In our continued effort to join the local competition scene SURMC has once again rallied its troops to represent the club at Villawood’s bouldering contest. The competition was held on Saturday evening and participants were given three hours to work on a wide range of problems with each contestant’s top eight problems counting towards their final score. An extra point was also awarded for flashing a problem (completing it on the first attempt). Congratulations to Georgi Knox for finishing first in the women’s open B division and to Michael Lee for placing third in the men’s open B. Great job guys! An honorable mention also goes to Alisa Rabovsky for finishing third in the women’s open B category although we’re fairly certain there weren’t many competitors in that division.

If you’re interested in competing with SURMC, even if you’ve just started climbing, just talk to one of the club executives and they can give you more information on how everything works. It would be great to have more people involved. We’ll be posting an announcement regarding the next competition so keep an eye on the website for updates.

Hi guys,

To celebrate the start of semester SURMC will be having a party at the Forest Lodge Hotel this Friday. There’ll be finger food and a few jugs to get things started. When the Flodge closes at midnight we will most likely find somewhere to kick on. Details about the Flodge can be found on their website: www.forestlodgehotel.com.au

We’d especially like to meet the new members of the club. (I promise, only some of them bite!)

See you there!

Emma

Many of you have seen this already, but in case you haven’t I put together a video using footage from trips taken during first semester this year. Here’s a link to the finished product:

Enjoy the show!

So you’ve finished exams aye? Or you’re spending time on the SURMC web site instead of studying? Either way, I am here to convince you to come climbing in the Blue Mountains over the first week of the holidays. It will be awesome, there will be rocks and ropes and all kinds of cool stuff. I don’t really know what else to say in this thing, but here’ the plan.

The plan: Three days of climbing, head up on Monday morning, probably spend the day at dams cliff to teach those who haven’t climbed before. Camp near the entrance to Upper and Lower Shipley (forget what the campsites called), then spend the next two days climbing rocks. Depending on what people want to do we can decide where to climb over the next two days over the campfire? Come back on Wednesday night.

What you’ll need: you’ll need to organise your own kit. Ropes, draws, bolt plates, etc (im not going to list what you need for climbing because if you dont know…. well ask someone). Also, you’ll need to have food/money for food, a tent, a warm sleeping bag, and warm clothes (last time I went at this time of year it snowed one morning). You can bring supplies, but if you want we can just go shopping at blackheath.

Its ok if you’re a newbie but make sure you tell us in the comment section below so we can keep a cap on how many there are. Also if you have a car, please offer it. Petrol money will be compensated and everyone will think you’re awesome. We already have one, but if more people come, obviously, well need more cars.

(there will also be a slackline)

heres a picture of the blue mountains to help you visualise the trip.

IMPORTANT: Please register your interest for the trip using the form below

Who’s already registered?

So unfortunately we’ve been a bit slack on updating the trip reports. Hopefully everyone agrees it’s better late than never. For anyone who missed Araps this semester here’s a little rundown of what went on:

There were a fair amount of trad climbing virgins on the trip (am I allowed to use that word on our website?) but everyone was able to get a lot of climbing done. Congrats to Anthony Doig who spent the week learning to lead and was able to take several people up a variety of routes.
Although we were rock climbers by day, we became squeeze-boulderers by night. With only the glow of the moon to guide us we spent several evenings conquering various squeeze problems around the campsite. Jeremy Simes even went through one of the problems without putting down his cigarette. To witness the feat in person was nothing short of breathtaking.

Alana Hill pulling herself out of the scorpion squeeze

Sam Kissajukian in the squeeze boulder

A particularly amusing moment occurred when club president Emma Welshman decided to go through the scorpion squeeze feet first. Watching her legs wiggle out from under the rock is perhaps one of my fondest memories.
A small faction of us also broke away from the group for a day to head over to the neighboring Grampians. Here we bouldered, explored Hollow Mountain Cave, encountered an un-mantable mantle and afterwards went to the pub for the world’s largest chicken schnitzel.

Elodie Fourmond

Michael Lee

The win for the trip’s most epic fail goes to fan favorite Mat Guenette for having to bail off Salami (9), because he couldn’t get through the squeeze section about a third of the way up the climb. His struggle was both exhausting and amusing. Besides that it was just another trip that saw many routes completed and many more left for next time. Here’s looking forward to Arapiles in semester 2!

Jade Kingsley and James Henderson on Skink (18)

A place to drink, play, dance, celebrate climbing.

Date/time: Saturday, June 4th 7.30pm-2am

Address: 7 Epping Rd Double Bay

This is going to be good. We have a hammock city set up in the garden, we have amazing live music to dance to, there is a live art piece to be added to by participants and there are a plenty of interactive surprises and games to make the night quite unlike what you are used to. We are using Jimmy’s house and there will be a mix of people from outside SURMC to mix things up and keep it spicy.

The game plan of this house party:

1. Bring an item or prop that allows you to interact with others in an unusual way that brings happiness or amusement.
2. I retain the right to refuse any serious people, please check your adultness at the door. Non destructive immaturity is welcomed.
3. Bring boxed wine or a six pack.
4. I welcome suggestions.

Send me an email if life or anything about the party is confusing to you; samkissajukian@gmail.com

Sam

So, we’ve officially proved ourselves to have talents that extend far beyond rock-climbing. The Annual Team Challenge pitched man against man, woman against woman and men dressed as women against all conventions of good taste. We battled it out in tests of intelligence, skill and teamwork, and shamelessly cheated at every possible opportunity.

The contestants were Climbing Cartel, Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel, The Jenolan Cave Walkers (hmmmm?), The Fighting Mongooses… and one more, but I don’t remember their name. Sorry guys.

The trivia was a questionable event requiring knowledge of climbing, cocktail making and misadventures with bread. The Fighting Mongooses proved strong in the Egg and Spoon Challenge, but only because no one ran with their socks on their feet. I’m not sure if Jeremy and Anthony got extra points for waging war on each other with eggs at the finish line. Trees and poles were enlisted in the tug of war, and got Daniel sent off (blood rule). And when it comes to limbo, I’m not sure any of the following are actually valid moves:

(1) leaning forward instead of backward

(2) touching the rope

(3) touching the ground

(4) touching the rope while touching the ground (with your head) and being dragged through by your team mates.

Also, I wonder if Sam, Alisa and Pip knew that the blindfolds in the Blindfold Challenge were see-through? Bullrush let people settle some scores that had been developing throughout the proceedings, and then it was time for the piece de resistance – Pinky attempting to drink 4 litres of milk. We all saw how that ended, so no need to post the photo.

Jessica dealt the winning blow in front of Fischer Library in the remaining minutes of the competition. Her team has definitely earned their prize of a free trip to the Jenolan Caves.

Thanks to Pip, Alisa and Sam for organising this event, and thanks to everyone who participated, cheated, drank goon and got their kit off. It was a great success. I hope that everyone got home safely and managed to do at least one constructive thing on Friday (I was impressed to see Adnan at uni before 9am).

Please post your comments guys, as it would be great to have some feedback from your perspectives, because I missed a lot (cask wine will do that to you).

If you like throwing drop bears on foreigners, wrestling poisonous snakes, sprint racing in flippers and drinking with your feet on the ceiling then welcome to ATC.

Part pub crawl and part team based challenge, you will pit your wits against other rival surmc factions. Your team must navigate multiple challenges to reach the coveted glory of the night including an amazing prize awaiting the winners.

Teams will be randomly formed on the night. Warning: There will be drinking involved in some challenges but it is not essential to be drinking to participate. Let me know in advance if you wont be drinking on the night.

A disposable light coloured t-shirt, dress or top is required. Every male contestant who wears a dress on the night will receive 5 points for the team he joins. Every female contestant who wears a wig or fake facial hair will also receive 5 points for the team they join.

The first challenge, to get a head start on the competition is worth 15 bonus points. Whoever emails me before next Tuesday the most  fun but simple, unique and team based challenge to play on the night will receive 15 bonus points to go to the team he/she joins and their challenge will be included on the night! The winner will be announced on the night, after teams have been chosen.

Email me at samkissajukian@gmail.com to enter your challenges.

Meet at the Flodge on Thursday, March 31st for a start time of 5.15pm, End time will be 10.30pm.

If you have any questions, email Pip Collins (pcol1053@uni.sydney.edu.au) or myself.

There is a limit to how many teams we can have, so please RSVP to pcol1053@uni.sydney.edu.au by Tuesday 29th of March. First in first serve.

To cover costs, entry will be $15 per person and will include some alcohol.

See you there,

Sam

Hawkesbury River deep water soloing

Date: TBA sorry, last minute cancellation due to important bachelors party that will steal away myself and other climbers on that weekend. I will let you all know when we can reschedule.

Meeting point: The Ledge, unless you live far north and we can determine a good pick up point for you.

We’re heading off to the Hawkesbury River near Sydney to do some hard climbing over deep water.

There’s a guide available from http://www.cruxmag.com.au/issue1. Note that the grades are quite hard (20+) so the trip could end up being deep water bouldering for most people.

Because the climbing is hard and the falls are potentially dangerous if not taken correctly, you must be confident in your abilities and able to remain calm in dangerous situations. So as a minimum entry requirement you must be able to onsight lead on sport grade 19-20 or onsight hard yellow tape boulders at the ledge. I want to keep the numbers small for safety reasons and boat hire limitations so there will be 9 spots open for the trip. I might add another 5 spots if I feel comfortable with the group and 3 boats can be hired.

You’ll need to be a good swimmer, for obvious reasons, and sensible enough to check your landings and make a decision about what you think is safe.

We’ll camp in the bushland near Bay Road / Berowra Waters marina.

Everyone should bring:

• towel
• swimmers
• sunscreen
• a few pairs of shoes if you can, so you can climb in a dry pair
• all the usual camping stuff

Note that we won’t be hiring any club gear that might get damaged by water (again for obvious reasons).

Costs

Costs vary depending on how many people come along. Mainly the more people we get, the more we can split the boat hire.

Boat hire from Berowra: We might hire for two half days or one full day.

• $85 / half day ($17.00pp, assuming 5 people)
• $130 / full day ($26.00pp, assuming 5  people)

No boat license is required. http://www.bbqboat.info/tinnies.php

Boat fuel ~$5pp for 4 people.

Car $10pp for 4 people.

Plus food (depends on where and how much you eat).

Overall difficulty:

Hard

Costs:

approx. $60 each – see the trip description

Contact:

samkissajukian@gmail.com 0431697062

The SURMC AGM took place last Wednesday the 9th, and I am pleased to announce a new committee. A fair few of these are new members who are keen to be more involved in the club, which is great to see. In addition, it was decided that the club would have both a male and a female Vice President, as well as a Club Captain whose job it is to oversee the long term development of the club.

President – Emma Welshman

Vice Presidents – Alisa Rabovsky, David Mulligan (aka Pinky)

Club Captain – Sam Kissajukian

Treasurer – Karen Gao

Secretary – James Guest

Trip & Training Officer – Chris Knox

Social Officer – Pip Collins

Safety Officer – Daniel Roberts-Clarke

Membership Officer – Adam Schaefer

Publicity & Promotions Officer – Bec Page

IT/Website Officer – Joon Kim

Alpine Officer – Mick Morris

SUSF Reps – Bon Ng, Adriana Lions

A big thanks to everyone who showed up, here’s to making 2011 an awesome year for the club!