Following the very sad death of US Climber Todd Skinner and the supposed failure of his belay loop Wild Country did a set of belay loop tests as a reassurance to everyone over their safety.

You can watch the video here at www.wildcountry.co.uk

And read the report here

Thanks to Wild Country for that.

Second, Dave Flanagan of theshortspan.com, the bouldering in Ireland website, drew our attention to first a great article he has written about friction which is a very worthy read and answers questions like, Why don't climbing shoes have tread?.

On the same page you can download one of Dave's short videos, filmed on old fashioned Super 8mm which was developed in Switzerland then transferred to DVD. The results are superb as is the music accompanying this climbing short.

You can read about friction and chill to Dave's film at www.theshortspan.com

And lastly, Chris Sharma again, this time on his route Dreamcatcher at Squamish, courtesy of Alastair Lee at Posing Productions who says, "that for spectacular climbing footage it is the dog's bollox?"

Watch it at www.posingproductions.com

Let's make Friday nights a grade discussion free zone!