Anniversary RED FOX ADVENTURE RACE XI June 10 - 12, 2012, Karelia, White Sea

Rock Empire´s Russian distributor, Red Fox, is holding its annual Adventure Race, June 10 - 12, 2012 in Karelia, Russia. More details from their press release are below:

We are pleased to inform you that from 10th to 12th June 2012 in Karelia the anniversary RED FOX ADVENTURE RACE XI will bring the best multiportsmen, climbers, cyclists together. The teams have to burst through the different obstacles and overcome very hard distance.
Location: Russia, Karelia, White Sea

New belay device - Rock Empire Guard II

With a new design, the Rock Empire Guard II is a universal, multi-featured aluminum device for belaying and rappelling. Guard II offers belaying for one or two seconding climbers independently. It has an auto-block system, which can be released by the hole for unblocking. The design ensures higher friction for slowing and stopping the rope. It works smoothly with ropes from 7,8 to 10,5 mm.

*Multiple friction modes for belay and rappel
*Belay two second climbers in the same time independently
*Auto-block system
*Auto-block release hole
*Smooth work with ropes 7,8-10,5 mm

Rock Empire Climbing Team Member Ondra Beneš writes of his recent trip to Margalef, Spain

After a long time, we were able again to visit one of the best sport climbing destinations in the world – Spain - currently one of the top countries for climbing. Among the most popular climbing areas include Siruana, Margalef, Oliana, Santa Line, and Terradets. Since we only had 14 days, we chose area Margalef, an area that was new to all of us. The group included Ondra Beneš, Edita Vopatová, Martin Tomášek and Jirka Lautner. Photos here

2012 Bouldering Cup Competition to be held at the Rock Empire Climbing Arena in Jablonec nad Nisou

All climbers are invited to compete in the 2012 Bouldering Cup Competition to be held at the Rock Empire Climbing Arena in Jablonec nad Nisou. There are two dates to compete. Each day will offer a qualifiying round solving typical boulder challenges, and then a final round where the top eight men and six women will compete on five boulder routes. The exact rules will be explained on the first race day, which is February 18, 2012. The second race is March 24, 2012. Rock Empire Climbing Team Members Ondra Beneš and Editka Vopatová will create the routes. There will be prizes for winners on both days, and the overall prize is 2.000,- CZK.

ISPO Munich January 29 – February 1, 2012

Rock Empire invites you to join us at the most important trade show in the field of sports and sports fashion – ISPO Winter 2012 in Munich, Germany. For the fifth consecutive year, our booth will showcase our new products and complete 2012 collection. We look forward to meeting with our distributors and discussing the exciting year ahead. We can found in Hall B5, Stand 435. For more information about the fair, please visit http://www.ispo.com/. Hope to see you there!

Rock Empire Climbing Team Member Marek Holeček´s Experience in Nanga Parbat 2011

Rock Empire Climbing Team Member Marek Holeček had the opportunity to climb in Nanga Parbat in 2011. He recounts his experiences in an article here (http://marekholecek.cz/) entitled “An Interview with Allah about the Wild Choice Expedition,” written in Czech. He also posts a 12 minute video of his trip here http://www.rockempire.cz/post/marek-holecek-video-z-expedice-wild-choice-nanga-parbat-2011-243/ . He managed to get as high as 7000 m up the mountain, but did not manage to summit it due to bad weather and a sick climbing partner.

Rock Empire congratulates him on his efforts and looks forward to his next adventure.
 

Winter News from Rock Empire Team Member Iva Vejmolová

Hi folks,
Now, during the time when there are no big races and the rocks are not climbable unless you head to where it is warm (I am not one of those hardy types who climb until their drinks freeze in their thermoses), you might wonder why I am writing when there is nothing to write about! I thought some of you might enjoy reading about how I started climbing. If so, sit back, put up your feet, have some popcorn (or gingerbread), and get ready to enjoy my story.

Rock Empire´s 1st Rock Session Rocked!

The 2nd weekend in November found our Rock Empire team at the climbing arena in Jablonec nad Nisou presenting our new line of harnesses and other merchandise for 2012. The Rock Session introduced Greek gods and a goddess: Titan, Arkas, and Calista – our new 2012 harnesses. The Rock Session visitors were the first to try the new harnesses and comment on their new and improved features.

Clean climbing in Macedonia

In the past two years a part of the Macedonian climbing community http://www.alpinizam.org/eng/intro1.html is working on a development of new clean climbing crags – using only cams, nuts and slings for belaying. These crags are situated in a vast area near the town of Prilep (about 130km south of Skopje) and now there are at least 4 smaller areas (rocks that are 30-150m high) where there are many new routes with different technical difficulties but also many more possibilities for new lines. The main goal of this project (apart from having lots of fun climbing) is to raise awareness of the impact that climbers can have on the environment, on the sport itself and the future generations of climbers by unnecessary bolting of these granite rocks.