Yo!Basecamp

If you've ever met me you've probably heard me rant about the one and only Yo!Basecamp. It all started when Pilgrimage came out. The movie documenting Chris Sharma, Katie Brown and Nate Gold's bouldering trip to Hampi, India totally blew up the little box I knew as climbing and an obsession with the stronger climbers of the world was born.

I shortly after learned of Yo!Basecamp, a climbing camp out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains run by Andy Puhvel and Lisa Coleman, with guest counselor....(drum roll please) Chris Sharmaaaaa. Don't ask me how, but I somehow convinced my mother to send me to a climbing camp in California with perfect strangers. Having been to camp several years in a row, I decided I wanted to do something different with my summer this year, but as camp season drew closer I started to miss the anticipation of what had been the best week of my year for the past five years.

So, flights are booked and I'm very excited to announce that I'll be attending Yo!Basecamp once again this year. Andy and Lisa are beyond rad to say the least. They put their heart and soul into running this camp and sharing their love and knowledge with the youngins of the climbing community. The camps offer everything from bouldering to learning how to climb a crack traditional style to rappelling off your own anchors. And of course, what would camp be without the delicious food, chilling campfire stories of pioneer climbers up on El Cap, frisbee golf on the slabs, swimming in the reservoir and last but not least the talent show (might I add that I've been the champion of the talent show two years in a row.)

Some pictures to give you an idea of what it's like to spend a week at the happiest place on earth...




















lovely lisa




















climbing helmets are B.A.




















a game of frisbee golf on the slabs















hole #3, the Widow Maker















Andy and Lisa's ridiculously adorable kid, Cashus
















the Yo crew :)




















Won and ice cream for topping this one out




















Wes without a helmet tsk tsk















awesome andy

RTCC

The 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer,benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation, is quickly approaching. Starting in Vancouver and ending in Seattle, this two day ride raises funds to support scientists, researchers and other lab geeks who are constantly in search of a way to beat this disease.

My half marathoning super woman of a mother participated in the 272km ride last year, and raised over $5 000. This year she's participating as a volunteer, waking up at the crack of dawn and slaving away until dusk to support the riders. Why would anyone do such a thing you ask? Well according to her, "We've been lucky enough to avoid cancer in our family up to now, and I want to do my part in keeping it that way." Go mama, go!

The BC Cancer Foundation was established in 1935 with the idea of creating a cancer free world. Seventy five years later they're still raising money and people are still losing loved ones. To make a donation visit the RTCC website.

And that's all I have to say about that.
toodles














ma and pa on race day














mid ride, you sweatin yet?














yup, this guy rode the whole thing on a uni-cycle

My first steps into the wonderfull world of blogging...

What better a time than a week after nationals to start a blog.

Tendovaginits (yup, you read it right), an inflamation of the tendon sheath in both of my ring fingers, also known as tenosynovitis kept me out of the climbing gym and off the rock from November until April. It was a long and emotionally taxing few months spent on the couch watching Progression and various other climbing movies (many thanks to Big Up Productions for helping to preserve my sanity). Mid April eventually rolled around and I began training once more. It was a rocky start, and before I knew it my carry-on luggage was stowed, my seat back and tray tables were in their upright and locked positions and I was preparing for take off from YVR to YQB, wondering what Nationals had in store for me.

Held at Délire Climbing gym in Québec City, Nationals took place over three days. It was a well run comp with super fun routes that featured many volumes (funny shapes pasted on the walls) that I’d never encountered before. It was incredible to see the strongest youth climbers Canada has to offer doing what they do best, these guys never cease to amaze me. Congratulations to all the cup winners and good luck to those of you travelling to Scotland to compete at the Youth World Cup. Thanks to all the Délire staff, route setters, parent volunteers, committed coaches and of course the competitors for making it such an awesome weekend. Having nationals in the east is such a big step for competition climbing in Canada and I am psyched beyond belief to see the sport growing. Who knows… maybe we’ll even get some money flowing for us under funded climbers…


Having finished my very last exam as of yesterday (hallelujah) I’m officially done high school, and psyched as ever for summer training. Hope to see everyone out there pullin hard this season.

Happy kranking to all,
and to all a good night.