As the IFSC Bouldering World Cup makes it’s way to Toronto, many of our Canadian competitors are travelling across the country to compete in this international event. With 16 Canadians in each category (male and female), this opportunity will be the first IFSC competition for some and a chance to show their stuff on the international stage.

As we cheer from the sidelines, Squamish Climbing Magazine thought it would be interesting to feature a few climbers from across the country that are competing this weekend. We sent out the same set of questions to three female competitors and here is what they had to say.

Catherine Brunel-Guitton

Catherine Brunel-Guitton is a mother of two and a physician specializing in genetics at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine. She has been climbing for over 10 years with a strong focus on travelling and climbing outdoors. Prior to becoming a mother, Catherine was a consistent competitor in the Tour De Bloc and almost competed in her first IFSC world cup in 2008 in Vail, CO.

Catherine and Sasha. Photo courtesy of Catherine Brunel ©

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Bouldering video out of Quebec’s Laurentian region.

Here’s a sample of the boulder problems we opened during the last fall season in the Laurentian region, about an hour north of Montreal.

Squamish local and all around good guy Will Stanhope gets his solo on in Joshua Tree. Worth a watch!

The following is an excerpt from The Squamish Chief by Jennifer Thuncher about the rock scaling that took place last weekend.

It is likely every Squamish rock climber’s dream job.

Well known local climber Luke Neufeld spent three days last week about 500 metres above the ground in and around the scar on the north wall of the Stawamus Chief.

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The 2015 USA climbing bouldering team attends a training camp hosted by USA Climbing, The North Face and Skratch Labs. Together they prepare for the upcoming World Cup bouldering season. Working with World Cup champion Kilian Fischhuber, routesetters Jackie Godoffe and Chris Danielson.

The competitor lists for the upcoming IFSC Bouldering World Cup Toronto are impressive. This is the first IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the season due to the IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Grindelwald being cancelled. This Bouldering world cup will takes the centre stage this weekend following a fantastic European Bouldering Championship that occurred in Innsbruck two weeks ago.

On the men’s side, fan favourites include Canada’s Sean McColl, Adam Ondra, and Jan Hojer. From the other side of the border, Josh Larson looks like the competitor to beat. Josh has been training with a variety of world cup climbers and has really taken the start of the season seriously.

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Just a reminder to all that the first IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the season takes place this weekend in Thornhill, Ontario. Qualifiers will take place on Saturday. May 30th, 2015 followed by Semi-finals and Finals on Sunday, May 31st, 2015. Please see below for live stream link.

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Here is another one from Jeremy Blumel and his bi-weekly column with The Squamish Chief. A little ray of sunshine to go with your Friday morning (if the perfect weather didn’t have you there already!).

Jeremy getting his lunch on. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Blumel ©

After a winter of bouldering and training in the gym, finger-boarding at home and the slow increase in the amount of outside rock time I was able to fit in, I finally had a little golden ray of sunshine today, which reminded me what exactly this is all about.

After careful and tenuous scheduling with my partner, I had a full day to throw myself at the rock, any rock really. Anyone with kids knows how difficult it is to keep a tiny piece of time for yourself during a week, so the time I had Saturday was precious. Over the two previous days I had thrust myself through two quick, ultra-efficient bouldering sessions that had punished and brutalized my body and mind. My shoulders all the way down to my anklebones were sore, tired, stiff, cut and grated. Those anklebones are the worst, sticking out awkwardly, just waiting to be ripped and scraped down the sharp edge of a boulder.

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This video from the Rock Project featuring Alex Honnold, Chris Shulte, and Angie Payne really nails exactly what we are missing in today’s climbing culture as we transition from indoors to the outdoor environment. Really worth a look.