Albaracin until recently has been a closely guarded Spanish secret. Now it is fast becoming one of Europes leading bouldering venues……….easily challenging Font’s crown and offering so much more…….. Albaracin gives us an immense bouldering area with varied rock suitable for the beginner through to the more experinced, every boulder is a classic with lots of different styles of climbing with soft safe landings!, the weather is great very settled with lots of blue skies, there are no crowds and it offers a special charm with stunning scenery that stays with you entising you back time and time again!
Rock & Sun offer bouldering trips throughout the year to guide you around this stunning area. Our specialist bouldering coaches have immense local knowledge taking you to the best boulders for you, they will improve all areas of your technique, ability and confidence and help you to achieve your goals and aspirations ensuring you maximise your time and have an amazing trip.
Weekends include:
3 days bouldering coaching, 3 nights self catering accommodation, airport transfers, local transport & crash pads
You need: climbing shoes, flights to Valencia (arrive Friday & depart Monday)
Next trip available is Friday 13th - Monday 16th March 2009
This is what the R&S European office did in their lunch yesterday!
The weather was so gorgeous, with perfect blue skies, that we had to get out and climb. We did a very quick ascent of the Penon d’Ifach, Calpe, Costa Blanca, and ran back down then back to the office to work!!
Here is a photo to show you that actually we are having some fantastic weather, its way up in the north of Spain that is suffering!!
There has been much talk in the media over recent weeks warning us of bad investments and unprotected companies.
We are taking this opportunity to remind you of what Rock & Sun gives you.
Rock & Sun are a UK registered limited company so although much of our operations are abroad we follow the strictest UK guidelines for liability insurance and protection. We follow all the Trade & Standards regulations and are associated to AMI the Mountaineering governing body. We also follow all guidelines of recognised bodies within the countries we are operating in and in many cases have direct associations with them.
Rock & Sun Ltd are one of the very few climbing holiday providers who have full protection for our clients. We are bonded with with IGI, who protect our clients in the unlikely event of R&S financial failure. For full details and policy numbers please click here.
Rock & Sun have an exemplary accident record, however R&S is covered by a £5,000,000 liability insurance policy in the case of an accident.
R&S instructors are of the highest quality. All our instructors are insured and qualified each having regular update training and annual reassessment so as to ensure the highest levels of instruction and the very best holidays.
What this means, to you, is that as always with Rock & Sun you will have professional, safe, fantastic holidays with the very best highly qualified instructors all with peace of mind that you are fully protected and knowing you have picked the market leaders.
For months the Peñon d’Ifach has been closed to climbers due to critical repairs and maintenance to the walkway beneath the Peñon and the cleaning and stabilising of loose Rock from the main South Face. After much speculation and much work by Calpe council, the Club Alpí de Gandia y Club de Muntanya de Calp and local event organisers Roy and Miguel the Penyon was open to all, just hours before the 7th Penyon 12 hour challenge was due to start!
Every year teams from wide and far compete in a 12 hour race to climb as many routes as possible. All the routes are given points according to difficultly, length and protection.
This year - 17th May 2008 - 25 teams entered along with our very own team, Chris & Nacho!
After an impressive start where we saw Chris & Nacho storm up the face with uncanny speed - Puta Paseo 7a+ in just 2.5 hrs. Spirits were damped not only by the approaching storms but by an awkward & unlucky fall by Nacho on the notoriously slippery descent. Nacho injured his ankle, the storm closed in and lightening crackled….. Nacho & Chris would not be deterred and fought on. Their second route (El Navagente 7a) went equally speedy and just as us spectators were thinking that all was well and the storms seemed to be keeping to the inner mountains, we realised their descent was very slow. A phone call confirmed Nacho’s ankle was suffering on the difficult descent…….Lisa & Steve armed with a team of supporters and pain killers, freezing spray, bandages and tape raced up to meet them, dressed the ankle, gave them some cheers and incredibly they were off again.
Their third route (Costa Blanca 6c+) saw them climbing even faster than before (we were told later that fart power and humour kept them going ever faster!) Unfortunately a slower group on this route held them up but they still got to the top with half an hour to spare. They achieved their target of three routes in 12 hours and were rewarded with 7th place. A fantastic and well deserved achievement for their first race. Nacho is recovering well with three weeks off work and a cracked foot bone!
Congratulations to Lee & Julie Burrows who won the Craggy competition.
Their prize, a fully expensed and instructed trip to the Costa Blanca. They were looked after by Alan at the stunning Casa Almar and Chris, the R&S chief instructor, showed them some of the best routes in the area. Here are some piccies of them at the crag and in Casa Almar with Alan.
This is the question………. Well it is for some of us who climb and find ourselves with child! This is one person’s story….Louise Davies.
I started climbing about 2 years ago but got really hooked after a bouldering trip to Albaraccin with Rock and Sun. Just as I was beginning to think that I would become the next bouldering superstar I found out I was pregnant. At first I thought that was the end of my climbing career, well at least for the next 9 months, but I did some research and spoke to Lisa, at Rock and Sun, and realised that with a few changes I could continue to climb. I gave up bouldering after 12 weeks and turned back to top-roping with my husband, Simon, as my belay partner and a safe pair of hands! I moved to a full body harness when I was about 24 weeks pregnant and the bump started to get in the way. I have found that climbing whilst pregnant has given me a tremendous mental and physical boost. Not only have I managed to stay toned and in shape (every pregnant woman’s secret dream) but I have also seen a great improvement in my climbing as I have really focused on my technique and, of course, I have been lugging all that extra weight up the wall too. In all it has been a very positive and empowering experience for me. Our baby is due in 5 weeks time and I am hoping to manage one or two more climbs before then.
My advice if you want to continue climbing whilst pregnant would be first to speak to your doctor, then climb with people you trust, listen to your body, stop when you start to feel tired and don’t feel pressured to continue climbing beyond when you feel comfortable. I took a bouldering trip with Rock and Sun at 11 weeks pregnant. Chris was great, advising me on the best way to climb and warning me away from anything that could be problematic. He also, very sensibly, steered me away from bouldering towards top-roping where I could push myself a little further but with less risk to the baby. It was with their advice that I had the confidence to continue climbing.
I look forward to my next Rock and Sun bouldering trip – babe in arms!
From everyone at Rock & Sun we wish Louise and Simon every happiness and we look forward to hearing from you very soon!
When a young dynamic cycling company introduced themselves to Rock & Sun and asked if we would sponsor their new team we said ‘Sounds like fun!’ This new team is made up of passionate riders of all abilities and ages headed up by ex Great Britain Cycling mechanic and coach, Craig Denning. Craig has worked, trained and raced all over the world with The Great Britain team and his experience is vast. After many years of the jet setting lifestyle Craig decided to set up a more permanent base with his family in Bristol and his dream was to set up his own cycling mechanic company and his own team. He has now done this suitably calling his company ‘Dream Mechanics’ and the team ‘Dream Cycling’
Here is Craig leading the field at a recent race.
We wish all the team members lots of wins and fun and to Craig every success with his new company.
For more info on Dream Mechanics or the team and the services offered including mechanics and servicing, personal coaching and training. Or if you fancy a nose at another mad sports enthusiasts log on to www.dreammechanics.co.uk
