Next Chapter

The trip to Arizona commences in exactly 3 days now!! My excitement is rising with every tick of the clock and I literally want to sleep for 3 days so it'll seem like it has come quicker because I cannot wait for this!! We leave Monday afternoon and I have officially started packing. Packing as in, knowing what I want in which bag. The physical process of packing will happen 2 minutes before we have to leave as it always does. The forecast is splendid and the climbs look amazing. I am bringing my rope and my draws and my goal is to push myself on climbs at my limit and see if all this hard training has paid off.. which I have a feeling it has. In exactly 4 days, the blazing desert sun will be shining on my face and I need it more than ever.

Arizona!!

T-minus 12 days until I leave to go to Mt. Lemmon in Arizona to do some hard climbing. I have been waiting for this trip since I first heard about it like 5 months ago. I always love traveling to other places to climb and I haven't been out west since my trip to Hueco more than a year ago now. I will mostly be doing some sport and hopefully easing my way into Trad climbing. I simply cannot contain my excitement for this trip right now. It's all I think about!! And it is what's getting me through these couple of weeks. More posts will come when the time comes nearer and some when I'm in AZ but for now, I just want to shout it to the world that I am going to Arizona to climb. Bringing my Evolv shoes, my Primo chalk and my mammut rope with my and all my other gear and I am ready to crush.
All this training is going to pay off when I get there. All the pull-ups and push-ups that made my body ache for days. I will, once again, be reminded why I push myself as far as I do. It's because the feeling of getting to the top of a hard climb is a feeling not easily bested!!

About time...

It's about time for another entry. This one is going to be on a positive note because my emotional roller coaster is in the high position right now. Hopefully it stays like that for a few days, but lets take it one day at a time. I had an epiphany in my A.P English class today and this epiphany I am not going to mention but I will say it has changed my thinking of almost everything in my life. Don't worry, climbing is still my favorite thing to do. But this epiphany was something of a realization that I no longer am attached to the things I was once attached to and that even though I may not be the happiest person in the world, I am pretty fucking awesome and I deserve to be recognized as such. Now, obviously I am not the person to go around yelling out that I am awesome or that I deserve appraisal.  I am not here for pity or for recognition. The recognition that I spoke of earlier is merely recognition from myself of my strengths.
Now I understand that my feelings and thinking will change throughout the course of the month and there will be times where the feelings before my realization will return. But they will not be as strong and I wrote down all my thoughts during my moment of the epiphany so whenever I feel upset or confused, I can go back and realize that I can think that way.
This is Step 1. Next comes Step 2. And eventually I will no longer need to keep track of the steps in my life. All I need to do is put one foot infront of the other, get through this year, enjoy life, and get ready for college. That's all. Not big deal when written down in words. It's just one day at a time.

Breath

Your breath is one of the most powerful things in your body, maybe besides your brain. If you can harness your breath, anything becomes achievable. This comes along with climbing or anything anyone can be doing. If you can breath and control your breath then your mind becomes less worried about the future or the past and you become involved in the present. Whenever you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or worried about the past or the future, control your breath, stop thinking, focus on the present, and everything goes away.

New Year's Bullshit

'Tis a new year and I have many things to look forward to. First off, this is the year I will be graduating from high school and going on to further my education through drinking and unprotected sex. However, just because that gem is on the horizon does not mean my mind can wander off from the task at hand. That task being of course surviving high school. I've been doing good so far and these few days in 2013 have proved hopeful. Needless to say, I am really excited for this year and I have drafted up some New Year's resolutions for myself. Now before you go and tell me I'm wasting my time with those things or that they never work, I believe that if I set my mind to something it can become possible. One of my resolutions is to get more in shape and start eating better. I have learned throughout my numbered years that in order for a goal to be a good goal, there must be means of accomplishing it. For example, I can't just say I want to get in shape. I need to label out how I am going to get in shape. So based on some examples, I drafted a little weekly schedule for not just my training but also my diet as well. I am hoping that putting things on paper will give me a sense of motivation. Fingers crossed.
I also just received news that my sponsorship with Evolv will live to see another day. I am super excited to be part of their team again for 2013 and I am also equally excited to be part of the Primo Chalk team for the first time. Their chalk is one of a kind and it is awesome to use. Well, I guess that's all that is going on in my life right now. Pretty much 100% focused on how to make 2013 a kick-ass year!! I have high hopes. See you all later!! Peace

My new trick!

I'm in a coffee shop right now so I figured might as well mold into the stereotypes and blog a bit. Well my climbing life has taken a back seat to skiing. Hard to climb at night when you've been skiing a bunch during the day. Honestly, it takes so much energy out of me. Well, skiing reminded me what it's like to fail again and again and still have to try again. I've been climbing for so long, I almost forgot what it was like to be a beginner at something. Granted I have been skiing for ten years but I've never done free-style before. This is completely new for me.
I'll be honest, it is damn hard to free-style ski. Like, I fall countless times each day on my ass and it is so painful. But I am forced to pick myself up again and try the move over again. It is a great example of picking yourself up again and try again! One quote replays in my mind after I fall on my ass for the 20th time. "Success has been and continues to be defined as getting up one more time than you've been knocked down" This is the perfect example of my free-style skiing life. I fall countless times each day yet I continue getting up and trying again.
The newest move I am working on is a blind two-step off. Which is when I get on a box and then spin and come off the box forward. So I do a 270 on the box. It is extremely difficult for me. And I fall so many times. I am pretty sure my thigh is going to be permanently bruised for the rest of my life. I can't even lay down on my bed without being in a lot of pain. But, this winter break, I will put on my bright blue snow pants and bright blue sweatshirt and throw my skis on and hop on the box and try it again. I will try this move until I succeed and then many times after that. It is all about getting up when you fall down. This is where perfection comes from. Not being afraid to fall.

SKI SEASON

Due to the snow on the ground, unfortunately, outdoor climbing season is over. I managed to get a couple of burns on my bouldering project before I had to go back to school. I made my high-point which was really exciting and I figured out beta so I can send it next time, whenever that may be. So that's really exciting but the even more exciting part is that it is ski season!! I brought my new Chronic Line skis up and I am so ready to ski and hit some rails (first I need to learn how). Well, from this point on, it'll just be pulling on plastic all the time which is good because it means I'll get super strong and be able to crush the project when the snow melts. All is good and I am super excited for this snow!!! 

Hectic Life

Been posting a lot lately and it actually feelings pretty good!! So many things are happening in my life right now and I can just say that it is quite hectic, to say the least. I am applying for my first college this thursday which is insane!! I cannot believe this is actually happening. I wrote my essay on climbing, obviously because it is the most important thing in my life. I wish I had more words than 500 because I could talk about climbing for days. But my essay is almost done and now I am waiting on my recommendations and then it'll be done!! Hell yeah!! So that's going on. Then i have a comp coming this saturday. It is taking place here which is exciting! The route-setters (Bryan Rafferty, Mike Veazey) are amazing and I cannot wait to see the amazing routes they put up. I have been training super hard and I am really excited to see what my training has done for my skills. Let's hope everything goes well! Well, even though, my life is beyond crazy right now with everyone going on. I am still very happy!! Obviously every once in a while, I'll get those moments of sheer panic but I remind myself to breath and everything falls back into place. My love-life is non existent but I have no worries about that anymore. Sure, I like someone but life happens and eventually things will fall into place. Well, Wish me luck with my comp!! And I will post results later! Thanks!

Nothing's Going To Bring Me Down

So, as many people know, I was not doing so "hot" last week. In fact, I was kind of depressed. I can look back on how I was and realize that I was sad and I was rightly sad. I was not feeling to great about myself and I had some low self-eestem problems going on. But I can, honestly, say now that I am doing amazing. It is weird how I can change so radically in such a short amount of time. But this weekend I figured out what I want. I am not going to go and say what I want because I do not believe it needs to be common knowledge but just know, that I have "found" myself this weekend. I went to Bioneers by the Bay in New Bedford this weekend, an environmental conference. I was able to get away from school and accurately see what was making me sad and I was able to give myself some steps to overcome this. I heard some speakers who spoke to me and I could listen to their words and apply them to what was going on in my life. For example, one lady talked about the fact that if someone were to cut the stems of pretty flowers and try to plant them in my pot, they are going to die. I should not be trying to be other people or I should not be jealous of people. I have my own "flower". I do not know what it's going to look like when it grows fully but I know it is my flower and I have to water it and care for it and not worry about other peoples flowers. It was amazing to be able to finally figure out what was making me upset and figure out how to make myself feel better. So, I am now doing great and I feel amazing!! Nothing is going to bring me down.

Don't expect a climbing post

This post is not really about climbing at all but I needed some place to put down what I'm feeling and that was the whole reason I made a blog in the first place. Well... There is a girl in my life right now. She doesn't know it but She means the world to me and If i could, I would talk to her every second of every day but I know that she doesn't want that. And I always want to message her but I am afraid I am going to annoy her and make her hate me and her hating me would probably be one of the worst feelings in the world. So I am stuck with this dilemma, message her and hope she doesn't mind it or don't message her, not even risk the chance of annoying her but not be able to talk to her which is also horrible. I just don't know what to do. I am not looking for answers and I am not expecting pity. I am only expressing my thoughts into words because it helps when I do that. I hope she knows how much she means to me but if she doesn't, there is not much I can do... I will not go into more detail about this girl in fear of giving away her identity and embarrassing her (because who would want to be associated with me right?) That's the low self-eestem talking, not me... Well not much more to say on the subject, I just needed to tell someone and my blog is a great place for that! I really hope it works out with her in the future. She means everything to me right now and every minute I'm not with her just drains me of energy. I've tried to get over her too but without any luck! I'm crazy about this girl and there is nothing more to be done about it.

Rock Climbing In Acadia

Here is a video of my time with my friends in Acadia pulling hard on some amazing sea-polished rocks!!! Had a blast and the video shows the amazing time we had! Check it out!

Not About How Hard You Can Hit

So, I am sitting here, watching a documentary with some freshman during my free block and I realize it is about time I update my blog. Well, for those of you, who have been on the edge of their seat wondering whether or not I got my motivation back, I actually have!! It did not take too long but it was certainly tough. I talked to my old coach, Vasya, and he gave me some advice which I took to heart. Just have fun with what you are doing and work your ass off. Success will follow. I was super excited to see that he mentioned Josh Larson, being the UBC pro tour champion. It gave me the motivation I needed to get back in the gym and crush!!! Thanks for everyone who has helped me through this. There will always be something in my way and an objective I need to get through. But i need to remember that I will always get through it and I will always keep going foreword. "It's not about how hard you can hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving foreword"

Loss of Motivation

It seems as though I have lost my motivation for the sport that I love more than anything in the world. I, honestly, never thought this would happen to me. I am not saying that I don't enjoy climbing or that the thought of doing it is repulsive to me but I just cant get excited about training or anything like that. I am trying to get motivated by watching climbing videos or competing against other people but nothing seems to work at all! I am hoping to climb hard and train hard but it is hard to find the motivation to do it. I guess i just got to keep going strong and try my best!

My Birthday

So it was my birthday yesterday and I had a pretty good day! I got to go to ice cream with my favorite people here at school and had a delicious coffee in the am and hung out with some amazing people! I am super excited for this weekend as I am going to my friends house to hang with him. I get to go climbing today, well indoor climbing so it doesn't really count but I am still excited. I get to hang out with my buddies while working up a sweat at the same time. It is hard to find many things to beat that!!! :) I want to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday its because of all of you I get to turn another year older. WTF Im 18!! That shit is crazy, i don't think Im ready to be an adult! But then again i'm not sure if anyone is ready! Well, i guess only time with tell if I am ready or not. Until then, I'm going to proceed living my life to the best of my ability and enjoy being a kid while I still can!

Environmental Concerns

Before

After

Ok, so Im back at school now and living a pretty damn awesome life. Got my friends by my side and a rope hanging round my neck couldn't ask for much more actually. So, I've been out at Rumney, pulling hard, sending and working projects, and I noticed that over the summer there have been some wind turbines installed in a nearby mountain in clear view of Rumney. I am really curious to know how climbers and regular hikers feel about this! For me, I think it is a little extreme to be putting so many up. I could deal with like one or two of them but there are a whole bunch covering the landscape and it obviously takes away from the beauty of it all. Its one of the reasons I love climbing at Rumney its the beauty of it all! Anyway, Im just curious what people think about these developments.

Thanks Camp Mi-Te-Na!

Havent written in a while and I apologize for that but it's probably goig to stay like this until the summer is over and I have some free time! For those of you who don't know i decided to go to summer camp! I made the right choice! It is a bummer because I have been unable to climb as much as I want to but it is good because I am surrounded by my friends and the people I care about the most!! It has been such an amazing summer and I am so happy I made the decision to go to camp!!! Hopefully as soon as camps over I will continue to climb and get stronger!!

I just want to climb

This summer is either going to suck or be awesome. The problem is I dont want to work at camp this summer! Why? you may ask because all i want to do this summer is climb. Now, I dont have any money to climb, so i pretty much fucked. I just want to climb but i need to make money some how and im not sure how. This is soooo confusing i dont know what im going to do!! dammit!! my idea wasto work at the climbing gym but i dont know if im going to be able to do that, so if anyone has any ideas please let me know!!!! i want to climb this summer go to rumney and pway and pull hard which is what i do best!!

New LT11 Video

I love Louder than 11's videos. The music is always amazing and they have a way of making the best climbs seem better. The shooting is beautiful and the climbs always make my palms sweat. The thing about them is they are less focused on the grade as they are on the company, the scenery, and the rock. Check out this new video from them sending in Rocky Mountain National Park!!
http://vimeo.com/41169052

Training Time

Regionals is coming up which can only mean one thing. It is time to train!!

"http://player.vimeo.com/video/36429174"

The magic button � Make Everything OK

The magic button � Make Everything OK

AHhhhh, really nice to press that button!! a good wake up call actually