Indoor rock climbing and bouldering are relatively new sports that have seen a new generation of local junior athletes competing at state and national levels. The sport requires and develops strength, co-ordination, balance, and a strong mental focus. It is an individual sport, involving a tight knit community and sense of belonging that appeals to all types and sizes.

In 2002 the Brookvale-based 'Northern Beaches Rockhouse Indoor Climbing Centre' developed a Junior Development Squad for up-and-coming indoor rock climbers. Surpassing expectations, the juniors competed confidently and impressively. Whilst the whole squad competed in the 2003 ASCF NSW Bouldering Series and Nationals, two of the girls, Nikki Selles (14 years) and Laelia Douglas-Brown (16 years), qualified for the ACGA National Climbing Competition held in Melbourne in November 2002 with Douglas-Brown placing an overall 4^th and Selles 7th. Douglas-Brown, along with Connor Macpherson, went on to represent Australia at the World Youth Championships in China in 2005.

Rockhouse Juniors have competed at state, national and international level, most recently representing Australia at the 2006 World Youth Championships in Austria and Oceania Championships in New Zealand and Tasmania. The Squad is currently training hard for the 2007 Oceania Cup to be held in Sydney in October and the Bouldering Nationals in November.

Structured sessions for junior climbers interested in climbing competitively begin on Wednesday 7th of February 2007 from 4 - 6pm. If you wish to be involved, please contact us. At the Rockhouse, we are aware of other sporting and school commitments, so if there are any difficulties with a particular session, please talk to us and we will try to meet individual needs wherever possible.

Most of our athletes come up the ranks through the Junior Climbing Club (Mondays 4-6pm), but if your child is an experienced climber, or has recent training experience in another sport, they may potentially attend training immediately. Juniors are expected to attend training weekly and compete in a number of climbing competitions throughout the year.

For more information, please contact us.

Registration Day for year 2007/2008 Sunday 28th October between 9am and 12md. Please contact Adrina Selles 02 99056202 if you are interested in the Rockhouse JDS and can't make this day.