My HARDEST FLASH and FA's - Indian Ocean bouldering

[@confuzzleme93]

Hey Tom, congrats on the sends, and thanks for shining the spotlight on WA! As a taller climber (180cm) who also froths crimps, long moves and heel hooks, I appreciate the dilemma regarding claiming the grade on Finding Max. I certainly didn't feel like a 'V13' climber when I did it a few years back (let alone flash it, which is crazy!). It's had 2 more repeats by WA climbers since, all taller than the first ascensionist, and it's fair to say none of us had to hold as much tension as the FA. WA is a bit of a bubble, and doesn't have many hard climbs to enable comparison, so it's refreshingly welcome to have outside perspective from a super strong and experienced climber! I'd have no issue taking a lower 'personal grade' on Max, so long as the climb's significance and original grade to the shorter first ascensionist isn't lost amongst the discussion. At the end of the day, it's a bloody wicked climb, and one of the few things I find myself jumping back on regardless of its number. Thanks for the awesome vid, and I hope to see you trying more stuff in WA! Cheers :)

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Yep, I hear you there. Kind of relates back to the vid I made about grades, a little while back. They'll always be a talking point. I can't wait to check out more of the WA climbing!

[@Mousehansen]

I like your comment, but does 5'11" really qualify as a "taller climber"? It's not very far off the average male height.

[@TomOHalloranAus]

@@Mousehansen at that height, I'm certainly accused of being a taller climber

[@Mousehansen]

@@TomOHalloranAus Well, come to think of it, it's even happened to me at 5'9", so I guess it's not surprising!

[@toddgreen6862]

Interesting to hear your thoughts on the flash. As another tall climber (188 cm) I just think grades are often skewed for us. It is bittersweet when you do a grade that feels easy for you because in your heart of hearts, you don't want to take the grade as it just doesn't seem right. However on the flip side, you don't get to take a harder grade when you are twisted into a pretzel trying to figure out how to fit in a small box. At the end of the day, you still crushed it and looked like you had a blast and that is the most important thing. IMO.

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Haha so are we saying things are harder for us as tall climbers than it is for the shorter ones among us? Joking of course, I know what you're saying :). For me at 181cm, i think it evens out most of the time, but a climb like this does shine a light on the height/reach thing more than others I've been on recently.

[@j.tarantino]

Love to see some South West action! Was a mind blowing flash to watch - you crushed those classics! Loved hearing your thoughts on Max ! Hit me up if you ever hit up the south coast and I'll give you the tour - some great projects here with your name written all over them!

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Consider yourself on my hit list :). Can't wait to get down south again and hit you up for a few sessions!

[@j.tarantino]

@@TomOHalloranAus psyched for it!

[@dominickappeler5150]

I just want to say "nice sends" and good video Greetings from Switzeland 💪

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Cheers, Dominic. Psyched you liked the video :). Cool hear the vids are making their way up to Europe!!

[@gunnaruppstad3574]

Amazing compilation of boulders, scenery, and tekkers.

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Psyched you enjoyed it :)

[@BlocMonsters]

Awesome to watch Tom!! So cool to see you climbing in my local area!! Wicked job on the flash and sends! Truely inspiring!

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Cheers, man. Your local is pretty nice :)

[@Cricket12ist]

Awesome send!

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Always fun climbing :)

[@michaelrandall2312]

That was awesome. I've been Whale Back, but not Copper Rocks. Looks great. Did you climb in the Perth hills at all?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Only got to here. Would be keen to check out more from around the area. And down to Albany as well!

[@harper6692]

On that v12 link up, as a fellow tall climber (187cm) I felt that pain when you couldn't extend the arms to rest on that glory jug. Such is low to ground boulders.

[@TomOHalloranAus]

😂😂isn’t it just a bummer. It’s not all reaching through cruxes for the tall climbers 😂

[@mishamc93]

Super rad video Tom. Great climbing, great discussion, and I’m keen to see the next one!

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Thanks Misha! Appreciate it :)

[@smif5867]

Dude. I live by the coast, England!!! Pomp beach.lol covid shut the gyms. Lock down, walked the coast line it's boulder city. Lots of fun good to see it happening in Oz.

[@TomOHalloranAus]

How good is ocean view bouldering!!

[@Joe-vp4fi]

Thanks for showcasing the SouthWest! What a flash that was....I wonder what WAs hardest Boulder is then?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

It’s an incredible spot for sure! There’s some hard looking things down at Albany I’d love to check out

[@yuval1302]

Love the humility. Grading can be such a tricky thing. Often times, when that moment comes when everything lines up, the problem doesn't feel that hard anymore, making you second guess all the work you've put into it. Though it doesn't detract from the experience of the FA. Always great to see your perspective on things. Keep it going!

[@TomOHalloranAus]

It's a beautiful space when you are in the moment on a flash. The line is great and it inspired me from the other side of the country, that's a win!

[@SpartaSpartan117]

You still climb V2 Tom? I guess even 8C+ Boulderers need to warmup?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Absolutely! I was walking along the beach to this spot and saw the boulder and thought, I need to climb that!!

[@gball8466]

Any time you flash something I think it's almost impossible to give an accurate grade. It all worked instead of it not working. Ondra flashed Jade and when asked if it was hard said - "Yeah?..."

[@TomOHalloranAus]

For sure, especially when it's something closer to your limit. It's easy to downplay what you've done.

[@haywardab]

Great looking blocs! Love the honesty too as much as we yearn for grades to be 100% objective in reality they are completely subjective - and that’s fine! What book is that Australia climbing map from?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Yep, it's an evolving system at best! The book is Climbing Australia - The Essential Guide. Bought is from Vinnie's for $2 about 10 years ago haha

[@michaelblowers6823]

Solid flash! Coppers is a beautiful spot to climb eh?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

It's incredible. So so good.

[@raceteamgui871]

How does the sand/weather from the beach effect the quality of the rock and climbing over time?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

The rock around here was pretty bomber. We checked out a couple other spots and the rock was awesome there too. I have seen some horror show sea cliffs in my time though!

[@Jackwithoneeye]

So sick to see you on rock I'm familiar with helps to put in perspective how hard these climbs are . Did you do any climbing in Kalbarri while you were in WA Tom?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Didn’t have time to pop up there. Or down to Albany. Both are very high on the list though!!

[@raymondfoo9045]

That high heel man, you are very flexible.

[@TomOHalloranAus]

An exceptionally underrated asset in climbing :)

[@raymondfoo9045]

@@TomOHalloranAus I am starting to train my flexibility now. Waiting for you to upload video :D

[@kockarthur7976]

How many other people have done Finding Max?

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Not 100%, but maybe 4 others?

[@drtimoneill]

You're dead right. Neither "FAs" are that qualified to comment on the grade, i.e. First Ascensionist or Flash Ascensionist. I mean I put up things that took days and days of work and then I found an easier sequence and knocked 4 grades off. The other massive difference is when you 'know' something is V10 you know if you're trying a sequence that is > V10 then you're doing it wrong :)

[@TomOHalloranAus]

Yep, totally hear you there on all accounts, Tim. Knowing what you're up against is half the battle.