The Flash: Rock+Run Blog

Do you think your kid would love to start climbing? Well, we think they should too – climbing is the perfect sport for kids, it’s tonnes of fun, allows them to explore  and develop friendships whilst boosting their confidence and skill. Not sure how to get them started? Not to worry, here’s our guide to everything kids climbing including our suggestions for kit, classes and games.

This week’s video comes from one of the most famous and well-known climbing training spaces in the world – Adam Ondra’s old school spray wall at his Brno based gym, Kotelna Boulder Club. 

As the night’s draw in and the temperatures plummet, adventures in the mountains transform through autumn’s glorious colours to winter’s snowy dustings. With the inevitable thrill of a wintery mountain landscape comes the need for a few specialist bits of kit to keep you safe, warm and happy in the cold. Here are 5 bits of kit we think you should consider for a wonderful winter.

The second video this week comes to you from the wonderfully picturesque sea cliffs of Gogarth. Rising imperiously out of the swell, the Gogarth cliffs are home to a host of 3-star, ultra-classic, multi-pitch trad routes, non-more famous than the focus of this week’s video – ‘A Dream of White Horses’ (HVS 4c). This beautiful BMC video treats us to an historically accurate recreation of the climb’s first ascent which came courtesy of Ed Drummond and Dave Pearce in 1968. Climbed here by top climber, James McHaffie, and Alexis Pearce (son of first ascensionist, Dave), we’re given a fantastic insight into the route and what defines it as one of the most sought-after trad lines in the UK.

This weeks video looks at renowned climber and local Lakes legend, Rob Matheson, who has recently been repeating some of his first ascents. The video shows him repeating 'Holocaust' (E4 6a) on Dow Crag, 50 years to the day since he pioneered the route.

This week’s video takes us back to September 2006 when a primed Chris Sharma made the first ascent of Es Pontás (9a+), an incredible line through the middle of a beautiful, free-standing limestone arch off the coast of Mallorca. The climb is defined by its huge, seven-foot dyno in the middle of the route.

Founded in 2008 by Giovanni Rossi, Blue Ice are passionate producers of the most streamlined mountaineering kit on the market. Based in Chamonix, at the heart of the beautiful Alps, Blue Ice are perfectly situated to develop and test their kit in its intended alpine environment. What started in a garage with friends has since developed into one of the market leading alpine equipment manufacturers with headquarters in both Les Houches (Chamonix region) and Salt Lake City. 

A climbing shoe is just a climbing shoe, right? Well, in recent years, with the growth of indoor climbing walls and competitions, climbing shoe manufacturers have started producing shoes specifically aimed at the indoor market. These shoes have been designed to target the typical, modern style of indoor climbing where volumes, smears and hooking are all par for the course. But, what’s unique about an indoor shoe and what is it good for? Here’s all you need to know. 

In February 2021, Lor Sabourin sent their first 5.14 on trad, clipping the chains on ‘East Coast Fist Bump’ (5.14a) in an ascent that wasn’t just a first for them but a first for the entire climbing community becoming the first non-binary climber to achieve the grade. This week’s video is a recently released Patagonia film that follows Sabourin as they tackle one of their hardest challenges to date in the sandstone canyons of northern Arizona.

Kahtoola are the leading name when it comes to packable and lightweight traction solutions. For the terrain and winter conditions that don’t quite justify a fully rated crampon, the Kahtoola spike collection is the perfect answer to any slippy slope or icy trek in the hills.

This week’s video is straight from the Churnet Valley where Lattice Training team members, Ollie Torr, Madeleine Cope and Rhoslyn Frugtniet explore the area’s most popular spots. Churnet’s sandstone conglomerate offers an exceptionally diverse style of climbing with pockets, slopers and minuscule pebbles all contributing to some truly unique problems.

This video follows Sophie, who has significant impairments but refuses to let that get in the way of achieving her goals.
Not only has she set herself the challenge of doing 30 new things before she turned 30. She also completed 30 climbs in 30 days with support from Climb LBG, to raise money for a local hospice.