     
 The Val di Mello Youth Workshop
Hosted by Adrian Berry and Ollie Ryall
August 18th to 25th 2012
£350 per youth.
In August 2012, we will be running a climbing coaching week in Val di Mello, Italy. The week is for young climbers aged 11 to 16. There will be a mixture of coaching aimed at improving technique and confidence plus instruction, whereby you can learn how to sport climb outside, have a go at multi-pitch climbs and maybe even try some trad.
About Val di Mello
Sometimes referred to as Europe's Yosemite, Val di Mello and nearby Val Masino are situated up in the hills of northern Italy. It is almost unique in that within a short distance you can go bouldering, sport climbing, and trad climbing, and there are routes from a few metres to big wall climbs, and grades from the very lowest to the hardest with plenty in between.
Where?
Driving north from Milan via the shore of Lake Como and the town of Lecco, you can reach the small town of San Martino in about two and a half hours. The final part of the journey takes you through Val Masino. San Martino lies at the northern end of Val Masino. Val di Mello lies beyond the town, and is mostly reached by walking or taking the shuttle bus. We will be staying at the Sasso Remenno campsite, which is 1.3km south of San Martino. The Sasso Remenno (the world's bigges boulder?) is just about 300m south of the campsite - you can make out its shadow on satelite maps.
View Larger Map
 Photos from the last time I ran a climbing workshop in Val di Mello are here.
Who's it for?
This trip is climbers aged between 11 and 16, who are accompanied by adults. We require that accompanying adults are experienced at climbing outside, and the youths have (at least) plenty of indoor climbing experience it is important that all who particpate are keen to climb outside and to learn new skills. Parents/guardians are encouraged to take part in the workshops.
How it works
Each day there will be four workshops - two instructional and two coaching. Starting with the basics of technique and ropework, the technical level will increase as the week progresses, and Adrian and Ollie will be happy to push you as far as you want. There will be plenty of opportunity throughout the week for 1:1 advice and coaching.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the price, there are a number of campsites in the area with the Sasso Remenno campsite (http://www.campingsassoremenno.com) very well placed to act as a hub. We expect most participants will wish to camp here.
Getting there and getting around
You will need a car to reach Val di Mello, but once there, much of the climbing can be reached on foot.
The coaches
The coaching ratio for this trip is 1:5. Should a coach be unable to attend the trip due to injury or ill-health, a substitute with equal experience and ability will be found.
 |
Adrian Berry
Adrian has been climbing since 1988 and coaching climbing since 2002 when he began the planetFear coaching program. Adrian has coached numerous individuals and climbing clubs, including several clubs and operational units within the armed forces.
He has delivered lectures and masterclasses at the request of the sport's governing bodies in Denmark and The Netherlands, provides instructor training at a major UK climbing wall, and has written two books (Sport Climbing+ and Trad Climbing+) which helped herald the new approach to the teaching of climbing.
Adrian has climbed competitively internationally, sport climbed up to 8b+, trad climbed up to E9, and bouldered up to V10. |
 |
Ollie Ryall
Ollie has been climbing for over 25 years and has worked as an instructor since 1995. Ollie holds the MIA qualification and worked as a senior Instructor for Derbyshire Outdoors before moving to France to set up his own business. Ollie has two young children (7 and 11) who can regularly be found scaling the crags and mountains around their house.
As an experienced all-rounder, Ollie is equally at home on short boulder problems, hard sport routes, long alpine rock routes or big walls. To date he has climbed sport routes up to 8a+, trad routes to E7 and bouldered up to V10.
With over 15 years instructing experience and having worked with all ages and abilities, Ollie has a wealth of knowledge and skills and is expert at passing these on.
|
What next?
To secure your place we require a deposit of £150. The full price is £350 and is due 1 month prior to the start of the trip. You can do this using the form below. Closer to the date we will contact you for more details about you and your climbing. Finally, we will send instructions on where to meet, and what to bring.
Online Booking
To book online with either Google Checkout or Paypal - simply select how many places you wish to book and press the button - you will be taken to your chosen service provider's site to complete the transaction. If you would prefer to pay by a different method, please contact me by email (see box on the left) and we can do it another way!
|
