Alex Norton

Outdoors at Burbage South

Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but we’ve had some very nice weather in this last week of my Easter holidays, so we went up to the Peak District to climb outdoors.

IMG_5876

Five happy climbers sitting on a rock

We decided to go to Burbage South Valley for a change, and there ended up being twelve of us altogether: Alex Norton, Kai Paling, Zac Brown and Ellie Dixon were there, as well as our parents.

We had a great time ticking off problems on the green and yellow circuits in my guide book, Peak Bouldering, and it gave me a chance to practice slab work and trusting my feet on practically nothing. I also enjoyed wriggling up a crack called The Trough on The Pig – I felt just like Tom Randall!  We made a video, which I really love, and hope you enjoy.  I’m going back to Burbage with the Tower Youth Climbing Club in May and hope the weather is as good.

Next stop, BMC YCS Finals in Ratho, 25th April!!!!!!!!!!

IMG_5895

Going up The Crook

IMG_6002

Fun in the sun

IMG_3006

That’s enough for now

Training Session

1 Comment

As it is the Easter holidays, I had the chance to go up to Awesome Walls, Sheffield for a training session, in preparation for the BMC YCS finals in April.  I went with my friend Alex Norton, who is now on the Junior GB Lead Climbing team.  He also has a new blog, which you can see at www.alexnortonclimbs.com

We had a good day and made this little video.  Enjoy!

Back at Stanage Plantation

Leave a comment

On the 30th July I went back to Stanage Plantation, along with Alex Norton and Kai Paling.  Kai’s dog, Milo came along too!  We had another great day, although it was different from last time as the bracken was out.  Kai and I spent a lot of time playing, exploring and getting lost in it as, in places, it was over our heads!

IMG_2491

See what I mean!

 

I climbed the V4 Slot Sit Down again, as well as the Black Arete, Lone Slab, a couple of things on the Business Boulder and, of course, the Pebble Traverse.  I also had a good go at the Lone Ranger.  This time I managed to go home with more skin still on my fingers.  I think I’ve definitely learnt to trust my feet more and am getting more used to working out how to get up a line without having a set of holds to follow.  It’s very different from climbing inside, but I do enjoy it.

IMG_2281

When we got home there was a nice surprise waiting for me from Alpkit….

IMG_2520

My favourite colours!

Thanks Alpkit!

Have a look at the video above to see what our day was like.

Fun at The Climbing Unit!

Leave a comment

During half term I went to The Climbing Unit in Derby, with Alex Norton and Kai Paling.  I warmed up on the kids’ circuit then got down to crushing some of the greens.  We also had a lot of fun on the HUGE Alpkit beanbags!  Go down and see for yourselves how big they are!

This was probably one of my favourite problems of the day, with a little bit of everything in it…

IMG_0295

… some jumping …

IMG_0297

… an overhang …

... a toe-hook ...

… a toe-hook …

... an a crazy finish!

… and a crazy finish!

We all went out for tea afterwards and had the biggest ice-cream in the world!

If you want to see us in action, have a look at the latest video:

Competition time!

Leave a comment

This has been an exciting week of competitions.  First, Shauna Coxsey won gold at the IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Grindlewald, then did it again yesterday at Innsbruck!  I think she is amazing and I’m very inspired by her.

Well done Shauna, and to all the GB climbers who took part.

shauna

Shauna winning her first gold at Grindelwald

To add to that, on Friday I took part in the Big Rock Youth Climbing Competition in Milton Keynes.  I went as part of a team called Me, Him and Her along with Alex Norton and Kai Paling.  I flashed everything except the last route, falling off at the same crimp as Kai.  Alex flashed everything, and his final route was amazing to watch.

I won Girls E, Alex won Boys B and Kai came second in Boys E.  That meant we placed joint first for the team award, alongside Big Rock Academy (and they had 13 people!)

My dad has made a short video of our highlights.  Why don’t you have a sneaky peak?!

 

 

Stanage Plantation – April 2014

Leave a comment

This was my first climbing trip to Stanage and was amazing!  I was able to climb with Alex Norton, Alice Killington, Ed O’Grady and others from the Climbing Station.

I topped a V4 on the Business Bolder, as well as flashing some V1s and 2s.  My favourite was Lone Slab, which features a lot on my video!  I hope to get out a few more times before Ratho, if the weather lets us.

10155101_10151988468332397_298180650127925782_n  10250141_10151988468437397_1073902425272158103_n  10294291_10151988468352397_5465705702807236039_n