Latest News
23rd Dec 2011 Wideboyz - exclusive full length interview
Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker have proved themselves at the highest level with the first ascent of the hardest offwidth crack in the world - Century Crack 5.14b / 8c / E10 - but can they make it thru a grilling by Wild Country's hardcore interviewer, Richie Patterson!!!
Some great stories about their US trip make this a fascinating insight into the minds of two of the UK's greatest exports!
19th Dec 2011 Free Full Length Movie - 'Islands Traditional Tales Of Lakeland Climbing'
Wild Country is proud to be able to bring you, in association with Land and Sky Media, a unique opportunity to watch a full length climbing film free of charge. 
Premiered at Kendal Mountain Film Festival 2011 to great acclaim 'That was as close to a perfect climbing film as I've seen. I truly enjoyed the way it effortlessly and beautifully captured the 'just so' pace and pulse.' Nick Ingram, Islands: Traditional Tales of Lakeland Climbing’ is a three part film, which gives an insight into the world of hard traditional ascents in the birthplace of rock climbing, the English Lake District.
Lake District legend Dave Birkett in action on the first ascent of Talbot Horizon a few years ago...
'Islands' features fantastic footage of first ascents and hard repeats of routes from E6 (5.12c) to E9 (5.13c) by Wild Country and Red Chili climbers Adam Hocking and James McHaffie, as well Lakes stalwarts Mike Przygrodzki and Stuart Wood. It also features interviews and commentaries from Lakes legend and Wild Country climber Dave Birkett and the indefatigable Leo Houlding.
Islands is a sensitive and cinematic documentary film, that represents the Lakes and it’s characters in a simple and poignant way. And with sport climbing and bouldering gaining popularity, this film provides a deep and sometimes comical perspective on the great British trad climbing tradition.
Directed and produced by Dom Bush of Land and Sky Media. See more by Dom Bush here....http://landandsky.wordpress.com/
See more about all Wild Country and Red Chili's climbers here: wildcountry.co.uk/it/community/sponsored-climbers/
13th Dec 2011 Ed Hamer takes a fantastic Silver Medal at Kranj EYC
Silver Medal at Kranj EYC and Misja Pec beasting!!
I have just spent the last 10 days in Slovenia with my good friend Luke Tilley. We both arrived on the 17th November into Ljubljana and competed in the Senior World Championships at Kranj that weekend! It was my first senior competition and, as my last Junior comp was to be at the end of the week, it seemed a perfect opportunity to dip my toe in the Seniors and see how I faired. After completing the two qualifiers which felt very do-able, I missed the semi-finals by 4 places, which was a cool way to start ! I know that it is possible to get some good results next year for the GB climbing team in the Seniors.
After competing on Saturday, we then had an amazing day trip to Misja Pec which is a superb limestone sport climbing area near the coast. We met up with Gasper who is a good friend from the Slovenian climbing team who gave us a lift. I started the day by warming up on a tricky 7b+ Hugolina, and then climbed a cool 8a+ 2nd try called Sonce v oceh. I finished the day by sending Marjetica 8b+ 2nd go which was really cool. The crag has all types of climbs from long pumpy, tufa routes to short bouldery, powerful climbs. We all then headed back to watch the finals of the Senior comp in Kranj that evening. The next few days consisted of training at some of the boulder gyms in Skofja Loka which are great training venues. On the Thursday myself and Franz (member of the Swiss team)found a lift again to Misja Pec. When we arrived the weather was amazing, enabling us to both warm up on a great 7b+ called Figa and then onsighting a brilliant 7c+ called Pingvin. My aim was to try and send Missing Link 8b+. After working out the moves I managed to send it 2nd attempt. This was a fantastic day and thanks to Franz for the support.
Kranj EYC Junior competition
After spending a whole day at Misja Pec we had to head back to Kranj to meet up with the rest of our Junior team members who flew out that evening. We all had a good rest day on Friday sauntering around Kranj, which is a beautiful town, and then competed in the last European Youth Cup of the season. This was also my last junior European cup so it had to be a good one!! I felt very good on the qualification routes which put me in 3rd place through to the final. I then came out on the Sunday feeling psyched and managed to bag Silver Medal. This was my highest placement ever in a European Competition. I have now ended the season with a 2nd place World ranking and 4th in European ranking. It has been a great 4 years in the junior climbing team and I’d like to thank so many people for the encouragement and support throughout those years but particularly Ian Dunn and John Elison who are outstanding team leaders and have played a key role in my success this year. I am so keen to get started with the Seniors next year and the British Bouldering team but hope also to continue in supporting the Junior team through coaching, and competition preparation. I am back in the UK now till Christmas hoping to get some cool trad routes done and training hard over the winter months..
