30/05/2007

'Our man down under' Ben Heason, sponsee and Staff Trainer for Wild Country and Red Chili - who's been working in Australia - has just got back to Blighty and sent the following report....

"Had a good few days up at Araps and Gramps. Did some routes but had more joy on the bouldering front. Managed to get some Font 7c+'s and a Font 8a so was pretty chuffed, and surprised by that!

Unfortunately on my last day in the Gramps I injured myself, trying to 'retro-flash' a 7c route that I on-sighted about 6 years ago. A mate was working it so I had to belay him on it so I thought I'd have a go. I did really well on it, got almost to the top 9climbing very quickly!) before my pump set in! I got myself into a contorted, awkward rest to try and recover – with both feet above my head wedged very poorly in a crack and a pocket. Anyway, I fell off. My stomach felt quite sore, but after a couple of days (with no climbing) it felt totally back to normal again. Even going running and doing sit ups.

I managed to climb at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane cit centre and had a really fun day at Frogg Buttress. And the next day I went with some locals to a new secret crag. My stomach/rib injury returned, but significantly worse this time. It hurt a lot to even breathe for a few days. Will explain when I see you but I've barely climbed since.

I tried climbing the first day in Thailand but it seemed stupid.

So not climbed in almost 3 weeks. Typical, just when I felt I was starting to get some fitness and form back…

I did my Padi diving course in Thailand which was fun but not quite as much fun as climbing…

I went to see my Physio yesterday and he confirmed that I hadn't broken or cracked a rib, but that I'd torn my cartilage and displaced a rib. Not great. He seemed to think that, if I'm careful I should be able to start getting back into climbing in the next few days. Just avoiding overhanging stuff and not pushing it to begin with.

So I've basically just got my fingers crossed at the moment as I'd made sure I've go almost no work on until the end of August so that I can concentrate on climbing properly again."

Thanks Ben, sounds way painful, so get better soon and I'm sure you'll be ready for the grit season when the autumn arrives...

Ben will be sending a fuller report and loads glorious down under photos soon!!!

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