It's all happening in the Peak District next month, with the new outdoors festival, Cliffhanger, bringing dyno competitions, MRT demonstrations, guided walks, and Alan Hinkes to Sheffield.
Part of the package is the British Bouldering Championships, which will take place on a free-standing, purpose-built 'boulder' in Graves Park. Anyone wanting to get their shoulder muscles in perspective can watch 200 of the experts battling it out - adults on Saturday and juniors on Sunday.
There are plenty of participation sports on offer as well. Leo Houlding fans can practice their slacklining skills - but without several hundred feet of Yosemite abyss underneath them - and scuba diving novices can take their first lesson in the scuba pool. There's even a 'planetFear Ultra Sprint' for the competitive and if the name isn't very obvious, that's an orienteering challenge but in a Hampton Court-style maze rather than your local woodland.
If all that sounds a bit too energetic, a visit to the Alpine Beer Festival might be in order - not to be missed - or a spot of gear shopping. The likes of Alpkit, Cotswold Outdoor and Snow & Rock will be on hand in the bargain area to help insulate you for as little cash as possible. Combine that with live music and plenty to eat and drink and it sounds like a good weekend to us.
There's far too much going on to list it all, but here are a few of the other activities lined up for the weekend:
- Three free 'Come And Try It' rock climbing walls for all ages (top-roping, bouldering and a rock'n'roll).
- A free film and lecture marquee featuring Al Hinkes, Ian Parnell, Set In Stone and E11.
- Free physiotherapy and sports massage.
- Free Peak District audio trail downloads (bring your MP3 players).
- Free cycle maintenance, bushcraft & guided walks.
- A Guinness World Dyno competition with £1,000 in prize money, open to all and free to enter.
- Demonstrations: Mountain Rescue, Single Rope Technique, Parkour / Freerunning / Mountain Biking / Kayaking, Juggling, Kite Surfing.
- Lots more!
There are plenty of top mountaineers endorsing the festival, too. Alan Hinkes says "Sheffield is a great place for outdoor pursuits, especially rock climbing. As a Yorkshire man I'm all in favour of Cliffhanger in Sheffield. Should be a reet good Do!" Well, if Al thinks it will be reet good then that's enough for us:-)
The festival's taking place from 10.30am to 6.30pm on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July, in Graves Park, Sheffield. Adults pay £5, which gets you free parking, a free programme, and all the fun and games above. Accompanied children go free.
A full list of events is available on the Cliffhanger website, including a list of exhibitors or you can download the pdf version of the programme.
Jon Doran
