ADVENTURE MAG EDITION 1 - OE EDITION 56 35AUSTRALIA’S BEST CLIMBERSAMANDA WATTS
Amanda Watts is not just a rock
climber, she is also Australia’s
leading climbing dietitian. As a
dietician, she prides herself on an
innovative and evidence-based
approach to nutrition, health and
performance. As a climber, Amanda
has represented Australia in World
Cup sport climbing, consistently
been on the podium at bouldering
nationals and has performed at an
elite level across sport and trad
climbing. During the 1990’s she
discovered rock climbing and the
passion grew from there. As a child
she took part in everything from
junior gymnastics, state level Little
Athletics and A-Grade Netball,
however, once the climbing bug
took hold, she moved to the Blue
Mountains to live and climb in one
of Australia’s greatest rock-climbing
locations.
Amanda’s climbing is not just a
passion, or simply a sport she is
great at, she has made climbing
her life. When she’s not climbing or
travelling to discover new locations
and challenges, she works as a
climbing dietician. Having spent
her life in the pursuit of peak
mental and physical performance,
Amanda’s life mission is to empower
others to achieve their goals.
TOM O’HALLORAN
It’s safe to say that some people are
natural climbers, and this certainly
stands true for Tom O’Halloran. Tom
grew up climbing everything. Trees,
his house, buildings, and bridges,
he loved it before he even knew
what rock climbing was. When Tom
was 12, his parents signed him up
to a climbing gym, and it has all
‘climbed’ from there.Throughout his teenage years,
Tom climbed in competitions,
representing Australia several times.He travelled the globe following
his climbing passion. In 2011 after
realising he wanted to live and
breathe climbing every day, Tom
packed his life up, drove 1000km
south to the epicenter of Australian
climbing, the Blue Mountains and
settled.He now lives there with his partner
Amanda, (also featured in this
issue), and their daughter Audrey,
climbing as much as time allows
and constantly seeking out new
challenges.ANDREA HAH
Based in the Blue Mountains, the
rock-climbing capital of Australia,
Andrea Hah is an Australian rockRock climbing as a sport has boomed in recent decades across the globe, with many
amazing feats being achieved, and many new peaks being conquered. This rock climbing
feature approaches some of the best climbers in Australia, to get insight into their
inspiration and motivation.
climber known not just for her
appearance on Australian Ninja
Warrior, but for her ascent of Tiger
Cat, making her the first Australian
woman to climb grade 33.In 2015 Andrea won the Australian
bouldering championships, and in
2017 she gained media attention
as the first woman to conquer
the warped wall on Season 1 of
Australian Ninja Warrior. Her
husband Lee Cossey is also a
climber, climbing teacher and
physiotherapist, and Andrea is an
Exercise Physiologist. Together they
live in Australia’s Blue Mountains
fitting in as much climbing as
possible. Andrea’s childhood
involved ten years as a gymnast,
which made her an extremely
determined, strong person.It’s the kind of determination
that any champion rock climber
needs, and as many climbers
know, the gymnastics background
certainly makes a difference in the
competitive sport. When she retired
from competitive gymnastics
at age 16, she tried many other
disciplined fields like hurdling, aerial
skiing, Cirque du Soleil, diving, and
trampolining, however nothing
excited her and drew her in as much
as rock climbing.CONQUERING THE PEAK
Australia’s Best Climbers