Thanks to Project Climbing and SCBC, a successful competition took place last weekend. Over 150 competitors registered for the most recent Sport Climbing BC-sanctioned competition, held at Project Climbing Centre (Abbotsford) last Saturday December 13. The local bouldering competition will contribute towards rankings for competitors wishing to compete at the National Bouldering Championships (February 2015 for Youth and March 2015 Open competitors).
The day started with Open competitors testing themselves in the relatively new ‘New Scramble’ competition format. In this format, competitors have designated problems per category that they need to attempt, as opposed to traditional Scramble format where competitors can attempt whichever problems they like. The advantages of this format, designed by SCBC Routesetting Liaison Simon Parton, include shorter line-ups, better developmental opportunities for Youth and less strategizing needed on the part of the competitors.
The first round finished with eight men and eight women heading into Open finals, with celebrity Canadian Sean McColl leading the men and long-time BC competitor Alannah Yip leading the women. Four youth competitors also edged out their adult competition to make finals – Kyle Murdoch, Hannah Block, Julia Massullo and Mika Hosoi.
The second round saw Recreational, Experienced and Youth D, C and B competitors crushing everything put in their path, with Recreational and Experienced using the traditional Scramble format.
Eight tough guys. photo by Shane Murdoch. ©
Recent rural radio host, and former youth competitor Miranda Guzzo was the MC for the event, joined by Kaleb Thomas, a member of the routesetting team. Their fun facts accompanied the 16 finalists around the gym, across four different walls. The women’s placings came down to the last problem, with The Hive’s Celeste Wall being the only female competitor to reach the bonus hold in a spectacular double-handed dyno. The men’s placings were set earlier in the piece, with Sean McColl leading from early on and continuing to dominate the field. Celeste was followed by Alannah Yip and Maria Celkova in the women’s field, with Jesse Taplin in second and Kin Wai Lah in third in the men’s.
Thanks to all the volunteers who made this event happen and thanks again to Project Climbing in Abbotsford. Special thanks to Shane Murdoch for the photos. ©