Tag Archives: Threshhold

Psyched again

Posted on by

I have to admit, I have been in an intense climbing slump the past few weeks. I was considering taking a long break from climbing to regain my passion and psyche back. My slump began from experiencing a horrific climbing accident. I was belaying a friend who was trad leading. He was climbing a really stout and hard trad route, after placing one piece he felt out the moves… then climbed down. Once he started to weigh his only piece, it shifted and popped out of place. He decked on a ledge high up, passed out, and started falling face first down to the base (without a helmet). By the time I had time to react, I only had enough time to try to grab him by the harness and pull back as hard as I could.

Out of all the places he could land, he landed face first at the edge of a small boulder. He lost consciousness for a few seconds, experienced retro/anteriograde amnesia for 30 mintues. There was blood everywhere. His injuries looked really harsh, he bashed his skull and fractured the left facial bones. My friend is a tropper though, he was super calm and composed the whole time. Still being a jokester in the ambulance, and calm with the trips to two hospitals. I am really thankful there were climbers near by with EMT experience. As horrible as the falling accident was, it played out the best possible way. My buddy is doing great now, he had surgery to get a metal plate in his forehead (pretty cool) with no complications. All his injuries are injuries that can heal with time, and we are all really thankful for that.

That was the first traumatizing experience for climbing for me. Even still at this moment, I know its going to take time for me to get back on ropes.

The 2nd slumpper came with my hyped expected trip to Bishop for spring break. I love Bishop. Its my favourate place to boulder so far. Unfortunately, (as you can read in my previous blog post) I contracted the influenza virus on my trip. All these series of unfortunate climbing events really bummed me out.

The last slump came from misplacing my quickdraw necklace I have been wearing for a while. I took it off to try on another necklace. The next day I was looking for it, it was nowhere to be found.

I am a person who believes in fatalism. Which basically means I believe the subjugation of all events or actions to fate. Maybe all these intense traumatizing/unfortunate events happening so often & so close together means something. I should take a break from climbing for my own sake.

I was still sick and the “What The Crux Competition” is coming up the following weekend. I have been in partner with ThreshHold Gym to set up this event for CCS series competition for my university and climbing club. A few days before the comp day I attempted to climb for the first time in a few weeks. I was flailing on V3s, from the lack of energy due to the flu. After a few attempts at some problems I couldnt handle any more climbing. Once I got home my high fever started to come back. Super bummer. I couldn’t compete in an event ive been planning for since last year.

Yesterday was the comp. The virus in my system subscided, I finally felt like myself. I forgot that I already pre-paid for the comp a while back. I was thinking of competing, when I started to shuffle through my climbing bag I found my quickdraw necklace! From that moment I decided, what the hell… Ill try to climb and compete. The competition went well, I felt strong in comparison to the rest of the girls in the comp.


The results were in, as they called the results for the rest of the women my name still didnt come up. Once was the OPEN category was called, it was a surprise to see that my name (and only my name) was called. I placed 1st in OPEN! Also placed 2nd, and 3rd in open I guess haha. No other woman competed in the open category with me. So basically, I was competing against myself.

Lets just say the $100 prize w/a massage got my psyche back. IM BACK BABY. Ready to crush again.

:)

happy Sunday everyone!

-Natalie Duran

Vertical Ascent Climbing Club

Posted on by

My friend Sarah and I started a rock climbing club at our university last year. Our goal with this club is to introduce students to the world of rock climbing. I have to admit, climbing is an intimidating and weird sport to jump into… so we opened up our arms and welcomed anyone into our world haha. Our cute little club name is “Vertical Ascent Climbing Club”.

VA’s 1st General Meeting @ The outdoor rock wall & ropes course on campus

The greatest part of climbing is experiencing it outdoors. Every month we try to plan 1-2 trips at our local climbing areas. Its really awesome because we meet people who have never camped or climbed outdoors before. Its an awesome experience to guide them, because their psyche is insane. The new members are always excited to experience new things, are are willing to learn more and more. Climbing has done so much for my own personal life, so I am more than willing to help others experience the sport as well.

VA’s first outdoor climbing/camping trip to Malibu Creek

When I climb (especially in bouldering areas) I usually run into a group of kids who are outdoor bouldering for the first time. Unfortunately most of the time they are being loud, obnoxious, and disrespectful to the landscape around them. I cant judge them, because they havent been shown how to respect the land and the climbers around them.

So, with our club. We want to introduce them to the climbing world in a respectful manner. Climbing etiquette can be common sense, but not all of it is obvious. So it is important to show these new climbers all about the world of climbing, respectfully, and in the safest manner possible.

A group of new & experienced climbers at Mt. Rubidoux. A local climbing spot 5min away from campus.

1st VA climbing trip out to Joshua Tree National Park

Brought out the mobile rock wall ON campus!

Even though we are a new club, the VA cabinet has worked really hard to create all these events and lessons for our members. We are really excited that our club is hosting the regionals for CCS Regionals (Colegiate Climbing Series, part of USA climbing)  at our local climbing gym Threshhold.

CCS series has not been present in the SoCal region. So, this year is a trail run for our universities. Socal has an extensive climbing community, and I see these competitions as a great way to gather us all together. UCSD/USD & UCR are the three colleges this year that are participating in SoCal CCS.

Pretty psyched for it to come together, its coming so close! I met up with the guys at Mad Rock HQ to sponsor the event. They are always happy to help the community. I managed to squeeze out two crashpads for our competition, which is VERY generous. Mad Rock always has my back ;)

So if your in the area, come by and compete. Competition its open to EVERYONE, not just college kids. If not, come by to hang out with the climbing community! We are going to have Goodwin’s Food Truck come on by. Also, the 5.10 guys are going to be there with a shoe demo for everyone to try out!

These are the moments that make it worth it, above is one of our new members Matthew Chun who went climbing outdoors for the first time on our Bishop bouldering trip. This is victory pose after finishing a 35ft boulder!

I’m really happy on how this climbing club started out, and what its potential is. I hope the psyche can carry on years after I graduate.

… but I wont graduate if I don’t study… Biochemistry FINAL tomorrow. Gotta go, thanks for stopping by if you get to this point!

climb on. yall.

-Natalie Duran