Our region's Sport Climbing Series Competitions for 2009

[benleaton]

The 2009 USA Climbing Sport Climbing Series (SCS) schedule for the Big Sky Region, which represents Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah is as follows:

March 7, Boise Peak Fitness, Boise, ID
March 28, Billings Steepworld, Billings, MT
April 4, ISU Reed Gym, Pocatello, ID
April 18, Spire Climbing Center, Bozeman, MT
April 25, Momentum, Sandy, UT
May 2, Core Mountain Sports, Cody, WY
May 16, Big Sky Finals, Boise Peak Fitness, ID
June 13-14, Division 1 Finals, Pipeworks, Sacremento, CA

SCS events are open to all ages and abilities. Entry fees are between $25-$35, and often include a t-shirt. Non-USAC members pay a $5 day fee in addition to the entry fee.

Youth competitors may qualify to advance beyond Regional Finals if they have competed in 3 or more local events as a USAC member. Memberships can be purchased at www.usaclimbing.net. More detailed info about each event can be found here as the events get nearer.

I hope to see you at some of our comps this Spring!

Train hard,

Aaron Hjelt, USAC Big Sky Coordinator

[benleaton]

I have the bug to sign up and compete in at least one of these SCS comps. I am planning on climbing on April 4 at the ISU Reed Gym in Pocatello, ID.

I encourage our area climbers to consider competing. It seems like it will be a lot of fun and very professional. We have all had fun at the Pocatello Pump and the Sticks and Stones competitions, let's now have fun with USA Climbing.

I am always a fan of carpooling. Who wants to go climb in Pocy? If you are worried about competing, they have an adult category called "recreational" that shouldn't create fear when signing up.

[eurekafresh]

I'm dying for this contest to happen, I placed fifth at the Sticks and Stones Boulder Comp in the beginner series,  and I'm really looking forward to see how this event is put together! If you receive any more information let me know! And if carpooling is an option at the time of the event I would like to be a part of it! I can't wait to be apart of another fine competition!

[Corey]

Save your money!  Don't waste your fuel on the pocatello comp!  Shoot for The Spire in Bozeman or Momentum in Salt Lake.  I know that it is a bit far for us, but it will be worth your drive.  Promise!  Both of these are amazing gyms.  Hands down the best that I have climbed at!  I may be able to provide the car pool to either or both.  I'll keep in touch.

[benleaton]

My conflicting schedule won't allow for me to go to the Bozeman or Sandy comp. I'd like to go to either, but I'll be running the Salt Lake City Marathon on April 18, day of Bozeman comp. And I can't afford to go to Utah two weekends in a row to hit up the Sandy comp the Saturday after the marathon. If we had a good group to carpool down, share gas, to Sandy, UT then I could justify the cost. If not, my schedule and budget allow for Pocatello.

[Corey]

Get the people together and i'd be willing to drive!  That gym is awesome!

[benleaton]

The Sport Climbing Series competition in Pocatello was pretty sweet. I had a lot of fun. Even though I was the only adult that competed, I enjoyed the routes and was able to see that I have progressed in my climbing. I competed against myself.

The climbs ranged from 5.9's to high 5.12's. This was perfect for me because I started climbing 5.12 last year. So the difficulty was topped out right above my current abilities. I left the comp, feeling good about how I climbed. It is cool to see that their are teenagers that blew me out of the water. My total score was 5,950 and there were three teenage boys that climbed harder to get over 6,000 points.

It was amazing to see all the youth climbing teams. They all stolled into the gym with their matching shirts and totally stoked to get on the wall. It made me want to be a kid again and be a part of a team. It also made me want to see if this area would be interested in forming a youth and/or adult team.

Overall, I have come to the conclusion of why I like to participate in competitions. Be it a marathon, cyclocross, snowboard rail comp or a climbing comp, I do them because the atmosphere is amazing. Multiple people pumped and ready to perform as hard as they can. I don't do it for the prize, but for the adrenaline that it pumps in my body to submit myself to a certain course or set of climbs that I have to do within a short time period.