You've probably caught wind of the news that after a little hiatus the Australian Climbing Festival is back! And if you thought that the lure of the Katoomba Convention Centre would be barely enough to get all the mountains crew together, than you may have under estimated it. Not only will the usual suspects be there such as Simon Carter, Monique Forestier, Mike Law and Ali Pepper, but a whole host of interstate and BIG international names.

Guest speakers, workshops and discussion headed by Cedar Wright, Hazel Findlay and Andy Kirkpatrick

And before you ask, no they didn't bag Chris Sharma, he was too expensive and probably too busy gallivanting around the countryside with his new girlfriend and posting the pics on Instagram.  But Cedar Wright, Andy Kirkpatrick and Hazel Findlay will be there! Amongst a whole host of other worthy guests including Tim Macartney-Snape, Chris Warner, Greg Mortimer, Andrew Lock and Louise Shepherd. Even our very own Dick Smith will be presenting, giving a talk on "Diving Into the Dumpster - How to live as a Dirtbag". Just kidding. You could ask him how to though as he will be on a discussion panel. I dare you.

 There's a whole host of items on the agenda including speakers, the Australian National and Oceania Bouldering Championships, trade show, films, workshops, debates on the big hot topics, demonstrations, a festival party and kids activities to name a few. You can get up-close and person with all the big names as they give workshops and discussion times, join in with slacklining and yoga classes or just sit back and hear all about crazy expeditions to places you may or may not have heard of.

We will be there with our little Mountain Equipment stand and thanks to Sterling Ropes, we are offering 25% a new rope when you trade in your old one. There might be a small catch that it will be woven into a awesome mat by the sterling guys (which you get to keep, sell on eBay or give to your mum for Christmas) in order to claim the discount but those are minor details. There will be heaps of other deals going down from a host of other brands too like La Sportiva, Goal Zero, Prana and DMM. The festival is running for three days from 17-19th of October and adult ticket prices vary from $25 for one day general entry right up to $295 for a VIP "access all areas" package which may or may not include a beer with Cedar Wright and the chance to try on his glasses. You can buy entry to specific talks, workshops and films or you can purchase tickets which include all of the above. And I know that you're sitting there thinking "hey I'm not Dick Smith, I can't even afford to re-sole my Mythos let alone cough up $50 for a workshop with Andy Kirkpatrick", just remember that all these guys and girls are the best in the business and you could seriously learn more in an hour with Hazel Findlay or Monique Forestier about mental and physical training for climbing than you might in a year of dogging some climb in the Glen. Cedar's workshop is even titled "No budget- Adventure climbing filming for the totally clueless”. So hey, you might even make money out of this. On top of this the festival is donating a host of funds to CragCare, there is a ton of prizes to win and is sure to be an awesome climbing community event.

Have a quick look through the programme, check out the Climbing Festival's website, and say 'hi' to the Mountain Equipment crew if you're up there.

Friday 17th October

Presentations

Scarpa Room

• 9.45am – 10.30am: The Invention of Climbing in Eastern Australia, Michael Meadows.
• 10.45am – 11.45am: From Borrowdale to Basecamp – A Doctor’s Perspective, Jim Duff.
• 12.00pm – 1.00pm: It’s Not All High Five’s and Red Bull, Monique Forestier.
• 1.15pm – 2.15pm: John Ewbank Tribute, Adam Darragh, Simon Mentz, Bruce Cameron, Bryden Allen.
• 2.30pm – 3.15pm: Climbing In Patagonia – An Illustrated Guide to Doing it Yourself, Marcus Loane.
• 3.30pm – 5.00pm: On the Trail of Genghis Khan, Tim Cope.

Paddy Pallin Stage

• 5.10pm – 5.30pm: Welcome!
• 5.30pm – 6.50pm: Around the World and Back Again, Hazel Findlay.
• 7.00pm – 8.15pm: 30 Years from the Summit, Tim Macartney-Snape.

Films, ACF Cinema

• 9.00am – 10.00am: The Last Great Climb (1hr)
• 10.15 – 11.00am: ‘Chicks Rock Session’ Push It (26mins) and Resounding Silence (16mins)
• 11.15am – 12.15pm: Patagonian Winter (31mins) and My Life – The Big Climb (28mins)
• 12.30pm – 1.05pm: ‘Oz Shorts’ Blue Crush (22mins), The Picture of the Mountains (2mins), Augmentium – A First Ascent in Tasmania (10mins), and Bluetopia – Extended Trailer (4mins)
• 2.30pm – 3.10pm: ‘Sender Session’ Spice Girl (25mins) and The Stonemasters (15mins)
• 3.30pm – 4.15pm: Wide Boyz II (45mins)
• 4.30 – 5.15pm: Distilled (42mins)

Workshops

• 7.30am – 8.30am: Yoga by Climb Fit (in Courtyard)

• 9.15am – 11.15am: Effective Home Training – Making the Most Out of Limited Resources, Duncan Brown (meet in Edelrid Room)
• 10.00am – 11.30am: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 12.30pm – 2.00pm: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 12.30pm – 2.30pm: Adventure Filmmaking for Climbers, Cedar Wright (in Edelrid Room)
• 3.30m – 5.00pm: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)

Auditorium and Bouldering Competition

• 8.00am – 12.40pm: Qualifications – Male Open, Junior and Youth A.
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Trade Show
• 9.15am – 9.45am: Coffee with Hazel and Cedar. Meet Hazel Findlay and Cedar Wright at the festival café for informal discussions and Q & A.
• 1.30pm – 4.50pm: Qualifications – Female Open, Junior and Youth A.

Courtyard Area, Demos and Entertainment

• 8.30am – 5.30pm: Food stalls
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Children’s activities – 9am Bower Bird nest building; 10am-12pm Face Painting; 11am & 2pm Theatre Sports.
• 12.00pm – 12.30pm: Slacklining demo by Slack 2 Basics
• 12.30pm – 1.00pm: Lunchtime Music Jam Session
• 3.00pm – 3.30pm: Slacklining demo by Slack 2 Basics

Festival Shop

• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Shop opening hours
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Exhibition of photography competition finalists

Off-site Events

• 9.00pm – 10.30pm: Vertical Film Festival, at St. Hilda’s Church, 68 Katoomba St. Katoomba

   

Saturday 18th October

Presentations

Scarpa Room

• 9.15am – 10.15am: Common Climbing Injuries 1: The Spine and Shoulder Girdle, Matt Bulman. Weight Management for Climbers, Duncan Hunter.
• 10.30am – 11.30am: Hot Topic Seminar, Mountain Cultures – Resilient or Vulnerable? Tim Cope, Jim Duff, Allie Pepper and Paul Pritchard.
• 11.45am – 12.45pm: Mountaineering in Antarctica, Damien Gildea.
• 1.00pm – 1.45pm: Reflections on Danger, Greg Mortimer.
• 2.00pm – 3.00pm: Hot Topic Seminar, The Changing Face of Women in Climbing, Louise Shepherd, Hazel Findlay, Allie Pepper, Monique Forestier, and Angie Scarth-Johnson.
• 3.15pm – 4.15pm: Big Walls – Baffin and Siberia, Chris Warner.
• 4.30pm – 5.15pm: The Bold and the Hopeless, Mike Law.

• Paddy Pallin Stage

• 5.30pm – 6.50pm: Inappropriate Climbing, Andy Kirkpatrick.
• 7.00pm – 8.20pm: Zen and the Art of Suffering, Cedar Wright.

Films, ACF Cinema

• 9.00am – 9.40am: ‘Oz Shorts’ Blue Crush (22mins), The Picture of the Mountains (2mins), Augmentium – A First Ascent in Tasmania (10mins), and Bluetopia – Extended Trailer (4mins)
• 9.50am – 10.50am: Autana (58mins)
• 11.00am – 12.00pm: Crossing the Ice (62mins)
• 12.15pm – 1.00pm: ‘Chicks Rock Session’ Push It (26mins), and Resounding Silence (16mins)
• 1.15pm- 2.15pm: ‘Trials & Tribulations Session’ The Journey (20mins), To The Rainbow (14mins), and The Sufferfest (18mins)
• 3.30pm – 4.30pm: ‘Kirkpatrick Session’ Patagonian Winter (31mins) and My Life – The Big Climb (28mins)

Workshops

• 7.30am – 8.30am: Yoga by Climb Fit (in Courtyard)
• 9.15am – 1o.45am: Climbing Photography Clinic, Simon Carter (Edelrid Room)
• 10.00am – 11.30am: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 11.30am – 1.00pm: Secrets of Training, Monique Forestier (meet in Edelrid Room)
• 3.30pm – 4.30pm: Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention Workshop for Climbers, Matt Bulman (Edelrid Room)
• 12.30pm – 2.00pm: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 3.30m – 5.00pm: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)

Auditorium and Bouldering Competition

• 8.30am – 10.30am: Female Masters, Female and Male Youth D.
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Trade show
• 11.00am – 1.00pm: Male and Female Youth C, Female Youth B.
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm: Male Masters, Male Youth B.
• 2.15pm – 3.15pm: Rope Coiling Comp at the Tiega booth
• 4.30pm – 5.00pm: Presentation ceremony for Male and Female Masters, Youth B, C, and D.

Courtyard Area, Demonstrations and Entertainment

• 8.30am – 6.00pm: Food stalls
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Children’s activities  – 9am Bower Bird nest building; 10am-12pm Face Painting; 11am & 2pm Theatre Sports.
• 9.30am – 10.30am: ACIA Safety demonstration
• 12.00pm – 12.30pm: Slacklining demo by Slack 2 Basics
• 12.30pm – 1.00pm: Lunchtime Music Jam Session
• 3.00pm – 3.30pm: Slacklining demo by Slack 2 Basics

Festival Shop

• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Shop opening hours
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Exhibition of photography competition finalists
• 3.00pm – 3.30pm: Presentation of awards for photography competition and writing competition.

Off-site Events

• 8.45pm to late: Festival Party in Katoomba centre

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Sunday 19th October

Presentations

Scarpa Room

• 9.15am – 10.15am: Common Climbing Injuries Pt 2: The Elbow and Hand, Matt Bulman. Recovery and Fuelling, Duncan Hunter.
• 10.30am – 11.30am: Hot Topic Seminar, Adventure in Climbing – Then and Now, Dick Smith, Greg Mortimer, Andy Kirkpatrick and Guy Cotter
• 11.45am – 12.45pm: Exposed, Simon Carter
• 1.00pm – 2.00pm: The Great Debate – Is Climbing Sexy? Adrian Laing, John Fischer, Cedar Wright, Simon Mentz, Simon Madden, Damian Jovanovic.
• 2.15pm – 2.45pm: China: Climbing Behind the Wall, Duncan Brown
• 3.00pm – 4.00pm: The Journey, Paul Pritchard
• 4.15pm – 5.15pm: Summit 8000, Andrew Lock

Films, ACF Cinema

• 9.00am – 9.45pm: Distilled (42mins)
• 10.00am – 11.00am: ‘Trials & Tribulations Session’ The Journey (20mins), To The Rainbow (14mins), and The Sufferfest (18mins)
• 11.15am – 12.00pm: Wide Boyz II (45mins)
• 12.15pm – 12.55pm: ‘Sender Session’ Spice Girl (25mins) and The Stonemasters (15mins)
• 1.15pm – 2.50pm: The Crossing (85mins)
• 3.00pm – 3.35pm: ‘Oz Shorts’ Blue Crush (22mins), The Picture of the Mountains (2mins), Augmentium – A First Ascent in Tasmania (10mins), and Bluetopia – Extended Trailer (4mins)

Workshops

• 7.30am – 8.30am: Yoga by Climb Fit (in Courtyard)
• 10.00am – 1.00pm: Adventure Writing Workshop, Tim Cope (Edelrid Room)
• 10.00am – 11.30am: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 12.30pm – 2.00pm: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 2.00pm – 3.30pm: Rock Exotica – Rope Techniques That Can Save Your Ass, Andy Kirkpatrick (meet in Edelrid Room)
• 3.30m – 5.00pm: Slacklining, Slack 2 Basics (in Courtyard)
• 3.45pm – 4.40pm: Mental Training Practices for Climbers, Hazel Findlay

Auditorium and Bouldering Competition

• 8.30am – 10.30am: Semi-finals – Male and Female Open, Junior, Youth A
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Trade Show
• 10.45am – 12.00pm: Mad Rock Dyno comp
• 1.30pm – 5.00pm: Finals – Male and Female Open, Junior, Youth A.
• 5.00pm – 5.30pm: Prize draw for Full Festival Pass holders (approximate time depending on finishing time of finals) on the Paddy Pallin Stage
• 5.30pm – 6.00pm: Presentation ceremony for Male and Female Open, Junior, Youth A (approximate time depending on finishing time of finals) on the Paddy Pallin Stage.
• 6.00pm – 6.45pm: Closing ceremony and surprise entertainment on the Paddy Pallin Stage.

Courtyard area, Demonstrations and Entertainment

• 8.30am – 6.00pm: Food stalls
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Children’s activities  – 9am Bower Bird nest building; 10am-12pm Face Painting; 11am & 2pm Theatre Sports.
• 10.15am – 11.45am: ‘Breaking Bad’ gear testing demo, Mike Law
• 12.00pm – 12.30pm: Slacklining demo by Slack 2 Basics
• 12.30pm – 1.00pm: Lunchtime Music Jam Session
• 3.00pm – 3.30pm: Slacklining demo by Slack 2 Basics

Festival Shop

• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Shop opening hours
• 9.00am – 5.00pm: Exhibition of photography competition finalists
• 1.30pm – 3.00pm: Meet Andrew Lock and book signing

All information and photos sourced and published by the Australian Climbing Festival. http://australianclimbingfestival.com.au/