Touchstone Blog Archive
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Profile of Flea- Touchstone Route Setter Ben Polanco
If you've climbed at any of the Touchstone gyms in the past few years, chances are you climbed one of Flea's routes. Ben "Flea" Polanco has been a long time climber and route setter for Touchstone.
Recently, Anthony Lapomardo, a 28 year old Berkeleyite, put together a video profile of the strong climber, filming an excellent interview as well as footage of Polanco climbing Judge Dredd, a difficult climb on the California Coast.
"Making the video was a challenge simply due to the hike in and out with all of the gear and cold conditions," said Lapomardo of filming Polanco on Judge Dredd. "Ben and I were constantly being hit by high winds by the coast and the conditions were not always the best."
The filming was not all difficulties though. Lapomardo, along with Alton Richardson, put together the profile and were excited about the outcome. "The best part about making the video was the chance to showcase someone who is a fixture of the community and really stands out to some but not to others," said Lapomardo.
Check out Flea crushing on the Coast in Lapomardo's video.
You can see more of Anthony's work over at his blog - An Evolving Image. Next time you see Flea in the gym, congratulate him on his sick send!
Recently, Anthony Lapomardo, a 28 year old Berkeleyite, put together a video profile of the strong climber, filming an excellent interview as well as footage of Polanco climbing Judge Dredd, a difficult climb on the California Coast.
"Making the video was a challenge simply due to the hike in and out with all of the gear and cold conditions," said Lapomardo of filming Polanco on Judge Dredd. "Ben and I were constantly being hit by high winds by the coast and the conditions were not always the best."
The filming was not all difficulties though. Lapomardo, along with Alton Richardson, put together the profile and were excited about the outcome. "The best part about making the video was the chance to showcase someone who is a fixture of the community and really stands out to some but not to others," said Lapomardo.
Check out Flea crushing on the Coast in Lapomardo's video.
DPM Ben Feature from Anthony Lapomardo on Vimeo.
You can see more of Anthony's work over at his blog - An Evolving Image. Next time you see Flea in the gym, congratulate him on his sick send!
Labels: Alton Richardson, Anthony Lapomardo, Ben Polanco
¶ Thursday, July 07, 2011 0 Comments
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Columbia Bouldering: Compact Marble in Nearby Sonora
The Gold Rush of 1940 brought unearthed lots of gold in the Sierra Foothills. The hydraulic mining also uncovered a mother lode of bouldering near Columbia College in Sonora.
The rock in Columbia is a highly compacted marble requiring body tension and an ability to hang open handed on many of the holds.
"It's like walking through the Castle Gray Skull," said Kim Groebner who checked out the boulders with Ironworks desk staffer Ryan Moon. She also ran into one of the more dangerous native plants- poison oak.
There is significant poison oak at the boulders. Even the leafless branches in the winter can cause highly allergic reactions. Be aware of what it looks like- leaves of three let it be! It's shiny and color and needs to be avoided at all costs!
Please be aware that the bouldering is at Columbia College and Columbia State Park. Be respectful of the landowners. Occasionally at the Stage Coach Boulders, the staff may ask climbers to step out of sight while they performed pretend robberies on the stage coach.
Here's some footage of a Touchstone setter and Columbia developer Ben Polanco, as well as Menesha Mannapperuma, and guide book author Dean Fleming climbing at the boulders.
Here's some more footage by Dean Fleming of the bouldering.
Fleming's guidebook "Columbia Bouldering" is available at the Touchstone gyms. Check out the great pebble wrestling in Gold Country.
The rock in Columbia is a highly compacted marble requiring body tension and an ability to hang open handed on many of the holds.
"It's like walking through the Castle Gray Skull," said Kim Groebner who checked out the boulders with Ironworks desk staffer Ryan Moon. She also ran into one of the more dangerous native plants- poison oak.
There is significant poison oak at the boulders. Even the leafless branches in the winter can cause highly allergic reactions. Be aware of what it looks like- leaves of three let it be! It's shiny and color and needs to be avoided at all costs!
Please be aware that the bouldering is at Columbia College and Columbia State Park. Be respectful of the landowners. Occasionally at the Stage Coach Boulders, the staff may ask climbers to step out of sight while they performed pretend robberies on the stage coach.
Here's some footage of a Touchstone setter and Columbia developer Ben Polanco, as well as Menesha Mannapperuma, and guide book author Dean Fleming climbing at the boulders.
A Day In The Labyrinth from Dean Fleming on Vimeo.
Here's some more footage by Dean Fleming of the bouldering.
A Day Of Bouldering In Columbia from Dean Fleming on Vimeo.
Fleming's guidebook "Columbia Bouldering" is available at the Touchstone gyms. Check out the great pebble wrestling in Gold Country.
Labels: Ben Polanco, Columbia Bouldering, Dean Fleming
¶ Wednesday, February 02, 2011 1 Comments
