North Coast Climbers

The Altnadue Quarry will close at 6pm on the 24th December and reopen at 9am on Monday 29th December.

Massive kudos to Sorley for mastering his first outdoor climbs at Fairhead this weekend 👏🏻
Sorely took it all in his stride, was capable and determined and is already looking forward to his next outdoor climb!

Club members enjoying Stendhal vibes - missed getting pics of some of the others we spied 👀🌟

Crag cups and climbing in the bank holiday sunshine ☀️

Some reading for ya 📚

‼️📘 Special Report: Sharp edges and rope cuts ↓

A document on Sharp Edges and Rope Cuts, produced in collaboration between the safety commissions of the Norwegian Climbing Federation and the UIAA has been published.

The climbing rope is the backbone of the protection system in sport climbing, mountaineering and ice climbing. If the backbone breaks, climbers find themselves at the mercy of gravity. A fall during roped climbing will very likely cause serious injury or death to the climber.

The paper explores the risks associated with climbing ropes breaking due to contact with sharp edges. It outlines the factors contributing to rope cuts, historical data on accidents, and recommendations for climbers and route developers to mitigate these risks.

This document charts:

• Requirements for climbing ropes
• What are sharp edges?
• What happens when ropes break and cause of rope breaks
• The impact of sharp edges
• Rope breaks due to rockfall
• Non-rock fall rope cuts

The paper also provides a series of real-life rope cut cases studies.

Though rope failures due to sharp edges are rare, they pose serious risks. The study emphasises the importance of awareness, careful route planning, and proper climbing techniques to prevent accidents.

While the UIAA Safety Commission, other related bodies, and climbing equipment and gear manufacturers will continue to explore ways to improve rope resistance to sharp edges, climbers are called to proactively assess and mitigate risks during their climbs.

Download the paper here:
🔗https://www.theuiaa.org/documents/safety/UIAA_NFK_SHARPEDGES_2025.pdf

Junior club members upskilling and having serious fun at climbing club this week.

Club antics inside and outside for club members of all ages

Some cool new stuff to climb if you know how to

All fully paid up NCC club members are mountaineering Ireland members. Some really good courses available for interested people. See below

☀️☀️This summer's Skills Workshops take place on May 24th & 25th in Glendalough, Wicklow ☀️☀️

● Workshops cover Climbing, Scrambling & Teaching Navigation.
● Each course is one-day long.
● Open to all Mountaineering Ireland members.
● More info 👉 https://www.mountaineering.ie/events/default.aspx?id=568

Some young people are signed up, here are the details for anyone else considering 👀

🧗‍♂️ BWMI 25 - Youth Boulder Series

Mountaineering Ireland is thrilled to collaborate again with Boulder World Belfast Climbing Centre to host another series of grassroots competitions taking place 5th April and 3rd May.

These social comps are a platform for young climbers of all skill levels to climb together and showcase their talent and passion for climbing. 🔥

Participants, accompanied by their adult guardians, will be immersed in a dynamic atmosphere where they'll have the chance to tackle a diverse range of boulder problems meticulously crafted to challenge agility, strength and problem-solving abilities. 💪💡

Whether you're a beginner seeking to build confidence or a seasoned crusher craving mind-bending challenges, there's something for everyone in this series.

So, grab your chalk bag, pick up your scorecard and join us falling off problems and getting to the top!👊

🎟️Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bwmi-youth-boulder-series-25-tickets-1270398990579?aff=oddtdtcreator

If it’s wet out you could just watch 😊

Follow Team Ireland at the IFSC European Cup in Munich! 🧗‍♂️

The 2025 IFSC European Cup Series kicks off this weekend in Olympiapark, Munich with Ireland’s Michael O’Neill, Seán O’Connor, and Ciarán Scanlon taking on Europe’s best, including Olympian Michael Piccolruaz (ITA).

Head Coach Tobias Preisler said “the IFSC European Cup in Munich is the beginning of an exciting season for our team. All have put in a very hard training block and they are ready. Now it’s time to enjoy the process, embrace the challenge, and show what Irish climbing is all about”. Let’s get behind them! 💪

📺 Where to Watch:
🔴 YouTube Live Stream: Qualification & Semis
📡 ARD 1: Finals (Germany only)

📅 Schedule:
🗓️ Friday 7th March 7
• 09:50 – Men’s Qualification (YouTube)
• 17:20 – Women’s Qualification (YouTube)

🗓️ Saturday 8th March
• 13:00 – Semi-finals (YouTube)
• 18:30 – Finals (ARD 1)

Let’s go, Team Ireland! 🇮🇪🔥
👉More info on our website: https://www.mountaineering.ie/news/?id=559

Some of our junior club members enjoying recent club sessions.
🤩Skills and confidence building
🌟 Rapport and relationships
🙌🏼 Problem solving and resilience