29 August, 2006 

The indoor climbs have 18 different grades (3 grades per colour) ranging from easy-peasy to incredibly difficult. For example, Yellow 1, Yellow 2, Yellow 3, Blue 1, Blue 2 and so on.

1. Yellow: Beginners start here.
2. Blue: Good warm up.
3. Purple: Now your climbing.
4. Green: Its all about technique
5. Red:
6. Black:

Matt’s personal best was a Blue 1, but attempted a Blue 2 only to find he had run out of juice by the end of the evening. The overhangs are a killer.

Rachie got bashed around a bit. A nice welcome back for her. She has a big climbing trophy (bruise) to show off

Tom showed us, that Green isn’t about technique at all – just pure strength Tom’s personal best was a Red 1.

Trav demonstrated to all of us on "how not to belay": the gri-gri jammed and before anyone could say "Trav put your right hand back on the brake", he unwittingly managed to free the rope and Tom came crashing down to earth (a 3m fall). Lesson learnt. Tom was okay, the gri-gri did lock in and Tom was barely touching the ground (on his tippy toes) – ironically everyone rushed to Trav’s aid as opposed to the victim. And while people were talking to Trav and inspecting the gri-gri, Tom reminds us in his best Monty Python high pitch squeaky voice, "Guys? [pause] Guys? Give me some slack. [pause] My boys are suffocating."

I managed to get a Red 1 but could not repeat the same on the overhangs. I’ve got to work on my upper body strength.

As we left, the cutie* behind the counter asks Matt, "When will I next see you guys?". To which Matt replies, "The next time it rains!". Rain these days is rarer than the blue moon. However, cutie had an answer, "But it will be raining tomorrow.". Touche!

–Mel

*The Chad’s description.