Wednesday 13th July

With summer in full swing we are asking for an extra special effort to brush holds when trying problems. A slippery layer of excess chalk compounded by sweaty hands will build up on the holds if we don’t make the effort to clean them. A quick brush of the hand holds when you are trying a problem will remove any excess, stop this build up from occurring and increase your chances of getting the problem done! Lapis brushes can be purchased at reception, or if you don’t want the real thing then an old soft toothbrush is better than nothing. For holds that are out of reach use the brush stick, which can be found lurking around the advanced room.

Monday 11th July 2011

Over the past few weeks, we have been trialing a new coaching session for talented junior climbers. The new Durham Climbing Centre Coaching Academy will run alongside Andy’s Rock Stars on a Tuesday evening. This Coaching Academy is designed for a select number of our Rock Star climbers who, through natural talent and commitment to the sport, have shown real promise as budding young climbers and are ready to begin a more advanced coaching programme with professional climbing coach Mickey Stainthorpe.

Each junior will receive their own training programme and learn more about Bouldering and other styles of climbing. Mickey was seriously impressed with the standard of climbing displayed in the first session of the academy and sees great potential in all these young stars. He is keen to encourage those attending the academy to discover their full potential and introduce them to the world of BMC Youth competitions should they be interested in competing. If you are interested in signing your child up for these sessions please contact a member of the team.

Starts Tuesday 19th July: Every Tuesday 6 – 7.30pm £15 per session including coaching & shoe hire.  Book your child's place at reception.

Thursday 7th July 2011

We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff to our team at DCC! Rosie has been learning the ropes (climbing pun, get it?) with us for the past couple of weeks and is well on her way to becoming a fully-fledged team member. A really keen climber Rosie is more than happy to offer advice and information about the problems at DCC or equipment and will often be found climbing here after work.

Monday 4th July 2011

After a run of bad luck with the weather our outdoor coaching kicked off at Brimham on Saturday 2nd July.

Brimham Rocks is a truly idyllic place for route climbing and bouldering alike and is actually a National Trust site due to the uniqueness of the rock formations. Our climbing enthusiasts enjoyed a hot and sunny day out with a professional climbing coach and were introduced to the world of outdoor climbing, learning new techniques such as how to ‘top out’ and ‘mantle shelf’.

A long day buzzing around this extensive climbers playground was capped off by a well rewarded ice cream at the on site café! Sound like you missed out on a great opportunity to have a go at climbing on real rock? Fear not! Another session is planned to take place at Almscliffe crag later on this month. Despite the lack of on site ice cream Almscliffe is one of the most popular climbing venue in North Yorkshire and home to many a classic boulder problem and route. Sitting proudly on a hill top overlooking Warfedale this crag is stunningly situated and the gentle breeze offered by its lofty position will help keep you cool as you climb. Our professional coach supplies all safety equipment needed and will use his extensive personal knowledge of the crag to introduce you to the masterful techniques of gritstone bouldering! Ask at reception for bookings and more information.

Next session:

SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST 10am – 3pm Almscliffe

The cost is £35 per person per session. Places are limited on a first come first served basis and the ratio on all sessions will be 1:6

Friday 1st July 2011

At the crack of dawn (okay, more like around 8am) on the 1st July two of the most prolific route setters and climbers in the North East arrived at DCC with one glorious mission in mind: the creation of 35 boulder problems to kick off this years summer bouldering ladder. Knowing the high standards our DCC climbers have come to expect from each new set of problems put up on a weekly basis the boys were prepared to set some pretty futuristic stuff in order to keep you all on your toes. So, tea mugs exchanged for drills and bolts our setters went to work and the magic began…

Dont forget to hand in your scoresheet after every session and check your progress on the live scoreboard