Climbers to test their abilities in Springs
Some of the top climbers in the nation will descend upon downtown Colorado Springs over the next two weekends to put their skills on display.
The American Bouldering Series Open Nationals will be held at City Auditorium on Friday and Saturday with the finals starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets range between $5 and $15. The ABS Youth Nationals are slated for Feb. 28 through March 2 at the same venue.
Also Saturday, climbers of all ages and abilities can compete in the citizens’ competition at 2 p.m. at CityROCK climbing gym downtown. All participants will receive a ticket to the ABS Open finals.
“It’s really fun to watch, even if you’re not a climber,” said Lara Grosjean, general manager of CityROCK. “It’s really exciting. They have commentators, they have music, they have fancy lights, it’s very well done.”
Awaiting climbers will be boulder obstacles that they are not allowed to see until they begin their climb.
“Bouldering is lower climbing, no ropes, (and) this is essentially the culmination of the season for bouldering,” Grosjean said. “It’s essentially a shorter route, so artificial handholds – maybe 10-15 of them – (are) set on a wall in a certain design to make it challenging.”
While rock climbing appeals to young adults, the sport isn’t limited to a specific age group.
“We have many competitors in their 50s and 60s and older than that,” Grosjean said. “We’ll have some Paralympic climbers. One woman is coming from the United Kingdom and she’s in a wheelchair.”
For more information or to buy tickets, visit absnationals.org and click on “Details.”
Jessica Gerstner, a senior at Glenwood Springs High School, grabs some chalk while climbing a route Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, during the high school climbing finals at CityROCK in Colorado Springs. Climbing continues Sunday with the USA Climbing American Bouldering Series 2012 National Championship at the City Auditorium. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)