Long Lines competition gives climbers chance to show skills
By Meagan Sexton | Posted: Sunday, November 02, 2008
Mykael Ann McGinley, of Independence, Mo., competes in the Redpoint Style Bouldering Competition Saturday at Long Lines Family Rec Center. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
SIOUX CITY -- Jason De La Rosa said it was just him versus the rocks on the climbing wall Saturday afternoon at Long Lines Family Rec Center.
A bouldering competition means participants attempted to free-climb to a height of 12 feet off the floor during the third annual Redpoint Style Bouldering Competition.
De La Rosa, 27, of Sioux City, said he spent three months working out and lost 33 pounds training for the event.
"It (climbing) drains you mentally as well as physically," he said. "It's an addictive sport, because it challenges you. Everyone cheers you on and it's just a real close community of climbers."
Nate Varner, event coordinator for the event, said it took the staff about a week to plan the 40 problems climbers were trying to complete.
Varner said there were at least 50 competitors and 30 of them were children between the ages of 9 and 13.
He said the person who does the most problems in the least amount of time wins the event, but youths are judged differently because they are not required to solve the problems.
"Bouldering is a sport all in its own," Varner said. "The movement is intricate and more like gymnastics movements. It takes a lot of climbing experience and skill to do decent at a competition like this."
Julia Heaton, 49, of Sioux City, said this was her first climbing competition.
"I know what my capabilities are and I can pretty much climb what I thought and I have fallen a few times," Heaton said. "It's fun to challenge yourself and see how much you can do."
Mykael Ann McGinley, 24, of Independence, Mo., said she enjoyed the variety the event had to offer.
"There's not too many people here so there's not a lot of pressure," McGinley said. "We're all working together to get it done and we're helping each other out and feeding off of each other's strengths to get through our own weaknesses."
A bouldering competition means participants attempted to free-climb to a height of 12 feet off the floor during the third annual Redpoint Style Bouldering Competition.
De La Rosa, 27, of Sioux City, said he spent three months working out and lost 33 pounds training for the event.
"It (climbing) drains you mentally as well as physically," he said. "It's an addictive sport, because it challenges you. Everyone cheers you on and it's just a real close community of climbers."
Nate Varner, event coordinator for the event, said it took the staff about a week to plan the 40 problems climbers were trying to complete.
Varner said there were at least 50 competitors and 30 of them were children between the ages of 9 and 13.
He said the person who does the most problems in the least amount of time wins the event, but youths are judged differently because they are not required to solve the problems.
"Bouldering is a sport all in its own," Varner said. "The movement is intricate and more like gymnastics movements. It takes a lot of climbing experience and skill to do decent at a competition like this."
Julia Heaton, 49, of Sioux City, said this was her first climbing competition.
"I know what my capabilities are and I can pretty much climb what I thought and I have fallen a few times," Heaton said. "It's fun to challenge yourself and see how much you can do."
Mykael Ann McGinley, 24, of Independence, Mo., said she enjoyed the variety the event had to offer.
"There's not too many people here so there's not a lot of pressure," McGinley said. "We're all working together to get it done and we're helping each other out and feeding off of each other's strengths to get through our own weaknesses."
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