Thursday 16 September 2010

World Youth Climbing Championships


A few weeks ago I competed in The World Youth Climbing Championships. This was my first world competition, and I was really nervous. It was a four day event, qualifiers day one and day two, semi and final on day three and speed on day four.

I woke up the morning of my first qualifier, got to the wall and watched the demonstrator. After watching the demonstrator fall several times I knew the route would be hard. I was climbing 40th and last out of the British team. I was watching the other competitors in my category and they were struggling. When I sat down on the seat watching the climber before me I started to get really nervous. After fighting my way up the climb I managed to finish day one 30th, I was pleased with my self.

Day two was an early start for me as I was climbing 6th. After the demo I started to warm up, I found it hard to warm because it was early and it was cold. This route looked hard with a long move at the 6th clip. I started to climb and managed to get passed the long move and proceeded another several moves up the route and after a bad foot placement  was off. I was not too pleased with my self after this climb! I went on to finish in 43rd position.


The next day was the final and it was spectacular to watch, Sebastian Halenke top out in the final route and go on to win the World Youth Climbing Championships for the second year running!