Friday 30 October 2009

Bouldering Wall closure 9pm 5th November

The bouldering wall is due for an essential freshen up to brighten those dark corners that hide those all important holds.

With it being completely re set for the bouldering competition the next day we plan to re paint it late on the Thursday night. As you can imagine this is no east task: strip all the holds, clean the super good ones for the comp, strip the volumes and then we can get to the painting.

An added bonus is the new mega volume will be going up on the wall. It has been named 'The Ramp' mainly from the fact that it used timber that was originally intended to be used to make skate ramps. Just don't tell the skaters!


To save us from being here all night the bouldering wall will close at 9pm for the works to begin. So get in early to finish off those projects!

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Price changes

Ok folks jsut a wee note to inform you all that Transition is in the process of reviewing its prices and will implement them as of the 9th of November. The new prices will be posted in the centre and, website and the blog on the 9th.

Don't forget about the 8 months climbing for the price of 6 offer available between 1st November and 1st December!!! Fabtastic value!

Sunday 25 October 2009

Scottish Dry Tooling series round 2

This weekend saw round two of the Scottish Tooling Series take place, this time hosted by EICA Ratho. On the way down, Ash, Suzana and I (Anna) stopped off at Dundee to take part in their bouldering comp. Well, unfortunately Ashley was unable to put a climbing shoe on as he had “accidently” kicked a piece of wood (three times). There was a strong Aberdeen contingent, with about ten Aberdonians taking part. The routes were fun and varied, including some swinging logs that got us psyched for the tooling on Saturday! I managed to bag 1st place, and we all managed to leave feeling slightly stiffer than we would have liked! Results were in; Ashley was joint 2nd with Robert Mackenzie, and therefore through to the finals! An awesome effort given that there were 23 strong competitors in his category! I also made it through to the finals in 1st place, for the first time ever ahead of Fiona Murray! The final route involved a no hands start which was a true test of balance. The route went left via some swinging logs, and then up the wall to the right of ratho’s “Sardinian pillar”. It was a fun-filled day, and an exhausting weekend! We are looking forward to the next round already :) (big thanks to Katherine for taking all the photos).
Words by Anna Wells

Thursday 22 October 2009

Is it a ramp? Is it a volume? Is it a new wall?

Well; its kind of all three...

You may have heard the buzzing of saws, banging of hammers and whizzing of drills. And no doubt seen me wandering around with glazed eyes after inhaling some pretty damn good fumes!
I've been working away at more additions for the climbing wall. The picture above shows the larger of the efforts. It's a curved section that will be used on the bouldering wall and on the main wall at competitons. It measures about 8 feet by 4 feet and is going to be awsome wherever it is put.

Ash is working on more volumes for the main walls to make the vast plywood expanses a bit more interesting. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks whilst these are put up.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

8 Months for the Price of 6


Yes it's back!


Between the 1st of November and 1st of December both Adults and Juniors can buy a 6 month unlimited membership and get 2 months absolutely free! That's just fabtastically splendiforous!

Thursday 8 October 2009

Bouldering Circuits are up!

There are two new circuits on the bouldering wall today for you to work away at and get those muscles pumping!

Tan and Features:
Easy (V1 to V2),
Sit Starts,
Linked on each Board.

White + Yellow Features for Feet:
Medium (V3 to V4),
Sit Starts,
Individual problems on; 10 degree, Barrel, 30 degree, 45 degree/Roof arĂȘte and on the right end of the Roof.


Get on them and have a go as they're great for warming up or training whether you try a continuous loop on the linked circuits or climb each individual problem.
We'll try and set at least 2 new circuits after each competition (monthly over the winter) as we do with the rest of the bouldering wall.

Comments and input always welcome.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

TRANSITION STAFF SHARPEN THEIR AXES

Last Saturday Anna and I grabbed our tools and headed down to Avertical world for the first of six of the Scottish Dry Tooling Series competitions.


After the bouldering comp on Friday Anna felt a bit tired and after a wee drink with some of the guys from the comp I was also feeling a bit tired. But none the less I woke up at 7:45 to go round and pick up Anna. After a quick stop at Transition (i forgot my helmet) and then an hour drive we got into Dundee, found the wall and then had a look at some of the comp routes that had been set.
After a couple of hours we had done about half the comp but were getting a bit tired so we decided to do the easiest routes to get the most points but enough to get a decent position. In the end we both flashed all the top ropes we did and most of the boulder problems we attempted.

Feeling happy with our scores we handed in our score cards and Anna with 123 out of 180 and me with 136 and waited to hear who was going to be in the final.
Anna finished the qualifiers in 1st place in the womans comp and I finished 6th in the mens, just missing out of being in the final buy 1 point!

I went round to watch the final while Anna went into isolation as the other finalists had go at the final route. Anna managed to get to the 3rd clip but then fell but still managed to get further then the other finalists and won the womens competition. We stayed to watch the mens final where there was only one person to get to the end of the route.
We then packed up our stuff said bye to everyone and went back to the car for the long boring journey up the road.

The next comp is at ratho on the 24th of October so if you are wanting to get training for this winter season in the hills or want to try something new i suggest giving it a go. Me and Anna will be there and hopefully Stu will join us this time.
For full results check out the series website at http://www.scottishtoolingseries.co.uk/.

Winter Bouldering League round 2 6th November

Featuring the return of Duncans Dilema: £30 cash prize for the first to claim the route!

Monday 5 October 2009

Bouldering League 09/10 Round 1

Another great comp!


Firdays display of finesse, technique and determination was a testament to the North East climbing scene! With almost 70 compeititors the wall was busy with folks itching to get on the problems.


As always it began weeks before the comp date with prepping of holds, volumes and inspiration for problems. This month it included some new additions to the bouldering wall and the beginning of a re-paint.




A setters delight at 01:30 in the morning!










The problems as always ranged from the fun and wackey to the technical and powerful across the main walls and bouldering wall. Special mention should go to those battling through ilness (you know who you are).







See below for the scores:

Mens Elite & Vets* Round 1
Marcus Bean 170
Ally Coull 167
Merlin Kassab 165
Wayne Sherry 150
Neil Morrison * 144
Tom Russel 139
Dave Cowan 124
Gus Dixon 117
Andy Inglis 112
Scott Wilson 110
Hamish Fraser 104
Stuart Adams 102
Jonny Aspden 95
Alan Rodger * 69
Ashley Dean 60
Peter Wilson * 55
Ben Woodward Injury..

Womens Elite Round 1
Anna Wells 182
Eva Sparreboom 150
Caroline Sham 147
Ellen ??? 138
Abbey Niven* 134
Joan Love 105

Junior Girls Round 1
Fionidi Parker 87
Kirsten Berry 60

Junior Boys Round 1
Rhys Maslen 184
Duncan Anderson 157
Thomas McGrath 155
Chris Matthew 154
David Mann 147
Ollie Banks 140
Bruce McKay 131
Matthew Johnstone 125
Ben Townsend 117
Jamie Henderson 116
James MacDonald 95
Scott Field 77
Callum Johnson 75
Iain Cackette 61

For Fun Round 1
Craig Rennie 194
Stuart Gillan 190
Steve Taylor 181
Gary Watson 167
Steven Wallace 160
Charlie Jean 157
Elspeth Yates 155
Doug Niven 155
Ben Lownie 154
Michael Payne 152
Rod Cowe 139
Joseph Nolan 138
Scott Gourlay 135
Sarah Woodward 129
Mike Jennings 127
Kyle Gasking 107
Kevin Morice 107
Sinead Furlong 104
Brendan Campbell 94
David Anderson 84
Drew Milne 80
Ali Graspden 80
Nicola Rae 74

Photos by Ryan Slater