Climbers from all over Alberta and its flatland provincial neighbor rolled into Edmonton this past weekend, vying for a chance to claim the title, cash and glory resulting from a Tour de Bloc victory. The usual suspects and some newer faces breezed through qualifiers to set the stage for an electrifying final. For the women, the future arrived once again, with Eva Thompson and Becca Frangos strolling into finals in first and second, with the old guard just behind, as Stacey Weldon entered as the third seed. For the men, Saskachatoonian Jason Holowach failed to, well fail, as he produced the only no-falls result in qualification. Edmonton local young guns Andrew Funk and Kieran Alton-Tracy made the city proud, as the second and third seeds, respectively.
Would it be out with the old and in with the new, or would 29 be the new 17? Would Jason continue his streak of no-falls? These questions rippled through the crowd as the finalists were introduced.
Jason flashing problem #3. Photo by Lloyd King.
No climber reached bonus on Men’s One, all being thwarted by a difficult traverse section, until Marc Eveleigh crushed it. He started the send train, and most of the remaining competitors came out and hiked it. Women’s One proved a test of a different kind, with Allison Vest firing up the send train with a deftly avoided dab on a low sideways dyno before gaining the top. MC Pete Woods summed up the crowd’s mood on Women’s One with his comment, “I’ve never seen so much judging in my life.”
While all the other competitors on Women’s Two struggled mightily to no avail, Stacey asserted her dominance by being the only woman to send the slab. Her comfort in the limelight was evident as she hammed it up for the audience, alternately touching the left and right finishing boxes on the slab, before topping. Men’s Two proved a surmountable challenge for most of the competitors, leaving the final two problems to separate the chaff from the wheat.
A hard cross stopped half the field on Women’s Three. Agonizingly close to sending was Becca Frangos, who managed the cross several times, but was unable to stick the finishing slot. A heel hook proved to be the key to unlocking the send, and ultimately second place, for Alyssa Weber. Stacey gained the only other top and secured the lead as the only competitor to reach the finish on the first three problems.
The powerful and steep Men’s Three gave the first few competitors fits. Simon Yamamato ignited the crowd with the first send, while a dark horse emerged, as Dmitri (Dima) Karaman quickly dispatched of the problem with minimal effort. It was now a three horse race, with Jason, Dima, and Marc only separated by falls (zero, two, and three).
Stacey Weldon on #2. Photo by Lloyd King.
The final women’s problem did little to alter the top positions, owing to Stacey’s dominant performance. When the chalk settled, Stacey had easily secured first, with Alyssa taking second place, and Eva following up in third.
A special thanks to all those who make these comps possible and special thanks to Dallas Mix, Mike Cummings, and LLoyd King for the coverage.