FORGING a path in life takes trial and error, mistakes and chances. Whether it’s mastering a skill, pursuing a dream or pushing to be the best, it's not always a smooth ride.
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Few know that better than Tamworth Freestyle Bouldering Gym member Sasha Gerzha.
From Siberia, Sasha’s quest to find the best rock climbing in the world led him to Australia in 2017.
He spoke no English, had no plans, but like all great climbers he found an ideal path, one which lead him to Tamworth.
“At the beginning it was just a rock climbing trip but I have seen so many opportunities for great climbing I don’t want to leave,” Gerzha said.
“There are just so many untouched roads and places to explore, so many opportunities to find the perfect or best climb in the world.
“It’s an interesting area for me because when I arrived I spoke no English and had nobody to speak to in Russian, so I have really had to get outside of what I’m used to.”
Mastering four of the world’s hardest climbs in Europe, Gerzha has turned his attention to outdoor climbing.
The 26-year-old believes the north-west more than measures up.
“Mount Kaputar is not that far away and has huge potential for a range of climbers from beginners to experienced professionals,” Gerzha said.
“At the moment we are preparing climbs out there that would be the hardest in Australia.
“Currently we are mapping out these climbs by abseiling from the top and looking for any possibilities for a climb on the rock face.
“Working out if it is even possible to climb a certain section is challenging, sometimes you could be working on a specific manoeuvre for several weeks
“It really is world class out there, we are working really hard to improve it.”
On the cliff face with Gerzha is the man who brought him to Tamworth, James Vilimaa.
He moved to Barraba from north-west Sydney almost three years ago for work.
“Growing up I climbed a lot on and off,” Vilimaa said.
“I went back there last year to visit some family and went to my old climbing gym The Edge and the stars aligned.
“Sasha turned up that day, he might have only gotten off the plane two days before, and said he was looking for work.”
It was perfect timing, and so, Gerzha made the six hour trip to Tamworth.
Villimaa is at the forefront of mapping the best climbs in the region and has climbed extensively overseas.
“I had just got back into it when we shipped out to Barraba and not really knowing if there was going to be somewhere to climb, I built a rock wall to use in my driveway,” he said
“I went overseas and climbed, when I got home I realised this little crappy wall in my driveway was not going to cut it.
“Then when I got back from overseas, I found this secret gem that is Mount Kaputar, which has this proud history of Tred Climbing which is climbing without bolts, but the hardest climb there is pretty moderate by today’s standards.
“So Sasha and I spent just weeks wandering, looking for cliffs, researching on maps and then I came across this article about Waa Gorge and I was not disappointed.
Villimaa said the gorge was “the holy grail of the North West”.
“It’s fair dinkum mate,” he said.
People stop and talk to you here, they are interested to know your story about how you’ve come to be here.
- Sasha Gerzha
“I’ve climbed all over the east coast of Australia and what’s at Waa Gorge is unlike anything else in Australia for what it offers to climbers.”
With 100m cliffs, strong overhung roots and flats either side, the Mecca for climbers is right in the middle.
As soon as the word gets out serious climbers will flock from all parts of the globe Villimaa said.
Freestyle Bouldering Gym founder Chris Eather said having the expertise of both Gerzha and Villimaa available to the gym’s members is a blessing.
“We offer a pretty laid back, community vibe here at the gym,” Eather said.
“These guys are so generous with their time, their encouragement and their expertise it really is unbelievable.
“What they are doing out at Mount Kaputar is simply fantastic.
“I am confident that once word gets around about how good the climbing is out there and how good the climbs these two have set up are, people will come flooding from everywhere.”
In between trips to Mount Kaputar, Sasha spends his time exploring other climbing spots in the region, embracing the local culture and passing on his knowledge to the next generation in the gym.
For a man who once did 1000 pull ups in one session, Sasha has plenty to wisdom to pass on.
“There are actually quite a few places around Tamworth that are great for climbing,” he said.
“Moonbi Hill for example is a great climb close by.
“I like to teach and coach the younger guys, especially the kids we have here.”
He coaches two boys Archie and Fred that have really improved throughout the year.
Both have done well in major Sydney competitions but its the fact that they enjoy it which really matters to Gerzha.
It may have been an usual path that brought Gerzha to Tamworth, but he said he has no regrets.
“Everyone is very friendly here, it’s not like other places I have been,” he said.
“People stop and talk to you here, they are interested to know your story about how you’ve come to be here.
“I have found some other Russian people who live here too, which is nice.”