Its been a long time since I last wrote…
Im now sitting out on an oil rig just off the coast of Trinidad. Im out here working for a month trying to get some $$$ together for our move to USA.
Alex and I should be living in America on a permanent basis come August-September. We really can't wait to get to America and start our new lives there together.

Going back some time ago now to my last blog entry in April…
My first trip out to Trinidad was a real adventure, I met some amazing people and in between working I had some good times. I am working in Trinidad on Oil Rigs doing rope access work.

My first trip trip to Trinidad in April was for one month and during that time I trained on a finger board and did core and cardio as much as I could for my return to Europe, the plan was to keep as much form as possible and maybe even gain some more finger strength.
Well on my return to UK I discovered that I was actually stronger than before I left.
I was doing moves in the gym that I had not done before and I felt light and good on the wall.
I entered into a couple of rounds of the Bouldering World Cups. One was in Slovenia and the other comp was in Austria.
I had not seen Alex in over a month and as I drove out to Austria from England I grew more and more excited.
I arrived in Innsbruck absolutely wasted from the drive and jet lag of the plane trip from Trinidad, it was great to see Alex and be back in one of my favourite cities in the world.
The next day I woke up and had a quick session in the climbing gym and I felt horrible. I was weak and worn out. It was strange because I actually felt good back in UK. Turns out driving long distances and jet lag is a killer.
Anyway the next day we drove to Slovenia and registered for the comp.
Competition day…. The qualifiers. I felt really strong in isolation but when it was my turn to climb I fast discovered that I had lost the flow of climbing and the awkward problems of a world cup absolutely shut me down. I was upset but looking back it was never really going to be a glamorous result as I had been travelling none stop to get to the comp in Slovenia and working out on Oil Rigs is perhaps not the best preparation for a world cup.
Anyway, the next comp was in Austria. Alex and I made the drive back to Innsbruck and unfortunately I came down with a horrible flu/cold thing. I really wanted to get out on the rocks but I was bed ridden and there was no chance I could even think about climbing, i did my best to recover and get well before the comp in Innsbruck but I had no chance, this flu had me good.
unfortunately I had to sit on the side lines for the World Cup in Innsbruck and it was frustrating as hell.
Looking back now in a very wired way I'm glad I had a nightmare of a time with these two comps.
If anything it has made me more hungry for the comps and I want to stand on that podium for Australia one day more than ever.
After the comp Alex and I made the drive back to England.
Back in Sheffield a good mate of mine Sam Whitaker said to me "why are you doing the comps Chris? you do so well on the rocks just stick to that". Well that comment hit me fairly hard. The thing is I know I have climbed well on the rocks and (with out sounding like I'm up my own ass here) I know Im one of the best boulderers in the world on the rock. I also want to be and know i can be world class in the comps to. I have made finals before and I now know the issues and reasons why I have not been hugely successful in the World Cups in the past (its a big list lol).
It has taken me a long time to figure out why and what I need to work on to be one of the best comp climbers in the world and being one of the best in the comps is something I believe and know I can do. Next year I will compete on the world cup circuit again. This year has been a good slap in the face and a good wake up.

Anyway… with the remainder of my time in UK before I had to come back out here to Trinidad was spent trying to get some things climbed on the rocks. Unfortunately the weather was not great my three projects that I was keen to do were either wet or it was just to warm to climb them.
Im now back in Trinidad. I have been here for 3 weeks and ill be back to UK in 2 weeks. I have once again been training hard, my fingers and body feel strong and in good shape so lets see what I can climb on my return.

Photos: Slovenia World Cup and Training in Trinidad.