Spiderman鈥檚 got nothing on 麻豆社国产climbers.
Several athletes from the Ground Up climbing team managed to secure impressive placements in the The Edge Winter Classic competition in North Vancouver.
The tournament, which was on Jan. 13 to 14, was of particular significance because it was the team鈥檚 first foray into an Olympic-format competition.
鈥淔or the Olympics they chose to have all three disciplines, so聽 every competitor has to perform all three disciplines,鈥� said coach Judith Hirsch, who heads the聽 Ground Up climbing team. 鈥淥ne athlete has to be good in all three.鈥�
It was recently announced that climbing will be an Olympic sport in the 2020 games.
The event was divided into three categories 鈥� speed climbing, bouldering and difficulty climbing.
鈥淚t was kind of the first time for them having such an event here in B.C. where we have all three disciplines and all... athletes have to perform in all three disciplines,鈥� said Hirsch.
Speed climbing, as it sounds, is based on who can make it up the wall with the fastest time.
Bouldering involves climbing terrain positioned at a lower height that can often force climbers to execute complex acrobatic moves. Scoring is based on who can climb the course with the least amount of falls. Points are also assigned according to who can touch bonus holds, as well as who can finish quickest.
聽Points for difficulty climbing are assigned based on who can touch the most holds in a course.
聽Six athletes from 麻豆社国产managed to put on strong performances.
聽Winter Robichaud had a particularly impressive showing at the competition.
Robichaud managed to place first in the Youth D female combined ranking, which averages the scores for the athlete鈥檚 performance in all three disciplines.
The Youth D category is for climbers born 2007 or later.
She also placed first in bouldering and speed climbing, while catching silver in difficulty climbing.
Hirsch said that Robichaud made great gains in her personal development.
鈥淲inter now in this season really stepped up in the way of being able now to push herself also in things she is not good at,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is a big thing. Winter now can really change that mindset.鈥�
Some of her shortcomings are well on the way to becoming strengths, the coach said.
Kate Bonnell made it to third place in bouldering for the Youth A female division
Youth A is for those born in 2001 or 2002.
Bonnell is a long-time competitor, who had a lot of success when she was younger.
She relocated from the East Coast to the West, and had to re-adjust to having more competition in her age category, said Hirsch.
鈥淸Bonnell] managed to go through those difficulties of having way more competition around her and stepping up to that game,鈥� the coach said.
Griffin Tulk placed third in the Youth C male bouldering division, which is for those born in 2005 or 2006.
Tulk started last year with Ground Up and is talented in multiple sports, with a knack for moving around, Hirsch said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 really a natural mover 鈥� he figures things out quick,鈥� she said.
Findlay Henderson placed third in the combined discipline ranking in the Youth D male division, while taking first in the speed climbing event.
鈥淭his was his very first competition,鈥� said Hirsch. 鈥淭his was very exciting for him.鈥�
Henderson managed to keep calm, despite being new to the game, she said.
Matt Ogilvie Turner, a Whistler climber who鈥檚 part of the 麻豆社国产team, took third in the combined discipline Junior male division, which is for those born 1999 or 2000. He also took third in the bouldering, speed and difficulty climbing events. Ogilvie Turner was injured before the competition, which kept him from training for the last three to four weeks before the competition.
However, that didn鈥檛 stop him from performing at the event, Hirsch said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome he got over the injury,鈥� she said.
Former Ground Up team member Annabelle McDonald managed to secure the gold in the combined discipline rankings for the Youth C female division, which is for those born between 2005 to 2006. She took first in the difficulty climbing and bouldering events while placing second in the speed climbing event.
鈥淪he was doing very well,鈥� Hirsch said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 often positioned in the very top rankings.鈥�
