TRAD IS RAD! SHOOTING ON A LINE AT FROG'S BUTTRESS, QLD

I’ve been reflecting on this conversation a bit since last weekend. At the time, I definitely agreed. Downhill racing is objectively dangerous. But at the time, we were dangling off the edge of a cliff. I was supported by a single rope anchored to a tree, and they were hanging off hunks of metal jammed into rock. Who are we to judge?

All of these extreme sports are about a strong mindset and mitigating external risk. If you have a strong head game and follow the set processes correctly, then all you have to contend with is chance. Weather, accidents, other people’s reactions. Definitely a lot, but that’s all you can do.

SHOOTING SPORT CLIMBING AT SERPENT ON THE SUNSHINE COAST

So, when one of my mates suggested we get a crew together for a trip to Serpent, a lesser-known crag on the Sunny Coast, I was down. Online, it was clear that we were dealing with a multi-colored wave rock perched in a sea of ferns. Looked stunning and I was hyped.

Which raised the question - why is it such an underrated place?

Capturing Climbing at Coolum

The popular Sunshine Coast climbing destination Coolum Cave had drawn a crowd of at least thirty people one humid day in January. Many people squinted upwards as they belayed a partner above, or stood chatting, recovering, or learning from others. But mostly, raw emotion and elation controlled the atmosphere in the area. The crowd stood with bated breath, watching Satoshi Ogawa on his final attempt of ‘Evil Wears No Pants’ (30) before his return to Japan. Not even a shoulder injury would prevent him from having a final go at his long-term project.