Home > Outdoors > Bouldering competition attracts many to Vertical Endeavors
Bouldering competition attracts many to Vertical Endeavors
BY TYLER SWEENEY
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
ISSUE: 76/19
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Jesse Johnston pulls himself static,
while Matt Sahli preps for a dyno during
the first boulder competition hosted at
Vertical Endeavours here in Duluth.
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Matt Sahli pulls himself up while
attempting a route at a bouldering
competition at Vertical Endeavors.
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Jason Hedlund concentrates on his
next move at the No Strings Attached
Bouldering Competition.
Climbers hit the plastic at Canal Park Vertical Endeavors Saturday, for the first ever No Strings Attached Bouldering Competition. Thirty-eight climbers gathered from all over the Northland to compete in the event.
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that trades ropes for pads, leaving climbers exposed and unprotected on the rock routes. With 40 routes of different difficulties to choose from at this event, climbers were judged on the combined points of their five best climbs. The winner of the open category (all skill levels), Nathen Gloe, swept the competition by over 1000 points. Gloe was followed in the ranking by his brother, Jacob Gloe, and Matt Hemple in third.
The hard category proved to be a much closer race, with placing decided by a few points. The final results put Matt Sahli in first, Jason Hedlund in second and Sean Butler in third. The top women climbers of the day were Danielle Rhodes and Meghann Condit.
“It was great to see everyone out climbing together for a good cause,” said event organizer Justin Edberg. “With so many people interested, we’ll try to make this an annual event.”
There was a $25 entry fee, with prizes ranging from climbing shoes to ice gloves, back packs and chalk bags.
All of the proceeds from the competition are being used for local rock restoration. Official results and photos can be found at www.freewebs.com/ropelessind-town/nostringsattached.htm.
