Untermensch!

I have a mantra for climbing success, its as simple as "Don't let go!" Unfortunately, this might not apply to low ball bouldering and the dreaded "dab". Untermensch! is such a problem, you can stick the jug and still not send, the crux being to keep your cutting foot off the pad. Shawn Boye working Untermensch! 7B+, Focksta.

1/200s, f/2.8, ISO 6400, 22 mm Photo Christoffer Westin © 2011 Tielma Productions

Humanus Inferior

We come out at night, under the cover of darkness, free from the fear of persecution... Christoffer Westin working Untermensch! 7B+, Focksta on a sticky winter evening.

1/125s, f/2.8, ISO 3200, 18 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

Bananbänken (Banana bench)

A canopy, the perfect set up, Per figured it "Looks like a christmas tree." It's getting to be that time of the year, let's hope the stick sticks around a little while yet... Per Arnsäter fighting and sending Bananbänken 6C, Fiby.

1/80s, f/1.6, ISO 6400, 50 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

What else would you do on a Thursday night?

Starry conditions and -2 °C, "What else would you do on a Thursday night?" wondered Emil Ragnarsson. Despite his amorous overture and delicate crimps Med Ena Foten i Bäcken 7A, Fiby steadfastly resisted. The trick is to stand up on your right foot and for me, after a decade of on again-off again attempts its all over.

1/80s, f/1.6, ISO 6400, 50 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

Tottes Hund (Tottes Dog)

Some guys go out in the forest and take pictures of themselves, for whatever reasons. I suppose it's both promotional and artistically challenging, nonetheless, its much more fun to share the experience. Jonas Wigren sticking the "other" crimp on Tottes Hund 7A+, Fiby, Sweden.

1/100s, f/1.6, ISO 6400, 50 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

Med Ena Foten i Bäcken (With one foot in the creek)

It doesn't really matter how you hold the intermediate so long as your right foot sticks and you can stand up. However, when it's sharp it pays to have, and stick to, a game plan. It's been maybe 10 years but now I've got my beta, I'm just waiting for the tips to heal. Strange that after all those years, the stunning arête to the left still hasn't seen an ascent...

Jonas Wigren making the most of good footwork and sticky conditions sending Med Ena Foten i Bäcken 7A, Fiby, Sweden.

1/60s, f/1.6, ISO 6400, 50 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

Med hela foten i träsket (With the foot in the swamp)

The choice of lipstick? I have no idea... but apparently, her other foot was in the marsh. Unable to reach arête to arête, Veera Kainiemi is forced to sort out her own beta on Med hela foten i träsket 6A+, Focksta, Sweden

1/200s, f/2.8, ISO 400, 16 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

Scarred?

So... who do you think is more scarred, Veera or the bloc? Veera Kainiemi attempting to top out Mysk 5C, Focksta, Sweden

1/160s, f/2.8, ISO 400, 16 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

African Herbsman

Well, he doesn't have any dreads but nonetheless... The night season upon us, African Herbsman 7B at Ålandsdal is close to the road and an excellent problem. The trick with this one is to pull your body to the right when catching to the sloper. You don't need to get that high, just hit the sloper right and its over, even if the temps are still a bit high. Per Arnsäter sticking and sending African Herbsman 7B, Uppsala, Sweden.

1/125s, f/3.2, ISO 6400, 24 mm © 2011 Shawn Boye

Västervik International Boulder Meet 2011

Västervik International Boulder Meet 2011 from Shawn Boye on Vimeo.

Watch Anthony Gullsten, Guntram Jörg, Chris Webb Parsons and Alex Puccio send some of Västerviks finest boulder problems during the Västervik International Boulder Meet 2011, Västervik, Sweden. Featuring More Than One Way To Skin A Cat 8A, Storm 8A, Goofhead Variant 8A+, The Hourglass Sds 8B, The Office Sds 8A and Namaste 8A+.