Heading to Germany

Tomorrow brings an early start as I travel out to the big outdoor trade-show in Germany.

The full UKClimbing team is going; myself, Kevin Avery, Mick Ryan and the big boss Alan James (UKC Report).

For me it is a time for hob-knobbing with people in the outdoor trade. It’s a big 4 day business meeting. I like meeting people and find that side of the trip fascinating. I’m not naturally a gear freak person, so I’ll have to have full concentration to keep up with the techno-babble.

What is interesting is to see all these climbers in full business mode. There is no messing about, this is business all the way (with a few beers thrown in…). Chit chat about routes/grades/crags will be virtually non-existent. Essentially all the manufacturers and distributors are in full sales mode, with media outlets such as ourselves hoovering up information about new products as much as possible.

I’ll see hundreds of new products, many of which won’t be available until summer 2010, some of which will never be available!

The best thing about the trip will undoubtedly be hanging out with some friends that I don’t get to see very often and drinking some German beers.

I will also get a free T Shirt too – never something to be sniffed at!