In the new winter 2008 issue of Rock we have:

• Ascent of the Piz Badille's North Ridge
• An epic adventure on Mt Douglas by the Central Couloir in the New Zealand Alps
• A profile of Zac Vertrees by Mike Law
• How campusing can help mid-grade climbers
• Ruminations on projects
• Pondering the importance of who you choose to climb with

plus the usual mix of news, reviews and spectacular photography.

Note: subscriber copies were mailed on 26 June; the official on-sale date is 2 July.

Rock 2008 Readership Survey

As always, our aim is to deliver a magazine that you, our readers, will enjoy. We are more likely to succeed in this aim if you give us some pointers as to what we're doing right – and wrong.

So eager are we to hear your views that we’re giving away a swag of fantastic prizes to encourage you to share them with us. The prizes include a pair of Evolv Pontas climbing shoes, a Petzl Altios helmet, an Edelrid Hawk 10.0 mm rope and a DMM Shadow screw-gate karabiner. (You'll be able to see the full details of these prizes on page 6 of the winter issue of Rock.)

To be in the running, just go here and let us have it!

One of the keys to successful bouldering is to keep the momentum going. At the basic level, this means avoiding the classic beginner mistake of pulling up, stopping and then attempting to reach the next hold - pulling up and reaching for the next hold should almost always be part of the one continuous and flowing movement. On steep rock a snatchy style can be very effective for bouldering. As soon as it is possible, snatch for the next hold. Upon catching the hold you will feel your body move away form the rock as you try to control the swing. When you start to feel your body swing back towards the hold, use this momentum to go for the next hold. This pendulum-like technique can be repeated over and over again until you are on top - using your own momentum even makes a big difference on mantels.