The Australian Climbing Titles: a Photo Essay

Urban Climb in Queenslands capital city of Brisbane won the right to stage the Australian indoor climbing titles. The event was a raging success with competitors and spectators combined. It was held over 3 days on the 30th of September and the 1st and 2nd of October 2005.

My job was to take as many pics as possible and I was given free reign as long as I stayed safe and did not interfere with the running of the event. This enabled me to clamber up and around the top of the walls to gain excellent points of view for my camera. I also set up a portaledge from which I could take pics and send live feed via a video camera to the overhead screen.

Phil sitting in his portaledge taking a picture of himself.

Chris Trengove making a move on the big screen as well as the wall. Pic by Lee Skidmore.

Phil Box all bridged out during the final climb to determine the masters category. I won second place, woohoo. Pic by Lee Skidmore.

Victory for a competitor in the mens B category.

Little tackers warming up in isolation.

Busting a vein to push through the pump.

Saxon Johns the head route setter doing some maintainence of the finals route for the masters and mens B.

Adam West the owner of Urban Climb belays a competitor.

The eyes tell it all.

I was most impressed with the grit and determination of some of the competitors to do well. This pic only tells half of the story. This competitor fiddled for quite a while attempting to clip this long draw, she ultimately was successful and she went on to get much higher.

Chris Jannusch pulling on pockets.

Cass Crane having just clipped contemplates her next move.

Now is not the time to fall off.

Lee Cossey traversing across the very steep wave wall. Lee came second in the open mens final.

During the interlude on Sunday we were treated to a magnificent display of strength, grace, flexibility and poise from Emma an aerial ballet performance.

Don`t try this at home folks.

Ouch.

That`s right you are seeing correctly, Emma is hanging off the bar by her ankles. No safety and she is 20 feet above the concrete.

newbierockclimber and kachoong sitting in amongst the crowd.