2014 recap

I'm baaaack!!! Snow, van, climbing, Europe, biking, golfing, beach, party, running, climbing, climbing, climbing!  living the dream.... All made possible by my great wife Chandler, my job with Kurt Smith, and the amazing brands I work with.  Here is a 2014 recap in photos.

Birthday bash

The 29th year has gripped me tightly and I can't shake it.  It's the morning after and I just had birthday cake and milk for breakfast.  No matter the number, I am younger than ever.  However, I seem to be a lot more responsible and accountable.  But isn't that what makes us young?   Being irresponsible and unaccountable?  oh well....

I'm hosting Mike Turner of Evolv Sports this week as we prepare for the Triple Crown festivities and visit some accounts in the area.  Being from So Cal he has a bit of a transition to deal with on the rock of the south.  Of course, I took him to LRC for a proper Southeastern  goo fest of a bouldering day in Oct...Tank tops and shorts were still too much...

No birthday sends this year.  We went out climbing at Deep Creek after a long day of travel and work. Yes, on my birthday we did work, I guess that's part of growing up.  I was trying this new route that just got sent last week.  It's on the left side of the Dungeon.  Starts under the horizontal roof and works through a series of tiered roofs toward the final crux lip turn.  I think I pulled my hamstring a little too pulling the low roof with a heel hook.  I blame it on countless hours in the car over the last two days.  

Now we are all geared up and ready to begin the Triple Crown Chattanooga and RiverRocks fistivities this weekend!  I love this time of year, when the whole southeastern climbing community comes together in one place for a good time.  Psyched to see all my friends!  

Cheddar

Rendezvous X

Show me your X!!!!!  Man, that dance party was off the hook.  On stage was DJ Mon Voyage Neon with a shirtless Kurt Smith raging like there is no tomorrow.  We had the whole Southern Fried Team Evolv front and center representing for the industry folk.  After all, the hard work was done and it was our turn to let loose.  Good times...

The weekend was an absolute success.  The people were out in high spirits and large numbers all here to support the cause.  The weather was typical for the Rendezvous, except this time around Saturday was breezy and dry.  Whoohoo!  I'm sure everyone in attendance got at least two days of climbing in.  I managed three out of my longer stay at the New.  Here's a pic of me on Lactic Acid Bath...

I don't have that many more pics of the party or climbing.  My time was split between running the dyno comp and relaxing whenever possible.  I did manage this one of Salewa's Matt Whiteman forerunning the table boulder.

The Countdown

And so it begins.  The inevitable warming is upon us.  It happens every year when we least expect it, as if we had lost track of time.  The day gets warmer and the night not colder. Yep, it's March 1st and spring is just around the corner.  Although, you wouldn't know it from the past week of primo climbing conditions.

It really has been good friction conditions down here in the south recently.  The days have been a mix of sunny and 45 degrees and overcast with wind at 45 degrees.  pRiMo!  As always, I've been torn between projects and trying to make something happen everyday out. I found that this season I was always working toward something. The goal this season was more of an all around goal.  I wanted to do 10 V9's (Done!) and finish off strong in the route game, which is sort of just beginning. ??? I guess I still have some time on that one. Basically what I'm saying is that if I don't do Psychopath this season is lost.  HAhaha just kidding.  But that is my new focus.  Definitely a fickle route.  I've chosen not to do the extra climbing out left to the rest and just tackle the rig straight on.  Full on hard 8a! On top of that, I found that it needs to be the right temp outside as well for this thing.  If it's too cold I numb out on the finicky pockets.  Too hot, no friction.  So, 50 degrees is ideal.  Yep, I've still got some time on this one.

Anyway, here are some pics I took the day after Rock N Rave (yep, we went climbing).  I took my buddy Zach up to Lookout Mtn for a tour of the mountain.  He managed to send Nine Lives and couldn't quite make the link on Astro Zombies.  Zach Campbell is the head setter at Climb Nashville and has been very motivated recently to progress his climbing.  He and his brother, Brandon, just got back from a trip to Sswizzy where they both sent their hardest boulders to date.  Nice!

Also, Hefner and I went out to Rocktown yesterday and did some boulders.  Nate was on a mission to do the hardest V10's at Rocktown.  No dice...Pics below.  I on the other hand was out to complete my 10 V9 goal.  And I did it!  The tenth of the season was B Cubed on the big bad boulder.  I did all the moves pretty quickly.  Then it came time to execute.  On my second attempt I punted off the last move, after I had stuck it.  Sucks.  So, after that I had some serious beta issues and things just weren't clicking.    Out of sheer desperation and throwing myself at this thing one last time, I was on top.  Wow.  Then we went on to the dugout boulder.  I was done for the day but Nate was psyched to climb some moderates.  And wouldn't you know it, we were trying the hardest two boulder problems on the wall.  Somehow, I managed to send Roughin the Rottweiller.  I never thought I'd do this boulder, but it turned out not to be so bad.