Beyond climbing, the Touchstone gyms also host a number of different activites. One notable group that uses the facilities are the Crossfitters. Combining Olympic lifting, gymnastics, and intense excercise, Crossfit has amassed a solid following in the Bay area. The different Crossfit groups all join together for an Olympic style competition.

The CrossFit Throwdown on March 6 at GWPC was a rousing success. 44 competitors from all around the Bay Area came to compete with many more spectators attending to cheer on their favorite athletes. The competition involved athletes completing an hour+ of more intense activity than most of us are accustomed to doing in a month.



The CrossFit East Bay site has great pictures of the workout of the day.

Reports of the event were made by a few different parties involved. Crossfit Silicon Valley, Crossfit Oakland, and Diablo Crossfit all posted reports on their websites.



For the event, competitors had to do the following:
Event One:

30 Burpees
30 C2B Pull-Ups
30 Deadlift 275/185
Run 6.2KM
Max Rep Burpees
40 Minute limit

Final Event:
Top 5 Male/Female competitors:

AMRAP in 10 minutes of the complex:

5 Deadlift 135/95
4 Hang Clean 135/95
3 Thruster 135/95
2 Front Squat 135/95
1 Shoulder to Overhead 135/95

Come join the Crossfit crew at your local Touchstone gym and get strong!

Labels: CrossFit, CrossFit Throwdown, GWPC

The CrossFit Games are the ultimate test of fitness. It's a grueling two-day competition in which the world's fittest athletes compete in a variety of workouts. What are the workouts? Each year they change, and the details of them are not announced until a couple days before the event. This means that all year long, the athletes are training for a competition whose format is almost completely a mystery.

Sat March 6th at 11AM, CrossFit East Bay presents the second throwdown of the season right here at GWPC!

Since their inception in 2007, the games have grown from, basically, a barbeque where a workout broke out to an international competition attracting tens of thousands of competitors all vying for 100 slots (50 women, 50 men) in the games. This year there are sectionals, regionals and, finally, the games. Here in the bay area, the competition season kicked off February 20 with the first "Throwdown" of the year: CrossFit Oakland's crushing time limited run/thruster/burpee combo. The throwdowns are an opportunity for anyone who desires to get a taste of CF competition, and to help prepare the serious athletes for competition.



The first event, at 11 AM sharp, will be a 6.2K run, from the back gate, around Lake Merritt and back to GWPC, immediately followed by as many rounds as possible of of 4 burpees, 3 chest-to-bar kipping pull-ups and 2 275 pound deadlifts (185 pounds for women). There will be a 40 minute time limit (anyone running any slower than a 10 minute pace will DNF), and faster run times will be rewarded with more time to do rounds. A six-minute pace will give the athlete about 15 minutes to do rounds, a seven-minute pace about 11 minutes, etc. Of course faster athletes may have trouble with the heavy deadlifts, but such is CrossFit.

The second event, at 12:40 sharp, will be a contest between the top five male and female finishers for top honors. It will be as many rounds of possible of the complex: carry a loaded barbell (135 pounds for men, 95 pounds for women) 150 feet, and, without putting it down, perform one deadlift, one hang clean, one thruster, one back squat and one shoulder to overhead press, anyway, anyhow. That is one rep, and more than a momentary pause on the ground for the deadlift constitutes a miss. There will be a 15 minute time limit.



Spectators welcome. Scaling will be available for those who wish to try it (you must be able to do at least 3 pull-ups and 2 185 pound deadlifts, or 135 pounds for women).

Labels: CrossFit, GWPC, Olympic lifting

The employees of Great Western Power Company can get a little wild. The security cameras at GWPC were installed to keep a watchful eye on the premises and the employees. On the way to perform a routine bathroom check, Ji, and Ryan busted out in a full on dance battle. Check out the footage courtesy of the security cameras.

GWPC Dance-Off Extravaganza MegaMix (Jim & Ryan) from Ryan Moon on Vimeo.

Labels: dance, GWPC, security cameras

MEMBERS MEET UP
Are you looking for a climbing partner? Or want to meet more people to climb with at the gym? Come to this month’s meet-up on Thursday, July 9 at 6PM. We’ll mingle and have a chance to climb with someone different. Meet in the “lounge” where there will be some snacks and then we’ll get climbing. Hope to see you there!

Labels: GWPC, Members meet up night

Once a year at Great Western Power Co. we host a community group that includes students from Corpus Christi. They come after looking forward to the trip all year, and each year the next batch of students looks forward to the same trip. Recently, the waiting paid off and they got their time at GWPC, we were lucky enough to hear from teacher, and member, Marea Palmer-Loh about what it means to them, and why they do it.

Here's what she had to say as to why she brings her kids to GWPC each and every year:

"I love climbing with kids at the Great Western Power Co. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable, and they make sure that the experience is safe and fun! Rock climbing is a great way to teach children self-esteem and gives them a sense of accomplishment. I love climbing myself, so it's particularly nice to be able to share that love with children in such a supportive environment."

At any rate, thanks for making us a part of your year, thanks for a great trip, and we're looking forward to seeing you all next year!

Labels: Community Group, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, Testimonial

Here's a quick one about a recent community group that we were lucky enough to spend the day with at our Great Western Power Co. location, the Davis Street Family Resource Center. In the first year of opening, GWPC has actually invited a number of community groups that are based in and around the Oakland area to visit the gym at a reduced rate. Doing this, has allowed many underprivileged and at-risk kids to experience climbing for the first time. A few weeks ago, the Davis Street Family Resource Center stopped in and had an event and a great time.

After their visit, they were nice enough to send back a little letter about the time they spent in our gym, and as always, we love hearing back from the groups we host. Here's what Alicia Ohs, their Lead Prevention Specialist had to say:

"At Davis Street Family Resource Center, we've taken two field trips to Great Western Power Company. As part of our Alcohol and Drug Prevention Programs, climbing gives our students a lesson in trust and respect that they don't learn anywhere else. It's an amazing opportunity to try on a new 'high' that offers communication, teamwork, adrenaline, and fun. GWPC has been unbelievably supportive and helpful in this process to expose a new generation of youth to the benefits of climbing." - Alicia Ohs Lead Prevention Specialist

Thanks again, and we hope to see you again sometime in the future!

Labels: Community Group, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, kids, Testimonial

This weeks Climbing Clip of the Week one of the staff at Great Western Power Co. Desk staff Joe Horton and his girlfriend put together this claymation stop-motion video for a friend who is heading to Fontainbleau, France this spring to do some bouldering. Hopefully we get plenty of video from that trip as well.

In the meantime, enjoy this unique departure from our regular climbing clips, and then have an amazing weekend. Get out and do some climbing...don't forget to record it!

Labels: Climbing Clip of the Week, Climbing Video, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, Video clip

Hey all you Great Western Power Co. fans, this one is aimed DIRECTLY at you. As I've mentioned, we're officially into 2009, and I've decided this is the year we're going to get each and every one of you into the best shape of your lives. Ready to join me?

That said, for any and all of you Great Western Power Co. members, potential members, or even just people that have always Wanted to be members, now is the time to join up. We have a new Core Class that is guaranteed to whip you into healthy shape. Don't believe me? Check out this Course intro and a bit about our instructor...trust me, you'll buy it after you read, and see who's teaching:

High Energy Core and Flexibility Class

Having trouble controlling your hips on steep terrain? Can't quite reach that high-step? Two perfect examples of the need to increase core strength and flexibility! Isabel will help you open your hips and strengthen your abdominal muscles. A strong core and increased flexibility will improve range of motion and strength in many climbing positions such as stemming and high stepping. Release more power and gain more control! Being flexible while using strength is extremely advantageous and can develop an entirely new body awareness for all athletes. This class is also a great way for you to warm up and loosen muscles and tendons for your work out or climbing session. Working your abs has never been this fun! This class is open to all levels!

About Isabel:

Isabel von Rittberg has been climbing since 2001, and has been dancing her whole life. Extremely stimulated by all kinds of movement, she includes stretching and a core strengthening workout into her daily routine. Climbing has become Isabel's main drive and spiritual inspiration. It allows her to work proficiently, be attentive, and feel alive. Isabel has combined her passions for climbing, music, and dance by starting her own dance-climb fusion company, the AscenDance Project. Her group conveys the grace and fluidity of a climber's delicate yet powerful movement.

The time is now, stop in, sign up and get to work! The Class starts in February and will be every Thursday from 6-7pm. IF you want a little sample of what you're getting yourself into, there will be a Demo Class this January 22 at 6pm. What have you got to lose?!

Labels: climbing, Core Class, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, Isabel, New Class

Here's a quick note to let you know that Great Western Power Co. is going to be hosting a pretty awesome event this coming Tuesday, December 16th, from 6:15pm to 7:30pm. The event will be free to all members of Touchstone Climbing, and $12 for any and all non-members.

The Yoga Demo will be a Dynamic Vinyasa Yoga with Susan Owen. Vinyasa Yoga, is basically "a sequence of breath-synchronized movements used to transition between sustained poses." The Demo Class, according to Susan, will be Ashtanga-style yoga mixed with strengthening movements aimed at improving the basic yoga asanas. It's open to students of any and all levels and should provide you with instructions in both fundamental yoga positions, as well as more experienced yoga and advanced variations for those that can handle it.

Basically, you're guaranteed a good time, guaranteed a good workout, and guaranteed to leave sweatier than you started! Check out the flyer below! The new classes start in January...Hold onto your yoga pants!

Labels: Asana, Demo, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, New Class, Susan Owen, Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga

This event, my good climbing friends, is one you will NOT want to miss. December 3rd, only a little over a week away, is rapidly approaching and each and every one of you in the Great Western Power Company area should be marking it down on your calendar. Why, you ask? Simple, STORY NIGHT with Hans Florine.

Yep, you heard right. December 3rd at 8:00 pm the official storytelling and presentation begins, my advice, come early to get in some climbing so you're completely in the groove come story time. Here is some more information you need to know, to be in the know:

December 3rd come for a night of Stories about one thing: The Nose.

The first story telling of the new Nose record. (Yuji Hirayama and Hans climbed it in 2:37:05 on October 12th 2008) Hans Florine will share an evening with you at: The Great Western Power Company. With the aid of video clips and photos Hans will tell stories about Yuji Hirayama and Hans's preparations, history, planning, drama, training, and execution of climbing The Nose Route of El Capitan, the 3000ft granite cliff in Yosemite.

Touchstone Climbing is hosting the event at:
http://touchstoneclimbing.com/gw.html

Touchstone had 150 limited edition photographic prints made to commemorate 50 years of climbing The Nose route. These prints are for sale at: www.speedclimb.com/50th. We will try to reserve some to auction at the December 2/3rd event. If you want to guarantee there is one there for you, buy it online and put in the notes section of the checkout that you'll pick it up at the December 2/3rd event. (or say nothing and we'll ship it)

Light refreshments and drinks will be available. A $16 admission fee will be charged for non Touchstone climbing members. Funds raised during the event will go to benefit the Access Fund and the YCA - which created the Climbing museum in Yosemite.

There you have it, mark it down and we'll see you there!

On a separate, unrelated note, I just wanted to remind each and every one of you, members of all the different Touchstone Climbing Gyms, that all of our Touchstone Gyms will have special, Holiday Hours on Wednesday, and Friday before and after Thanksgiving. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but give your local gym a call to see their hours for the days before and after!

(Image via Brianz on Flickr)

Labels: El Capitan, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, Hans Florine, Rock climbing, Storytelling, Yosemite National Park, Yuji Hirayama