting through our garage door every day? Ridiculous.) This new electronic system is definitely a step up from our previous one, and it’s designed to make everyone's life easier - customers and employees alike.

Flips Flops off and Climbing Shoes On! Winter Camp is here!

By Kayla Baker

What better way to make a wonderful winter memory than making new friends, building self confidence and, did I mention, rock climbing?? Aiguille Rock Climbing Center’s 2011 Winter Break Climbing & Challenge Camp will be starting on Monday, December 19, 2011 and is open to kids from ages 6 - 16 years old. Aiguille offers full or half days to best fit your schedule, as well as discounts for siblings and additional camp weeks.

Aiguille After Dark: Holiday Party!

by Kayla Baker

No matter what holiday you celebrate, there is one day that every climber can come together and have a jolly good time…December 23, 2011! This month’s Aiguille after Dark will not only be a night of new routes, turned down lights, and JSHIH’s jammin’ beats, but a Holiday Party that you can’t miss! Holiday decorations will be everywhere you turn, and keep your eye out for Santa coming down the Chimney Wall…I sure hope everyone was good this year…

Blowing Rocks Update

A while back we posted about a proposed V12 on the beach in Jupiter, FL. Well, last weekend a crew of Aiguille climbers, along with Vertical Ventures co-owner and photographer Chris Brown, visited the beach-side cliff to check it out for themselves. Read Chris' write-up of the trip on his blog HERE.

Chris Sharma Starts Blogging

Now living in Spain and sending a new "hardest route ever" nearly every day, Chris Sharma has started blogging about his experiences on Petzl's website.

Check it out HERE

Rich Simpson's Ascents in Question

About a year ago we posted an article about Rich Simpson, an English climber who quit climbing after sending 5.14d, ran a 3.58 minute mile, and was training to be an Olympic boxer.

The legitimacy of Rich's achievements, climbing and otherwise, have recently come into question, and so was asked by his sponsors to provide evidence of his claims, which he did not. He was therefore dropped by both Wild Country and Scarpa.

Here is an article from UKClimbing, where all the drama began.

Jonathan Brookins wins The Ultimate Fighter

The Routesetters would like to congratulate Aiguille member Jonathan Brookins on his outstanding (i.e. nerve-racking) performance at the finale of The Ultimate Fighter. After getting rocked a number of times in the first round, Jonathan stuck to the game plan of bringing opponent Micheal Johnson to the ground, where Brookins sealed the deal by dominating the second and third round with some vicious ground and pound.

Watch the entire Finale. Fast forward if you'd like to the last fight

And this post fight interview.

V12 in Florida?

DeadPoint Magazine reports that New Jersey climber Chris Redmond has been establishing a limestone cliff on a beach in South Florida. His sends include One From None (V12), Biggie's 10 (V11), Pipeline (V10) and Joe Green (V9), and is working on a seven move linkup of One From None that may put it in the V13/14 range.
From time to time we hear about someone bouldering on Florida's beach cliffs, but most claim the rock is chossy, breaking every time you get on the wall, and many problems can only be climbed during low-tide. The general consensus is that it isn't even worth the 3-5 hour drive.
Maybe it's a hoax, or maybe it's a new, solid cliff line that could be the start of some incredible bouldering south of Atlanta! We will keep you informed as more details become available.

Check out Deadpoint's original post on the matter HERE.

Muir Valley Access Issues

Many of you have undoubtedly been to Muir Valley at the Red River Gorge. The Valley is approximately 400 acres in size and walled in by over seven miles of majestic cliffs of hard Corbin Sandstone that range in height from 20 feet to over 200 feet. Although privately owned, Muir Valley may be freely enjoyed by all because of donations. Unfortunately, with an ever-increasing number of visitors but a declining number of donations, property maintenance has become impossible for the owners. Our access is in jeopardy. Please take the time to donate any amount you can here.

Here is the original post from the owners Rick and Liz Weber explaining the situation and asking for help from the climbing community.

Deep Water Solo Competition

Check out DeadPoint Magazines write-up of the first ever 'artificial deep water solo’ competition held in Spain last weekend, here.

Update:

Alex Puccio on the cover of Outside Magazine

Ben Hoberg takes 6th!

Ben at 2010 SCS Youth Nationals; photo by ClimbingPix.com

Aiguille local Ben Hoberg recently traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland for the IFSC Youth World Championships where he placed 6th in difficulty. Ben was in a low 20th place leading into Saturday, but after placing 8th in the morning semifinal round and a great effort in finals he jumped to an amazing 6th place finish.

Congratulations Ben on an amazing showing in your last Youth Worlds!

UCF Climbing Team in the Central Florida Future

Read the article by Kaitlyn Teabo HERE

Online Climbing Controversies

Climbing news websites have been booming recently with arguments on a number of topics. Here is the 411 on the most popular...

Paul Robinson FAs V16 in Bishop

On March 30th Paul Robinson nabbed the first ascent of a longstanding project in Bishop, CA, calling it Lucid Dreaming and proclaiming a grade of V16. This makes it a contender as the hardest boulder problem in the world.

8 year-old climbs V10

Watch the video of 8 year-old Ashima Shiraishi sending Power of Silence (V10) in Hueco at DeadPoint.

The Game video

Here's a sneak peek of Daniel Woods' new V16, The Game.