Demo season begins...

I am still pondering the wording for this entry, will get right back to you on that!

So a few kids, and even some parents, commented on how "cool" my job was and how "fun" it was to travel and do demos and get all this free gear (which is not free, btw, let me explain.)

On the 19th I spent all day on the phone with UPS, on the 20th I spent the afternoon sitting in my car for the package to clear customs at the depo in Lachine. When it was finally obvious it was not gonna be available, I drove off the island, through traffic, changed cars at the house and then drove 170km to Sherbrooke. I missed a meeting at Atmosphere by a good hour ( I am never late ) and got out of the demo at the gym by 11pm. I then drove back home, getting to bed at 2am. I woke at 7 and dealt again with UPS after a quick shower. I packed my car and drove to the depo, to pick up said package, on the west end of town, cross the bridge with my truck ( my car is full and could not accommodate three more large boxes and 150lbs of rope ). When, to my huge surprise, the boxes where not in Lachine, but in Mirabel. So I drove the 100km to Mirabel, found customs, got my boxes, and headed back into town just as gridlock locked down the city. I crossed the bridge, and switched cars at 4pm, and then drove back onto the island, cross traffic and 2 bridges, towards Toronto for the 250km drive to Kingston. 5pm and I was still in the city, 250km away from my destination. I booted the A4 on cruise at 150km/h and got to the Boiler Room just before 7.

That night I slept in a cockroach infected motel off 417, drove to ottawa and checked into the ARC at 250$ a night. I did my PK at MEC the following day, took a nap and demoed at night until midnight the following 2 days. I then drove home after spending the morning at the TDB with the kids. I had sunday off. I caught up on paperwork and then left this morning for quebec city. I checked in at noon @ Pur, went to see the boys at Vie Sportive, got some grub, called and set an appointment in Chicoutimi tomorrow morning at 9am ( a 2 h drive from QC) and I will demo tonight, and tomorrow night at gyms here in QC. Thats my week so far. You like them apples?

So you want my job now?

All in all, yes, I love what I do, but it is still a Job, and requires a lot of planing and being very savy on time and travel times.

Its hotels that cost too much, food that tastes too salty, long drives and mind numbing highways with no exits, its 5$/gallon and free tshirts. Its also climbing with kids, giving away swag and seeing old friends I do not get to see very much. Its about the gym owners being fucking cool and offering me water and the lonely nights spent staring at spreadsheets memorizing figures and numbers and skews.

love it! :)

Pictures from top to bottom:

My room @ Pur in Quebec City

Demo at VR : 10pm

The Arc Hotel bar and a glass of Pinot. Thanks for serving me after the hours. We both know the tip was worth it :)

Giving away prizes at VR: 11pm

1:23 am after the Coyote demo and a long three days of UPS and driving mayhem.

Everything I climber needs...

End of WARS, start of peace.

The biggest tragedy of our existence is that Humans are inherently egotistical. History is written by those who slay heros. The bible was not written by Jesus or God, but by those who wanted to be them at all costs, who wanted the fame, but without the sacrifice.

Some of us fight for reasons few understand. We walk instead of drive, or buy a Prius when we know full well we will not make up the difference in price with gas consumption. We stand in front of a row of officials, alone, and get mocked and humiliated. We point out the wrong, only to be told that WE are wrong. We ask questions, and for answers, and get slaughtered at the stake for it. We are told to voice our speech and live a free life, but cannot speak unless its approved, and cannot leave without a passport.

Some of you might remember last september I witnessed horrible acts at my local crag, and when I dug a little deeper, I found hallucinating facts and wrong doings from the very people who are paid to protect that very spot.

Well ladies, and gentlemen (if they still do exist), I was handed an Ultimatum by a law firm today asking me to cease and desist all defamation and slandering of said persons or I would be brought before a jury of my peers ( funny, I seem not to recall having friends for a while ).

Funny thing about the legal notice, is that it was processed on the 13th of March, while I had already deleted most all of the videos and written entries on the 6th of March. On the 6th, my forum thread, which was the most popular and longest thread on the forum, was locked down. I asked the website owner on the 7th of March to either allow us free speech and re-activate the thread, or delete the thread entirly. I see no point in keeping a thread online but locked, as we cannot voice our opinions on it anyway. It was deleted.

Standing alone is something few of you will ever experience. Even fewer of you will ever appreciate what is done without recognition.

But I have to say, with all the enemies made, friends lost, and doors shut, I am glad that at least the person who seems to be so upset about me pointing out his errors, is no longer in charge of anything. He was thanked for his service and now his job is vacant and hopefully, someone competent will fill it. At least, that is one step in the right direction.

I am not saying any names, of course, because I do not want to delete this post. I want you all to know that I will not give up, and that this is in no way over.

I look forward in going climbing tomorrow, at Weir, knowing full well that I am safe, because of our acts and our loudness, bolts where fixed, anchors replaced, and corrections made, that would not have been without this little piece of shit asshole ( me ) who paints his nails and climbs all year, screaming to high heavens.

I bow, and I thank all of those who joined me, side by side, oh wait, oups, none of you did.

Who cares, I did this for you all, and the ends justify the means, in this case anyway.

:)

Kudos

Ulric.

March 18 2012 18:25pm

MAKE SOME FUCKING NOISE!

BOXES...

...and even more boxes. DAMN!

More swag and more boxes...

FYI. Who ever is at the GRAND RIVER demo in Kitchener on the 7th, thats my last date and all my gear is going to be given out then. ALL MY SAMPLES... lucky bastards.

Cheers...

KONY 2012

KONY 2012

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

No place like HOME!

Well its offcial. I turned in my car papers to the Mexican Border Authority and I am now in San Antonio, making my way back to my igloo in the great white north, following the path of my ancestor fur or Beaver trappers. ( right Jeb? ) Hence the season has fallen, the tears shed, the blood boiled and laid down to rest. We had some good times, and I will miss many for the next 6 months, until my return.

On our last day, we started to develop a new wall. And Paya and I put up El Salto's first 9's and 10's, on tufas and roofs. Sick. I will get some shots of it soon.

I drove out early in the morning, after my breakfast with my peachy little chica and some goodbyes.

San Antonio is really not that interesting, so lets skip that, and supper with Jeb was alright, lacking in moral fibre and his wife. Oscar was also MIA with his GF. I guess I am getting boring in my old age.

Looks like I will be heading towards HorsePens 40 for a couple days of solo time. I look forward to the solitude. I need a Vaca. Maybe Rocktown and the Red to finish off, perhaps:). I need to be back in MTL by the 15th to receive my pallets from REVOLUTION for the Demo Tour and start sorting and packing for that. My La Spotiva boxes are waiting too, as are the So iLL ones. All the goodies.

I look forward to a clean shower and dealing with UPS at the depot again. I miss it. Damn, need to get my coat dry cleaned and I need new jeans. Gotta go!

Scratching the Surface

Slide Show

The photo shoot, the climbing and the slackline. All in a days work.

Slide show is below.

Above the climber from Edgar Chávez Fotógrafo on Vimeo.

Life Resumes

Its Feb 25th today. Another darn cold and muggy day. I spent the last few days bolting a new line and Paya got a good friend to come and take pictures of some of the new stuff everyone did this winter. I also got behind the camera for the first time and it felt weird to be behind the lens for once. But heh, its how life goes.

The new route, which Martinez had started but never finished, now goes for 40m. I will have some pics of it up before my departure in a few days. I am calling it Touched By God after the Katcha trance classic track that played on repeat in my headphones while I was bolting it.

Here are a few teasers. I will try and upload more on FB today, so watch out for that.

Here is the FB TAG where you can find the pics.

This Shot: Ulric Rousseau on the FA of Dantes Inferno "Directe". 14a/b

pz

Ulric

A Star is Born

I wrote this a few days ago during a sleepless night. Hope you all enjoy.

A star is born.

This is dedicated to every boy and girl out there who lives like i do. Who has decided that they rather give everything and gain nothing, instead of growing old with everyone and everything. This is to the people out there who dedicate their lives to our sport. Who publish, who push, who bolt, who lead. This is for every boy and girl who has gotten up before the sunrise to work for no pay. Who would rather remain nameless, who would rather do things alone. Who give their time and money for no reward and no claim. Who stand on the threshold. Between the real and the fake, between reality and fantasy. On the fine line entre security and uncertainty, one foot over the status void of truth and logic, and one hand into the unknown. Between dream and wakefulness.

It’s the long days and cold nights, the warm mornings and not enough water. The slacker lifestyle, and the hard work it takes to keep living it. It’s being dirty and not wanting a shower. Its understanding how awesome hot water actually is. It’s the daunting tasks of keep your car maintained, but the Check Engine light that costs you your dinner beer. It’s climbing to much, and climbing to long. Its getting injured, and waiting for the injury to heal. It’s explaining the crux, but not giving the entire beta. It’s knowing everything, but still failing. It’s knowing nothing, and succeeding. It’s crimping, throwing, burning, hurting, breathing to hard, and not enough. It’s being out there when you know you should be elsewhere. It’s the future ahead, uncertain and bleak, so you can do, today. It’s not having anything, but having more than anyone. Its being competitive, but still cheering your enemy on. Its dreaming of tomorrow, when today is over. Thinking about yesterday, before the day is through. It's carrying a broken heart, but knowing it was not meant to be, keeping faith, even though fate has other plans.

It’s the dark night so thick against the sheer magnitude of the moon that it borders on translucent blue. It’s the majestic brilliance high in the heavens bringing out the shine of the exploding planets. It’s the air that sits tranquil, cold, bordering on freezing, the ice forming away on the ground, roofs, grass and the sands of the earth. The palm trees high up on the steep walls sheltering lizards, snails, butterflies and scorpions, keeping them safe from predators, much like our trucks keep us safe from ours, tonight.

It’s waiting for the suns return. Waiting for the earth to rotate, for the other half of the planet to go to sleep so we can wake and admire their sunset as our sunrise. Accepting the warmth of its simple yet crucial task as it undoes that very action elsewhere. It’s sleeping in fresh air, in silence and in calm. Closing our eyes hoping we do not wake before the sun is readily available. Sleeping close to our loved ones, our dogs, our pillows or the night’s new companion.

When the time comes to wake, we stretch. We yawn and moan, shriek and toss in our comfort, all so well knowing what the day will bring. Our fingertips still raw, our heads still scared, our harnesses and shoes still humid form the day before. Yet we strive, we endure, we capture and let go, we freeze in the face of blindness and as quickly, we become human again.

It’s everything and its anything to keep us from becoming one of them. One more day, just one more night, so we can postpone pushing the Wheel. It’s forgetting about Facebook and emails, texts and cell service, it’s forgetting about mom, cause mom understands.

It’s living the dream, while dreaming of what would have been. It’s that moment, the last inch and that last gasp before it all ends, to begin at square one again, tomorrow.

It’s a place where you lose yourself and you find yourself.

Where everything falls apart.

Where everything comes together.

It is growth.

So iLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

Dear MOM...

Dear Mom and Dad,

Today I got up at 5 am with the roosters. I packed my bag and carried 40 kilos of gear 2 miles into the canyon. I took off my sweatshirt and jugged up 30 meters to my high point, hauled the drill and gear off my tag line up to me me. I finished a new route ( Life After You, 45m 13 bolts), put in a sub anchor on my way down so I could "get down" and packed everything up and sorted all my gear. I carried everything back to camp and had breakfast with the Gonzalez family at 9am. I repacked my bag and went climbing with Caroline. I finished the day by bagging the 5.14a/b FA of Dante's Inferno "Direct".

PS. Send more money...

xxx

Ulric.

The Beach

Caroline is leaving soon, and my buddies are heading to the beach. I have decided to stay alone in El Salto and reflect and bolt alone, again. I have another 4 weeks until I head to the demo series on the east coast, and I plan to take full advantage of it. Being alone is almost the best way to be for me. Its funny, but alone, there are no problems. I walk when I want to, stop when its time.

The last 2 weeks have been super intense. Without going into detail, life was about to change, but all of a sudden, it was brought to a halt in midst, and now it resumes like before.

I will walk. I will continue my search, but at the same time, I wait. Patience can be very soothing. It can purge a lot of waste and debris. It draws on the time we spent, and the memories. It begins, and ends. It lives and dies. It becomes, and disappears..

Staring out into the void off my last bolt today I seemed to understand a little more about the nothingness of our lives here. The creation, the truth, the matter, the space, the time, the cause and effect. What is a coincidence for one is a revelation for another. What is found, is lost once more. It cannot want more than I can be given. I cannot force the laws of life and bend them to my will. I see that now. What will be will be. In life as in death, it is just one more day on earth.

We try to believe that we are guided, that we are on a path predestined, that we are here for a reason, but the truth is, we are the ones who ultimately decide. We are given choices, but the actions are ours and ours alone. We want to believe that something is cause for cancer, or for a broken foot, or for a great love, but what we choose to associate with that is up to us. Is it life, or a master plan, or a supreme being?

The mistakes and the choices they entail holds us true to our blood. Our blood, we are all the same. Black, brown, white or dolphin, we are all part of each other. We are no better or worse, no different than one another. In the end we all stop breathing, all stop seeing, and we all end up on the floor.

Like all things, good and bad, you have the choice to decide, ultimately, what you want. And that is what makes us human. That is what makes us love and hate. Its what makes you, part of me.

Ulric

Bad Boy...

I was thinking of mike and I came across this vid with him in it.

The Sentra

I do not remember why I called this video, The Sentra, but check out the system to allow us to eat in peace.

Sleep and Ski

This is one of the first vids I ever made for you guys. It was during my first demo/sales tour with "other" shoe company, in 2007. I think its hilarious.

Drug Mule

Now thats a nice ass...

Quebec Gold

Ulric Rousseau outlines the many charms of his home province, climbing and otherwise.

The plane banks nose-hard to the left as my flight begins its descent. As it straightens out and starts to drop from 24 000 feet, I begin to make out the faint city lights of my home island silhouetted against the dark black nothingness of the St Lawrence seaway stretching into the night. Cocooned in my window seat, I cannot help but remember good times spent there; the girls stumbling out of bars in mini skirts at 3am, the Hollywood soundstages causing downtown gridlock havoc and the days I spent alone, iPod blasting, and my drill pounding away at untapped walls of bomber granite.

Within a 100 kilometres radius of Montreal there are more than 60 climbing areas which cover every aspect of modern rock-climbing. These include Rumney and Cathedral Ledge in New Hampshire, Shagg Crag in Maine (a short drive and a passport with visa will give you entry to the US without hassle). The far reaches of the Bas St-Laurent are also close, leading you north into the Appalachians and it’s deserted beaches for bouldering and white-pocketed granite climbing in Kamouraska.

The Laurentians

Within the Laurentians in the northwest lie countless crags surrounded by thousands of isolated mystical lakes that are open to explore and investigate year round.

Weir

Along highway 327, 200 feet tall green firs and red maples flash past as you punch the accelerator. Whizzing alongside hidden pristine lakes, up and down steep hills until, veering right, the huge 1.5-kilometre-long cliff of Weir suddenly appears from nowhere, bringing the joy-ride to an abrupt halt.

Weir stands 100 metres. More than 70 routes of all grades and styles await you, including Adagio, one of the most interesting 5.8 trade lines in the east. Another classic line, Temple Du Soleil checks in at 13a for 40 metres of mixed bolts and gear.

The left sidewall offers the ultra classic 11d Capitain Mon Capitain, with three more great lines to the right, respectively 12b, 12c, and 13b, from 22 to 32 metres. With all of them steeper than the next, you’ll get your one-day’s worth of burns quick enough.

Nine times out of ten you will have this world-class cliff to yourself, with no one to disturb you except possibly alien chit-chat spilling from a very large array of satellite dishes just a stone’s throw away.

To read the second half of this, see issue #89 of ROCK magazine..

This may be out of date but...

I am always behind the times when it comes to online vids. Enjoy, if you have not seen this already. Cheerio!

Jigga Jigga yeah!

My new license, fresh off the printer, totally ligit.

Booooooooooyah!

Yes, my nails are orange...LOL

10 things...

Ten things you didn't know about me…

1. I have a bathroom phobia, I can't change in the bathroom after taking a shower, I have to step into another room.

2. I have a sneaker fetich, if I walk into a skate shop, I always buy a pair. I own over 100 pairs of shoes, most of them are still in their box. When I move, its the biggest hassle.

3. I give away all the gear I get for free, sometimes even samples I am not supposed to. It has cost me more than one rep position.

4. I have a "penchant" for expensive nights out, good wine, and breaking glasses on the floor when the server takes to much time to see we are out of bread.

5. I scream like a girl if I see a cockroach.

6. i will pay for a hotel room, take a shower and use the Wifi, but I will sleep in my truck.

7. The older I get, the more sensitive I am to movies. I cry at all chick flicks, animated movies and even Rambo 4.

8. I can fix anything, anytime, anywhere. I can build a house, pour concrete, fixe a flat tire and even put together a kinder surprise toy without the instructions.

9. I live in a Storage unit, 300 square feet, no running water.

10. The most annoying sound for me is someone knocking on a door. It gives me goose bumps.

2012 Demo Tour

Its that time of year again ( well, coming up anyway ) and the demos are on. Here is the poster. Coming to a gym near you in March and April.

Ok, so here’s the 411. A demo is a chance for you to try, for free, all the gear that is

displayed. You can look, touch, feel, smell and even borrow all the goodies you’ve seen

online or in your partner’s gear bag. You can test out ropes, shoes, holds, pads etc...

All night, FOR FREE!

So mark the date, Facebook your friends, cancel that threesome and get your butt to the

gym early so you can have the pick of the litter. Pandamonium.

Oh, and did I mention all the FREE SWAG!

March 2012

20 Vertige Escalade, Sherbrooke QC 6-11pm

21 Boiler Room, Kingston ON 6-11pm

22 Coyote, Ottawa ON 6-11pm

23 Vertical Reality, Ottawa ON 6-11pm

24 Altitude, Gatineau QC 10am-6pm

26 Delire, Quebec City QC 6-11pm

27 Roc Gyms, Quebec City QC 6-11pm

28 Allez up, Montreal QC 6-11pm

29 Horizon Roc, Montreal QC 6-11pm

30 Action Directe, Laval QC 6-11pm

31 Vertical, Montreal QC 10am -5pm

April 2012

01 Guelph Grotto, Guelph ON 12-6pm

02 Boulderz, Toronto ON 6-11pm

03 Joe Rockheads, Toronto ON 6-11pm

04 True North, Toronto ON 6-11pm

05 U of Guelph Climbing Wall, Guelph, ON 6-11pm

06 Climber’s Rock, Burlington ON 6-11pm

07 Grand River Rocks, Kitchener ON 12-6pm

Track of the Day!

I woke at 6am this morning and went for a small run, watching the sun rise over the intracoastal over my left shoulder, and then let it beat down on the right side of my face as I retraced my steps back home. I opened facebook after a few laps in the pool to de-stink, and it occurs to me, staring into the mirror in-front of me, that this is a pretty good life... Enjoy the music.

Listen and Read

Click on the video, turn up the volume.

Ulric

La Sportiva

Well I was not gonna say anything... NOPE, yeah.

Here's a little sugar for ya coffee. LS & 514 represent YO! ( also happens to be my cities area code, no doubt )

Leap. Click it or Ticket peeps!

Leap: The film

We Own the Sky

The First 70

The First 70 Trailer from Heath Hen Films on Vimeo.

2011

Well its all about to end. Our one and only 2011 is going down, tomorrow, at Midnight, where ever you are. Its been a ruff year for me. A lot has happened, and its a little to dramatic to rehash the past, so lets focus on the present.

I have been in Potrero for 2 days. We climbed a few easy routes, drinking beer and laughing at each other yesterday for failing so badly on easy stuff. I spent the first part of the day, today, retrobolting Central Scrutinizer's first pitch, and hacking away at the rusted bolts to get pry them free. Kika ( Enrique ) helped me a lot and thanks for his patience cause it was a little hard. I added a first bolt that was stolen, but retained the same run outs to the first anchor so that the R rating still stands, with new anchors, chains and 4inch bolts. RARE! Raw. True.

I want to thank Maxim Ropes, Pusher, La Sportiva, Fixe, Hilti and So iLL for their support this year. I could not do all this without you. Bolting is expensive and every penny saved helps. Much LOVE!

I also put my drill to rest today. Its in its case, and not coming out again this trip. I told myself I would bolt until the new year and concentrate on sending for the first part of 2012.

I put up a few new pitches, nothing really worth mentioning. LOL. Here is the list of the years accents, lines and projects.

Many of the names feel a little religious, but please trust me, I am not converting. I just have been bolting alone, most of the time anyway, and Mikey's energy is all around me. I feel him everywhere, all day, with me. Butterflies fly so close to me on the wall, they land on my gear, I watch them, and I think its Mike saying hello, watching over me. Its a very powerful yet erie feeling. All the names on the latest routes, ALL OF THEM, are all in honour of my friend who is now with my dog in heaven, and shall remain there until I join em.

Tears fall from my face right now as I write this, I miss you both sooooo much.

I really wish the best to everyone for 2012, and if you can spare some draws, please send em over, cause I am OUT!

Nous, Les Fous!

5.13- 11 bolts - 25m

Weir, Quebec

FA/FFA Oct 2011

Tanpis pour Toi

5.13+ 9 bolts - 25m

Weir, Quebec

FA April 2011

Aveux, J'ai Deja Baisser dans un Confessionnal.

5.12c 6 Bolts - 10m

Cap des Pere, Quebec

FA/FFA Sept 2011

Angels Walk Among Us ( Angeles Camino con Nosotros )

5.12+ 11 Bolts - 35m

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA/FFA Dec 2011

Silent Killer ( Assasino en Silencio )

5.14? 17 bolts - 40m

Project still underway

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA Dec 2011

The First Step on Your Last Day

5.13a 11 bolts - 35m

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA/FFA Dec 2011

Todo o Nada ( All or Nothing )

5.14? 22 bolts - 50m ( Sub Anchors )

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA Dec 2011

Los Mariposas

5.13a 8 Bolts - 15m

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA/FFA Dec 2011

Murder Weapon

5.14a 8 bolts - 30m ( Extension to Bizzare Contact, 15m )

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA March 2011

Ungabunga X-Mas

5.13c 4 bolts - 40m 9 ( Extension to Ungabunga 10m )

El Salto, Mexico ( Las Animas )

FA/FFA Dec 2011

Track of The Week...for a Christmas without you.

La Boda en Cienega

Pics from the Edge

Joel's best pose and my self after bolting. I wish the drill came with a vacuum!!!

Ting Tings rules!!!!!!!!!!!

Pics From the Trenches

This is what you look like after setting only 5 bolts and 2 hours of work. The clouds and weather where moving in so I came down to avoid any issues.

Video of the week!

Track of the week

Planet WHAT?

I hate the accent, but love the purpose!

Bolting 101: Part ONE, TWO & THREE

Part ONE

Part TWO

Part THREE

Not part four, just my View this morning.

The art of Flight

So you all know I don't do SNOW, but the sequel to That's it, that's all is crazyyyy. + the interent place is closing so I could not upload my Video of Bolting 101. Until next time.

ulric