UV Bouldering Party
Yesterday marked Oakwood Climbing Centre being open for 1 year, so they had a massive birthday bash. This included a bouldering competition for juniors (under 18's) and adults, a BBQ, challenges, a DJ and finally at the end a UV party!
Due to having a very busy day I was unable to take part in the competitions and attend the BBQ but I was determined to make it to the UV party, and I did.
I turned up just before it started giving me time to change into my climbing clothes and get my sticky rubber shoes on, or as some people call them climbing shoes.
Then it was time to join the mass of people at the table trying to get our hands on some UV paint to make ourselves bright and colourful once the lights were turned off.
Some people are crazy talented and painted pictures on arms, backs and faces, some were going for as much colour as possible, and some were going for the tribal warrior paint. Once the lights went out and the UV turned on everyone looked incredible.
With holds on the wall glowing, it had the look of video game quests, all you had to do was follow them, everywhere you looked there was something to see, such as the UV tape they had put on the wall to help or a stick man with the words saying 'don't fall'.
The atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was helping everyone with the routes, even if you didn't know them, or even if you couldn't see their faces through the paint and the dark. The DJ knew just what music to put on to get people pumped for climbing whist still have a relaxed feeling for the evening.
Along the the climbing wall they had made a nice route to use dry tools, these are interesting to use. Dry tools are wooded hand grips with a big rubber loop at the top, you hold the hand grip and the loop is how you hold onto the wall. This means you have to be in a stable position on the wall before you can move your hands, forcing you to think about footwork more.
In summary if you ever get an opportunity to go to a UV party, bouldering or not you should go, they are incredible.
