SITE MOVED

Hello there - if you are looking for the website for the new Liverpool Bouldering wall please go to:

WWW.THECLIMBINGHANGAR.COM

see you there!

New Circuit

Just in case you are still reading this one instead of the main website (www.theclimbinghangar.com)

The I thought you should know that there is a new circuit being set this Sunday night. Reds come down to replaced by purples, more V3-5 action. So if you have any reds left to do, 26.5hrs of climb time left to send them!

Moved!

Now I am the bad man here, I was supposed to tell everyone that i have in fact moved the general info about the centre to the main website as maintaining one blog is well enough for my tiny brain, two would cause long term damage. So go here for the knowledge now:

www.theclimbinghangar.com

As for my general musing, witty banter and Stephen Fry like wit, well perhaps I will make guest appearances on UKB or something, I might need to use some sort of cover name however as now as owner/manager of a bouldering centre I will either have to a. make my dialogue totally inoffensive, not have an opinion and remove my spine or b. disclaim all statements with small print that says the views of Ged do not represent the views of the management of The Climbing Hangar, oh hold on, I am the management.... I will use a cover name.

Over and out - Guy Incognito.

Opening Day Info and flyer

Doors open at 12.00 on Saturday January 8th to Liverpool’s newest and best indoor climbing experience

All climbers will be entered into a free prize draw for Red Chilli and Wild Country goodies.

Finest Arabica coffee fresh from our traditional espresso machine, a selection of tea and tisanes and cold drinks will keep you hydrated and stimulated.

Delamere Delights decadent home baking, indulgent chocolate brownies, sumptuous carrot cake, fab flapjacks and fantastic fairy cakes will fuel the frolics!

And in the evening…

The Climbing Hangar launches the Project Circuit, a circuit set by a prominent British climber with a global CV of world class problems. The circuit will remain up for three months giving us all the chance to ‘project’ the problems outdoor style. Each setter will also do a talk and walk giving you some back ground on the problems, the training and the beta that unlocks the hardest moves. Tom Randall (on the cover of this months Climber Magazine) is our first guest setter.

General climbing will close at 7.30pm for Tom’s interactive circuit/lecture as he will take you round problems from V5 to V12 based on some of his global exploits and some British test pieces. He will be introducing you to what it took to climb them, demoing some moves and giving you the chance to pull and and get some beta for the problems.

The project will be based on the following climbs:

One Infinity F8b+ (Toms new sandstone boulder problem)
http://www.rab-blog.com/2010/11/12/rab%C2%AE-sponsored-climber-tom-randall-one-infinity-crack-boulder/
GreenSpit Italian 8c/9a? roof climb
http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=48628
Dynamics of Change Pete Whittakers new E9 rockover monster
http://hotaches.blogspot.com/2008/03/dynamics-of-change-e9-another-last.html
Belly Full of bad Berries – the Utah offwidth insanity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2dIZt4FCeE (2nd route on the video)
And the groove section from the Johnny Dawes technical masterpiece The Quarryman E8 6C
http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/2019381761 (first ridiculous palming corner move)

Add some friendly staff, great music, sofa’s and a warm vibe and you have possibly the greatest indoor climbing experience in the universe! (we are biased)

p.s. the eagle eyed among you will notice that Tom's circuit has got easier to give a flavour of crack/groove madness to a broader cross section of society so that all people may love the crack!

FIRST CIRCUIT

Just quickly - first set by Rob Napier and Dan (whose surname I have forgotten), regular Works/Foundry/Edge setters. All on immaculate white Bleaustone and Lapis holds. Shauna and James are currently 'testing them' I will have a little play later, the first problems - oooh I'm all giddy like a school girl (the stereotypically constantly giddy kind)

<---- 'TESTING'

Opening events action

Hi All,

Ok, time to emerge from the stress hole and realise 'Oh, I'm opening a bouldering wall in under two weeks, probably best to let people in some knowledge!'

I am honestly sorry for being a seriously slack blogger, but hey, getting better.

Right here is what you need to know about your new wall

THE CLIMBING HANGAR

When - Saturday Jan 8th 12noon
Where 6 Birchall Street, L20 8PD (1KM north of Awesome Walls)or 3mins walk from Sandhills station of training it it.
What - a relaxed opening affair with a fully functional bouldering centre with Teas, proper coffee, homebaked beautiful cake action, and a range of bouldering circuits from V0- to V13
How - come to door, hand over money/debit card, enter building, go climbing. Cost for adult is £7, everyone else is cheaper, I am harassing my web man to complete the website although it is mainly my fault for not getting him all the info before xmas.

EVENTS:

Prize draw - all people who come in to climb on Saturday will be entered into a prize draw to win approx £100 worth of Red Chilli gear, so if you're hardcore, perhaps some of those mint Matadors, newbies will be able to get shoes/chalk/bucket, everyone wins! (well only the winner really!)

Celebrity Circuit: Celeb culture is everywhere, its crass and undignified, but it seems this infection cannot be defeated, so lets jump on the bandwagon! Every three months we will have a leading climber come and set a super hard project circuit inspired by their fave problems from around the world. The circuits will go from 7b - 8b/+ giving everyone something to project. Our first 'celeb' is Tom Randall, Rab, Wild Country and Red Chilli make up his sponsors. Famous for being a crack climbing genius, bold as brass and just sending One Infinity (8b+). he is also the British Team manager and perhaps the most knowledgeable man in the universe on training for climbing. He will also be giving a short talk about the problems that have inspired our circuit and showing us some of his videos and photos to inspire, check him out here:

One Infinity

Email any questions to: ged@theclimbinghangar.com

Foam delivered

Foams delivered, 10 pallets of big blue bouncy stuff, 96 sheets of the stuff! foam covers also delivered, first set going up tomorrow - I'm going to have a bit of an upload session tomorrow and show the world the glory! In the mean time checks out yours truly as the model for some our initial promo shots, you know I think I'm a real natural in front of the camera, there could be a career out there for me, that real messy hair unshaven sort of look with a hint of not enough sleep for a number of weeks too, adds real character...

Your cue now is to say something like 'Ged, don't be silly, you look fresh as a daisy and I would kiss you...' Probably at at life time pass for the best esteem boosting comment!

That link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gidYYDs97Cs

Is this going to work this time???? Normally I am not technologically inept, however this new blog action seems to be quite challenging... For some reason I don't seem to be able to make an active hyper link, so sod it, just copy and paste it!

Enjoy Christmas people I am working hard on building up a natural weight belt as previously climbing with my svelte figure was just not challenging enough, so lets stack on some poundage to add some real difficulty!

Oooh, is that another mince pie I spy?

some sort of transition

In the manic approach to xmas, work here has also been manic, a nod on our part to the British approach to seasonal joy and as a happy result of the complete carnage inflicted upon our sanity and personal lives, the unit is making the gradual transition from building site into industrial unit! In the spirit of such things I wandered around with my ancient digital camera and filmed the beauty of it all. You will notice however huge slabs of pale blue foam blocking a full glimpse of the plywood marvel, however at least you can be sure that you will be landing on the very finest huge blocks of foam!



Mindless unedited commentary, but five days off since Nov 5th is taking its toll and my mind is departed fully, so please forgive. Hopefully the pictures get you psyched, our 7a to 8a circuit is being set on the 29th, I am organising a cool event for our Jan 8th opening and there will be some monster setting action soon as soon as my three pallets of holds arrive! I am looking forward to getting my head back into setting interesting easier problems, always the hardest really, trying to tune into making V0-/V0/V0+ problems that contain fluid movement, but setting is great fun anyway, hardly a chore!

Anyway only seventeen more sleeps till opening day!!!

3D Projection

A good friend of mine has created a 3D fly around of an approximation of our finished project. The colours are obviously just a guess on the part of my designer and the other video of the recent paint job gives you an idea of the look we are going for. The Berghaus branding is not to be panicked about, the designer was just using the only outdoor brand he knew to spec. the walls - afterall he is a computer man and not fully genned up on the outdoor brands!

The second phase will have a campus board in too and the cave will be bigger AND the comp wall will be steeper! So much goodness to be had, yum yum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3utcOaqLRUA

The new paint job!

One day of painting completed by our lovely lovely voluntary team! Only one coat on and not all the surfaces are covered yet, but you get an idea of what we are trying to do with the place!

Big love to all the helpers, there should be photos of the home made BBQ action and Ged's killer mulled wine that involves healthy amounts of 63% Jamaican rum. Nice.

More goodness soon.

Check this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqk3O-RB4LU

Your verdicts please!

Hi all,

The level of building action is sick and wrong, its is all hands to the deck with a constructive fury shaping ideas into reality that you will be able to test your mettle against! Decisions about heat, style, order, coffee beans and colour are being feverishly made in haze of industry - dang its insane!

BUt there is something for you to do too, well it is going to be your wall so you may as well have some input right? Well obviously we are on phase one of the two phases (phase two Feb opening) and I have a pal of min whipping up a 3D walkaround of the lower building, now he sent me a wee section of the video he is making and he coloured the panels as he saw fit without input from us.

This is the link to that video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6azAuq7LR_k

So what do you think of the colours? Throw some feedback our way. tell others to do the same! Lets get a feel of your thoughts!

Also this coming weekend is painting weekend with beer and BBQ for all volunteers (soft drinks available too!) is anyone keen for a spot of 'roll on/roll off'? Sneek preview of the greatest centre in the universe also! In the future you can tell your grand kids, hey john and jane, granddad painted that panel and they will be so proud - picture their little faces...

Staff team

Hello everyone!

What a week, goodness gracious, I am bushed!!! We have just finished our third day of interviews and seventeen strong candidates later, I'm whacked and need a kip. However we have earmarked our team but are going to sleep on it and see if we feel the same tomorrow (sure we will). I am super psyched now as the people we have provisionally selected were not only qualified but had a really good 'vibe' about them, a positive energy if you will that left me feeling - I cannot wait to start work!! When was the last time you heard some one say that?

I think a climbing wall is essentially a place that draws people and if it treats and cares for those people well you build a community where people feel welcome. Hell, you dont start a climbing business as a get rich strategy, its all about the love, the poeople and the lifestyle. Fingers crossed we can make it work - I we because I do mean you too, I may own and manange the wall and have shaped it thus far, but what you bring to it will shape its future and that I find really exciting - where will you take us?

Also included a pic of the arch - so much sick clamping problems to be set... and Crispin getting medievil on the steel work!

I thought this looked rather good!

Our first promo pic, obviously all posed and lit up for effect, but dang it makes me go all tingly!!!

Still on track for January opening there folks so keep every day free in your diary!!

Helping out

Afternoon everyone!

I have taken a little break from writing inspirational risk assessments to ask a favour and arrange an event.

1) Are you stressed out, angry at work or with a friend or loved one? Then come and try Drllling and t-nutting - using big power tools and bashing the hell out of stuff with a hammer helps get things back into perspective. In exchange for a days action we can offer you a ten climb pass, lunch and as much tea/coffee as you can handle.

2) Perhaps a spouse or even yourself is over keen on decorating the house, quench that thirst by voluntering for 'The Big Paint'on Dec 11th and 12th. This is a weekend fesival of rolling on paint to plywood to the sound of wicked beats, and a thankyou BBQ and Beer evening to show our gratitude. Our professional designer will be there to boss us all around so we don't even have to think, just roll it on baby! People with greater motor skills might be asked to do some cutting in.... Volunteer for one or two days, bring a friend! Bring your Mum! Bring everyone! probably not a great event for vegans however as beer is normally filtered through fish scales (uurrgghh - I know!) and pork sausages and beef burgers normally (unless in McDonalds) havwe animal origins. We also used donkeys and an endangered Burmese Orangutan to help us build the wall as free labour.

email my good self at boulderliverpool@gmail.com to say, 'Ged I want nothing more than to volunteer my body to the cause, take me and use me as you wish.'

Peace out!

 

Round the back of 'Le Elephant' style centre piece, we are connecting it to the back wall with a monster arch, a really terrible panorama this time, but you will get the idea.

Ged

Psyched Yet?

 

Ok folks and folkettes - we have been building for seventeen days now and this is what we have to show you!!!!

I apologise that my stitching of photos is worse than my photography but it does a quick glance of the good stuff!

It doesn't show the office, shop, plush shower room, heated changing rooms or the new stuff built downstairs - you know we love you!

Anyway as a point of OMG interest - the big monster thing in the middle was built upside down and rolled over!!!! It was a beast of an operation!

Also how do you fancy early January opening? You are probably excited as i am scared! Excellent!

The BIG questions

 

Now if you're anything like me, anytime you are at a dinner party or meal of some sort, a few bottles of wine get drained and people start dishing out the big questions to which there are never any real answers, life (meaning/purpose of), the universe and if two pigeons inhabited a 5000sqft industrial unit undisturbed for four years, and then you brushed up all their dried poo, how much poo would that be... and so on.... Well ladies and gentlemen, I can now answer one of these questions, the meaning of life is infact to go indoor bouldering, haa haa, my marketing skills are stealthly - did you see that blinder?

At keast I can finally put that tricky pigeon poop question to bed, that wheel barrow was over half full, while sweeping it all up - all i could think was 'Living the dream Ged, living the dream.'

Did I mention...

That we have planning permission and are able to move in whenever we want so that we can start building you good people a bouldering wall?

Relief would be an inadequate word to fully convey the sense of overwhelming release that this crucial decision brings.

All the phone calls and emails and harassing of Liverpool Planning Department - I think I know them all by name now..... Has been worth it to get the green light to build the first outpost of the empire, sorry I mean dream (mwah haa haa haa)....

Thank you everyone for waiting, soon there will be a brand new blog, all official and professional, we have almost decided on a logo/brand, the proper website is under construction and we are ordering some wood soon for the whole building of a wall thang!

I know, I'm exicted too! Anyway, when I'm not totally smashed from an insane day, I'll post some new pics up and crank this whole media machine into action.

Big Love.

There could be news in the pipeline!

Nothing official just now, but positive noises of a very positive nature have recently been made in the region of the last two hurdles. Very cryptic I know, but I'm excited so I thought I would share my excitement with you!

Hold your breath....