2008 Woodie Awards
New heights reached in rock climbing competition
Victoria Vlisides
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: Arts & Lifestyle
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A rock climbing competition on Saturday sponsored by American Bouldering Series brought competitors of all ages to Wall Crawlers Rock Climbing Gym on Main Street.
Twenty-five students and other youth were at Wall Crawlers from 12-3 p.m. to compete in the boulder rock climbing competition. Boulder rock climbing is a more horizontal-based rock climbing where the climber must get from point A to point B in order to get the full amount of points. Competitors have no harnesses, just spotters and mats to help them if they fall.
Competitors could enter under different categories based on experience: recreational, intermediate, advanced and open (open being the most difficult and recreational being the least difficult). Males and females were also separate within each category.
First place winners for recreational were Ryan Thomas and Claire Means, for intermediate was Greg Hanson, for advanced was Brian Degenhardt and Amanda Weir, and for open was Kelsen Alexander and Heidi Rodewald.
The competition is self-scored, based on the five best routes finished out of 50. The most advanced route, named "Rocket Man," was worth 2,300 points. The least advanced was "Summoner," which was 250 points. If it takes a competitor more than one try to finish a route, points are deducted accordingly.
Winners of the open category received a trophy. First through third places in other categories received a ribbon.
UW-Whitewater Rock Climbing Club member Amanda Wier started climbing when she was 11 and had been in two rock climbing competitions previously.
"I liked the competition because I like pushing myself and seeing what I can do," Weir said. "But I didn't like it condensed into a three-hour period, because you get so tired."
ABS asks a lot of gyms in the Midwest to host competitions, UW-Whitewater Rock Climbing Club President Andrew Grosshiem said. The UW-Whitewater Rock Climbing Club has 22 members and meets on Tuesday and Friday nights for climbing and socializing.
Twenty-five students and other youth were at Wall Crawlers from 12-3 p.m. to compete in the boulder rock climbing competition. Boulder rock climbing is a more horizontal-based rock climbing where the climber must get from point A to point B in order to get the full amount of points. Competitors have no harnesses, just spotters and mats to help them if they fall.
Competitors could enter under different categories based on experience: recreational, intermediate, advanced and open (open being the most difficult and recreational being the least difficult). Males and females were also separate within each category.
First place winners for recreational were Ryan Thomas and Claire Means, for intermediate was Greg Hanson, for advanced was Brian Degenhardt and Amanda Weir, and for open was Kelsen Alexander and Heidi Rodewald.
The competition is self-scored, based on the five best routes finished out of 50. The most advanced route, named "Rocket Man," was worth 2,300 points. The least advanced was "Summoner," which was 250 points. If it takes a competitor more than one try to finish a route, points are deducted accordingly.
Winners of the open category received a trophy. First through third places in other categories received a ribbon.
UW-Whitewater Rock Climbing Club member Amanda Wier started climbing when she was 11 and had been in two rock climbing competitions previously.
"I liked the competition because I like pushing myself and seeing what I can do," Weir said. "But I didn't like it condensed into a three-hour period, because you get so tired."
ABS asks a lot of gyms in the Midwest to host competitions, UW-Whitewater Rock Climbing Club President Andrew Grosshiem said. The UW-Whitewater Rock Climbing Club has 22 members and meets on Tuesday and Friday nights for climbing and socializing.
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