The annual Spring Fling in Bozeman, Montana at Spire Climbing Center was, once again, a successful and fun event. With the SCS local youth event on Saturdays, the party kicks off on Friday evenings each year with an adult comp so the routes can be fore run to make sure they are suitable for the youth the next day. A big thanks to Jeff Ho, owner/operator of Spire, for basically shutting down his gym for 3-4 days in order for this event to take place.
Saturday's youth comp was attended by 45-50 kids from around the Big Sky Region. The Helena Thunder Chickens, Bozeman Climbing Team, and Billings Steep Team made up the majority of competitors, with the John Jackson Rock Stars out of Boise, and Team Momentum rounding out the field.
Team Momentum was represented by two-A Team members, two-B Team members, and two-Jr. Competitive Team members. All six girls made an impressive showing and represented Momentum well.
Kami and Lienne Cupal, both in division D (10 years old and under) were both brand new to competition and had their first experience climbing on routes marked with tape instead of the constant colored holds that they are used to. It took a little bit for them to get used to it but then they did great.
Vera Zanker has competed in a few bouldering comps during the bouldering season but this was her first sport comp. Once a climber is in division B (13-14 years old), they lead climb in competition but it isn't required in local competitions. Since Vera has just recently started lead climbing, nobody expected that she would try it at the comp. However, she decided to surprise us all and she did a fantastic job! It is obvious that she has had a great instructor. Way to go Vera!
One lead route was set that was worth 950 points which made it about a 5.9-5.10a grade route. It was a fairly juggy route up an overhanging wall. There was a challenge given that if a climber could campus the route, they would receive 1200 points instead of the 950 you'd get if you used your feet. At the adult comp Friday night, there were two men that tried campusing the route. One of them made it. On Saturday, there were a couple of older teenage boys that tried campusing the route. One of them made it to the chains as well. For Amanda Starwalt, the gauntlet had been thrown down. There was no way that she was going to let this comp end without trying to campus that route. While Amanda didn't quite make it to the chains, on her first go, (yeah, she tried it more than once) she was only a couple holds shy of finishing it. Had it been a couple hours earlier, she would have made it. Amanda followed up that feat by getting on the route that climbs the steepest wall of the gym and then proceeds to traverse the roof section.
While Rachel Wedge opted to not take the challenge of campusing, she did tackle the route on the steep wall and proceeded out onto the roof as well. Twice.
Sarah Legg started out strong, keeping pace with Rachel and Amanda but she came into this comp spending the week fighting off yet another cold. Tack on a long (high energy) drive, a late night babysitting, and a fairly sleepless night shivering under a very thin blanket. Still, she hung in there and gave it all she had.
Following are the places the girls finished in their respective divisions:
Female Youth B:
- Rachel - 2nd
- Amanda - 4th
- Sarah - 5th
- Vera - 6th
Female Youth D:
- Kami - 2nd
- Lienne - 4th
Great job ladies!
As soon as I figure out how to edit video off my phone (I need a program that will read it), I will post some video of the comp.
Next Saturday, Pocatello! New routes AND lead climbing: what more could you ask for?
