Climbing

Shared Not Shut is a campaign about fairness, accountability, and the right to enjoy outdoor spaces in a way that respects cultural heritage while maintaining access to outdoor recreation. Through unity and strategic action, they are pushing for necessary legislative changes and holding our government accountable to ensure long-term protection of outdoor users' rights for all.

The new and much anticipated Ondra Comp by La Sportiva recently arrived on the shores of Australia and my toes have had the privilege of cosying up with them (almost exclusively) for the last month! Being the newest member of the extensive fleet of climbing shoes by La Sportiva, they are an incredibly unique and carefully curated shoe with a particular set of qualities and use cases in mind.

Paraclimbing is open to athletes with a physical or vision impairment in men’s and women’s individual competitions. 2 months ago, Brand Ambassador Glen Todd attended the first Australian Paraclimbing Team Camp and his second just recently. He is now on his way to the IFSC Para-Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025!

Congratulations to our Major Prize winner Miriam Powell on winning a Bogong Equipment climbing gear pack as well as 2-Day Climbing Course with Melbourne Climbing School and 10x Pass for Climb West Melbourne Bouldering Gym! We received 80 entries to the competition from members of the community wanting to make their voices heard.

These videos are a part of a growing collection of stories to show the importance of Mount Arapiles in the lives of so many - courtesy of Climbing Victoria. Watch this space for more!

In November 2024, the Victorian Government and Parks Victoria announced plans to close 63% of climbing and prohibit off track bushwalking at Mount Arapiles / Dyurrite. There has been no consultation with the local or climbing community. The future of Australian rock climbing is at stake. The climbing community urgently needs your help. Check out the short film by Lucas Corroto - including Brand Ambassador Ashlee Hendy!

Open Letter to The Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP and the Premier Jacinta Allan. A request for a full and proper consultation with the climbing community and other affected stakeholders before the Mt Arapiles-Tooan State Park Plan of Management is amended.

Glen Todd is a rock climber living with cerebral palsy and competing at an international level with the Australian Para Climbing Team. What a year 2024 has been for Glen. He has gone from climbing for only 16 months, to competing in his first IFSC World Cup in Salt Lake City USA, in May of 2024.

The Mistral is a new shoe from La Sportiva dedicated to climbers in the evolution phase. Built for comfort and versatility the shoe is a great all rounder, a comfortable indoor training shoe to a great multi pitch trad machine. With added environmentally friendly additions the Upper and insole are made entirely without the use of animal products and the sole is made from recycled Vibram rubber offcuts from the La Sportiva factory in Italy.

Josh is a paraclimber based in Melbourne/Naarm, whose life took an unexpected turn in 2019, reshaping it significantly. Josh led an incredibly active life until a sudden incident left him unable to feel and use his lower limbs, leading to a 14-month pursuit of a Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis (HSP) diagnosis.