This Autumn for me has been the busiest one of my life. I kicked things off in early September in Sonoma, CA for a clinic instructors' course. Our goal was to tear down climbing; moves, techniques, training ideas, competition strategies, efficient teaching skills, all leading towards producing the best clinics possible. With the additional help of Beth Rodden, Emmy Surma, Rusty Klassen and Andrew McDermott we were able to come up with an incredible and unique clinic program that we could pack up and take with us like Cirque du Soleil.

The nor'easter came and went. Weeks of balancing hard training with hard schoolwork. Restless nights anticipating the competition wall and problems. The qualifiers could not have gone better, I did not fall off! Semi's were called off due to rain and so 20 people went through to finals! I finished third, on paper a good result. But in my mind I should not have made the silly route reading mistake I made. I should have done the couple more moves I needed to do to win. Shoulda' woulda' coula'. But as with all competitions I...

Going back to the east coast is always a fun time for me.  Since I grew up there I get a special feeling every time I’m back.  This year’s Nor’easter was held in Burlington Vermont, which is one of my favorite cities.  It’s a huge college town right next to Lake Champlain.  In addition to being in a great location Burlington also has some great bars and restaurants.  But I didn't travel all the way just to eat and drink.  I went to climb.

Summer has been hot and rainy. It seams like Fall arrived last week and now the air feels crisp and the heat is coolin' off!I've spent most of my time lately preparing for the competition at the Nor'easter in Burlington, Vermont. I know it will be a fun time but like any competition I've competed in, I'm feeling a bit nervous about it. I just hope I can represent for myself in a strong way.After the Nor'easter I'm going to be shifting into more outdoor climbing and forget about the gym for a while.I’ll be doing my best to...

The Nor'easter powered by Eastern Mountain Sports is the spiritual home of the active outdoor community. It's a 3-day celebration of outdoor culture showcasing the sports we play, the music we listen, the food we eat, the beer we drink and the environmental issues that concern us. This year's Nor'easter will sprawl out across Burlington with a Cyclocross race at North Beach, concerts and satellite events on Church St, and the festival Base Camp at Waterfront Park.

BURLINGTON, VT (Monday, August 15, 2011) – Today, The Nor’easter powered by Eastern Mountain Sports officially announced its lineup for this year’s outdoor sports & music festival in Burlington, VT September 23-­‐25, 2011. An eclectic cast of 22 artists will perform at multiple venues spreading indie-­‐rock, blues, electronica, jazz, bluegrass, and even mariachi throughout the city. Waterfront Park will be home to the Nor’easter main stage and will feature festival headliners G.Love & Special Sauce, rjd2 and Okkervil River. The Nor’easter second stage on Church St. will showcase many local favorites including Barika and the Dave Keller Band. ...