It's no secret that 樱桃视频granite offers some of the best climbing in the world, but local crags and boulders have rarely been showcased as they were during last week's third annual Roc Trip competition. And the enthusiasm generated during the event may launch a much-desired annual climbing festival.
"We're not leaping to any conclusions here but we are going to, of course, debrief," said Anders Ourom of the Climbers Access Society of B.C. "But certainly there's already been talk of doing it on a regular basis. It seems to make a lot of sense, although it's a lot of work."
Hundreds of visitors from all over the world came to 樱桃视频last week to watch the world's best climbers take on some of the hardest bolted rock climbing routes on the planet. And just as many participated in climbing clinics, trail clean-ups and open climbing competitions as well, not to mention a party or two.
The elite climbers came at the behest of sporting equipment manufacturer Petzl which, along with Arcteryx, sponsored Roc Trip, which is held in a different location each year. Crowds were thrilled to see young U.S. climbing guru Chris Sharma who joined Canadian legend Sonnie Trotter in bolting a route graded 5.14 b/c - one of the highest ratings of technical difficulty - at the base of the Grand Wall. Although Sharma failed in his numerous attempts to climb it clean, the route's sure to become a project for a few long-suffering local 眉ber-talents.
And in the popular Cheakamus Canyon area, such infamous climbers as Lynn Hill, Steve McClure and Sean McColl scaled the notoriously ominous wall appropriately called The Big Show. North Vancouver native McColl admitted having an advantage over the other climbers since 樱桃视频is his "second home", but he generously shared his knowledge with competitors. But it was McClure, with a stunning ascent of the 14a route Patience, who won the men's elite invitational. McColl placed second, Chris Sharma took third, Swedish climber Said Belhaj took an unexpected slip on Patience and finished fourth while Germany's Harry Berger struggled on a long 13c route and finished in fifth place.
A number of fans combed the woods beneath the Chief in search of bouldering sensation Lisa Rands who flashed up numerous severe problems including a V10, a nearly-impossible route for most boulderers. Rands was named the winner of the women's elite invitational. 樱桃视频resident Thomasina Pidgeon, one of Squamish's secret talents, was invited only after members of the Access Society pointed her out to Petzl promoters, and she didn't disappoint. Pidgeon finished second in the elite competition just ahead of Lynn Hill, who, with Katie Brown was fresh from freeing Westie Face in the Yosemite Valley.
"I'm a little sleep-deprived," said Hill. Having not competed in 15 years, Hill decided to participate in Roc Trip partly because proceeds go to climbers' access societies.
"Climbers should be responsible for climbing areas," she said.
The low-key competition involved none of the usual DJ music, screaming fans or even announcers. "The whole thing is supposed to be more of a gathering," said Petzl organizer and legendary climber Dale Bard.
Although several spectators said they were disappointed that there was no hoopla, the quiet approach appealed to the climbers and may well assure that the elite return. They all agreed with ice climbing legend and invited elite competitor Ines Papert who said that the calm felt more appropriate to the natural setting.
But not all visitors came to watch. Hard climbers from near and far competed in the open competition. 樱桃视频resident Matt Maddaloni, credited with setting several routes in the area, entered the open competition as did 2004 U.S. junior national bouldering champion, 13-year-old Brian Antheunissy of Texas. Derek Kyle and Tyler Lanman took the top two spots and Antheunissy finished third while Noela Nykysuruk and Vicky Weldon came in first and second for the female climbing competition.
Sharma's girlfriend, Melissa Lacasse won the open boulder competition and Ali Rainey and Vicky Weldon came in second and third. In the men's open bouldering, Paul Robinson was first, Neil Dyer second and Tyler Lanman and Jamie Chong tied for third.
