National Boulder League 2008

National Finals took place in Harrismith at Eagle Mountain (previously known as Mount Everest) on 26 April, the problems were top class and it is definitely an area worth returning to.. The results are as follows:

Mens Open
1. Edvinas Smigelskis WP
2. Herman Lombard NW
3. Benjamin de Charmoy KZN
4. Mathieu Schneuwly KZN
5. Donovan Willis MP
6. Andrew Wood WP
7. William Fleming GP (JHB)
8. Trent Burnett KZN
9. Jeremy Hewett WP
10. Damian Chatteris KZN

Ladies Open
1. Dominique Dix-peek GP (JHB)
2. Illona Pelser GP (PTA)
3. Julia Chen WP
4. Debbie Mulder GP (JHB)
5. Bridgitte Lourent KZN
6. Rachelle de Charmoy KZN
7. Ilse GP (PTA)
8. Catherine Beneke GP (JHB)
9. Elme GP (PTA)
10. Emma Boyd GP (JHB)

Boys U18
1. Willem Potgieter GP (PTA)
2. Diedeleff Gertenback GP (PTA)

Girls U18
1. Candice Bagley KZN
2. Jasmin Pillay KZN
3. Kate Fairfield WP

A big thank you to Dave and Sean and the rest of the team who organised an awesome weekend as well as Mount Everest Game Lodge/Resort for hosting everyone!

Koeberg

Emile Esterhuizen has established what may be Cape Town's hardest problem. "Koeberg" 8A+ climbs the roof to the right of "Powerlines" at Bonnydoon in Topside and involves intense core strength moves on small slopey sidepulls. The problem is only 6 moves long, which makes it far more intense than Cape Town's two other problems, "Ard Ay" and "Boogie Nights", both 14+ move roof voyages.

Emile on "Koeberg"

March Hits

Julia Chen sent "Skunk" 7B at TDA after three or four sessions on the problem. The classic line was opened by Justin Hawkins and was the first 7B in the area. The problem involves long pulls off small crimps to gain a sloping undercling and then a dynamic slap to a sloper rail, which is follwoed by a juggy but high topout.

Julia on "Skunk"

Evan Wiercx and friends have developed a brand new area at Topside, called "Brazil" on the plateau above the Silvermine Boulder.

Donovan Willis has been busy in Mpumalanga, developing yet another brilliant area. He has opened "Killswitch" 7C amongst several other problems in Sabie Gorge.

Donovan on "Killswitch"

Swim Coach for Harris

Shaun Harris made the 4th of "Swim Coach" 7C+ at the Classroom after a permanent relocation to Cape Town from Johannesburg.

Mpumalanga Bouldering

Marijus and Edvinas Šmigelskis, along with Julia Chen, visited the little know bouldering areas of Mpumalanga for two weeks. At Gold Rush, Marijus repeated "Leap of Faith" 7C, Julia sent "Wallace" 7A and Donovan Willis opened "Static Remedy" and "The Weatherman" both 7Bs. At Malelane Gorge, an excellent new area, Donovan opened "Waterboy" and Marijus opened "The Railway" both 7A. Later at Kaapsehoop, Marijus repeated "Living the Dream" 7C, and then opened "Dark Wing" 8A, an amazing high arete. Edvinas made the second ascent on his very next go and Julia sent "Smell of Victory" 7A. Back in Johannesburg at The Glade, just before heading to the airport, Julia made a second try ascent of "The Fingernail Traverse" 7A and Marijus made the 2nd repeat of "Lucky Larry's Larder of Lascivious Lesbians" 7C+.

Edvinas on "Dark Wing".