Climb-A-Thon

Getting to France for the WYC is expensive. To help raise money for the team trip, Sport Climbing Australia is organising a fund-raising Climb-a-thon.

When: Sunday July 12th
Where: SICG
Time: Six hours of climbing, from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
Target: Your goal is to climb 1 vertical kilometre, that's 1000 metres.
(This is about 80-100 climbs at SICG, depending on which walls you're on. You can do the same climb as may times as you like)

Your support will help the team to pay for flights, accommodation, team clothing,
and coaching

This is an open event and anyone can get a sponsorship card and join in and help the team

It's going to be a lot of fun, and great training.

See you there!

Team Training Day The Climbing Centre

The Team had a really good training day last Sunday at The Climbing Centre in Penrith. We were missing a few team members due to out of state, town and being sick but 9 were there ready to crank there hardest. It was a long weekend as they all competed in the last round of The Tour de Corde at SICG on friday night and Saturday morning. So some were on the tired side.

After 4 hours of training they walked out draging the hands along the ground, thats what I like to see as a coach!!

Here are some Photos of the day.

Brittany Fletcher

Gender: Female

Nickname: Britt, Brittleknees, Britto, Britty.

How old are you: 15



Where are you from: Glenbrook, Blue Mountains, Australia

School/job: St Columbas High School

When and where did you first start climbing: At a birthday party in 2006 at Penrith Climbing Center

Favourite Climbing Gym: Penrith Climbing Center

Hours Training per week: 6 -7 in the gym, 1-2 on hangboard and at least one day outdoor on the weekend.

Favourite Climbing area: Nowra

Best climb you have done: Junket Pumper , Centennial Glen, Blue Mountains.

Best Competition result: Second at State titles 2008 lead comp.

Why do you climb: Because I love it – is this a trick question?

Favourite moment in climbing: Topping out the 3rd qualifier at 2009 State Titles, and sending Junket Pumper

Loesje Fletcher

Gender: Female

Height: 163cm

How old are you: 13



Where are you from: Glenbrook, Blue Mtns, NSW

School: St Columba’s High, Springwood.

When and where did you first start climbing: Started climbing in year 6 (2007) at Penrith, The Climbing Centre

Favourite Climbing Gym: FIS (Faulconbridge Institute of Sport)

Hours Training per week: About 6-7 hours at the rock climbing gym, at home about 1hr on hangboard, At least one day a weekend outdoor climbing in the Blue Mtns (usually)

Favourite Climbing area: Recently was taken to Nowra, and Thompson’s Point is my new favourite area.

Best climb you have done: A grade 22 at Birdwood Gully Springwood (a local crag).

Best Competition result: First at Nationals in 2008 in lead and speed (Youth C), First at Oceania in 2008 for speed

Why do you climb: I love it and everything about it, especially competition-bouldering, speed and lead.

Favourite moment in climbing: At states competition this year, on our third climb, i didn’t make it to the top, but it felt so good getting over the height that seemed to be the crux in my group, and keep sticking the moves until i couldn’t even hold on any longer.

Sarah Davis

Gender: Female

Height: 163 cm

Nickname: sez

How old are you: 16 years old

Where are you from: Melbourne, Victoria

School/job: I go to St Leonards College

When and where did you first start climbing: Just before my 9th birthday at the Victorian Climbing Centre (Seaford Indoor Climbing Gym)

Favourite Climbing Gym: Bayside Rock

Hours Training per week: 4 ½ hours in climbing gyms, cardio (2 sessions= 2 hours) core work and chin-up board= 1 hour.

Favourite Climbing area: Mt Arapiles

Best climb you have done: the Bard “Mt Arapiles”

Best Competition result: 1st place at the 2008 Oceania Championships in Rotorua (youth b speed)

Why do you climb: Because I enjoy the how the sport constantly challenges me. I also love the people that I meet.

Favourite moment in climbing: There are so many great moments, I couldn’t choose

Melissa Andersen

Gender: Female

Height: 170cm

Nickname: Mel

How old are you: 18

Where are you from: Wambion, Pretty much Canberra though

School/job: Graduated year 12 Merici College 2008, Currently Part Time work at South Canberra Rocks and National Convention Centre looking at doing qualifications to be an outdoor Guide

When and where did you first start climbing: Canberras North side Gym Mitchell in 2006 to gain strength in my ankle, after a couple of months i was told i had a osteio oedema (some form of tumour) so i had to take the rest of the year off due to surgery and such. Got back into it in 2007 and have been climbing ever since =]

Favourite Climbing Gym: There all cool in their own different ways, i don’t really have a main favourite gym

Hours Training per week: 3 nights a week ranging from 1.5hours a session to 2.5hours

Favourite Climbing area: Outdoors is pretty sweet don’t get to much though

Best Competition result: 3rd in a national comp

Why do you climb: Because its fun and after finishing a hard climb you know its not the end theres always something harder about

Robbie Adams

Gender: Male

Height: 179cm

How old are you: 16

Where are you from: Sydney, Australia

School/job: Manly High

When and where did you first start climbing: The Rockhouse, a long time ago casually

Favourite Climbing Gym: The Rockhouse

Hours Training per week: 6

Why do you climb: Beacause i love climbing and enjoy it so much

Favourite moment in climbing: finishing the moves

Tommy Anglim Lagones

Gender: Male

Height: 175cm

Nickname: Tommy

How old are you: 15

Where are you from: Canberra

School/job: Emmaus (½ time), home-schooled (½ time). Work part-time at Mountain Designs

When and where did you first start climbing: Canberra Indoor about 2½ years ago

Favourite Climbing Gym: St. Peters

Hours Training per week: 5 hours climbing, 4 hours physical training

Favourite Climbing area: Megalong Valley

Best climb you have done: 1st climb at Oceania, 2008

Best Competition result: 2nd in Speed at the Australian selections for the World Youth Championships 2009, 1st Act Secondary Schools, 7-8 boys, August 2007

Why do you climb: Because ever since I started, I’ve enjoyed this sport. I have always liked sports with an element of danger, such as Karting, so climbing suits me very well in that respect.

Favourite moment in climbing: Watching my wonderful father perform admirably in his first ever competition (what a guy!) Hey, how did that get there?

The Team

The Australian WYC Team is:

JM Braach-Maksvytis Mattias

JW Brown Emma
JW Santangelo Maya
JW Andersen Melissa

AM Axel Tritton
AM Aves Ben
AM Adams Robbie

AW Fletcher Brittany
AW Davis Sarah

BM Peyr Samuel
BM Wagland Nick
BM Lagones Thomas

BW King Sophie
BW Fletcher Loesje
BW Johns Zoe

Australian Youth Climbing Team

The Australian Youth Climbing Team was picked at the selection trials in April. Youth climbers from around the country came to Sydney to try and win a place on the team.

This year the team is heading to France for the World Youth Championships in Valence. The competition will be from the 27-30 of August. We have 18 climbers on the team in 3 age categories; Youth B (14-15 yo), Youth A (16-17 yo) and Juniors (18-19 yo).