In its thirteenth year at UW, the Friday Night Bouldering Series, put on by the Outdoor Program, will return to the Half Acre climbing wall.
The event, which is held twice each semester, features climbers from all skill levels coming together to showcase their abilities in a friendly, yet competitive, setting.
The competition will hold several categories for climbers to participate in. There are separate categories for men and women to compete in. Sub-categories include beginner, intermediate, and advanced. In addition, the Outdoor Program will host a marathon competition.
For those unfamiliar with bouldering terms, a marathon competition requires the climber to challenge their endurance. The climber must start with the easiest boulder problem and work their way up into the intermediate and advanced problems. The climber who is able to send the most problems is declared the winner.
Winners of each category will be awarded with a Friday Night Bouldering Series t-shirt. This year’s shirts display a new logo, designed by one of the gym’s regular patrons. In addition to prizes, a raffle will be held. Various climbing items like chalk and chalk bags will be available to win thanks to sponsors like Cross Country Connections, All Terrain Sports, Organic Climbing and Cruxx Climbing.
Competing climbers can expect a challenge. Ian McDonald, Riverton native in his senior year of environmental geology and geohydrology with a minor in Spanish, is one of the Outdoor Program employees in charge of setting the boulder problems for the competition. McDonald, who is known as the “King Setter” amongst his friends and co-workers, takes great pride in his boulder problems.
“It’s a way for me to channel my creative energy and hopefully create a physically tantalizing boulder problem,” McDonald said.
Climbers who have competed in the past are eager to test their skill again. Spectators should be sure to keep an eye on Andreas DeGraeve. He is a senior from Casper studying environmental systems science and is no stranger to the competition. Last year he won the marathon category, a title he plans on defending.
He is also a regular competitor in the dyno competition held at the end of the night after all the other categories have been finished. Dyno moves test participants ability to successfully jump from one position to the next. He looks forward to this the most.
“Competing is an ultimate test of will, strength, passion, and endurance,” DeGraeve said.
While it is a competition the Friday Night Bouldering Series strives to keep things light.
“It is a low key, friendly atmosphere. You get to hang with friends and try out a slew of new boulder problems,” McDonald said.
Registration for the competition will be just before the event from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Half Acre climbing gym. The event will commence immediately after registration from 6:00 to 8:30 with the dyno competition as the finale.
Up to 75 climbers can register for the competition. Non-competitors can attend, but due to space restrictions, a limited amount may be admitted.
The event is a favorite for local climbers and this competition is sure to excite both climbers and non-climbers alike.
