Local Comps

[tattooed_climber]

i don't gym climb....i'm a gym climbing instructor through the acmg...i work at a gym.....don't gym climb....though, i did judge at the last tour de bloc at THE ROCK WALL (where i work)

i personally found it got crowded there....too many spectators


problems looked ok...for poeple whom gym climb, prob would have liked it...lots of cameras and 2x vid cams hooked up to projectors...


i'm not the best one to be gettin info on the topic...i'd rather solo-aid in the rain then gym climb (which i do do)

[ctardi]

Meingh, I'm climbing in my first comp at the Hangout on Saturday, will I see you there, or are you just helping with the starting stages?

I also work for The Rock Wall, and was there all day of the comp, and found it quite crowded. BUT, this year we roped off the spectators area so that the climbers still had room to breath.

Things I Dislike
1) Inexperienced judges
2) Climbing times are usually too short
3) General disorganization that often occurs

1) It's hard to find experienced judges, as alot of them prefer to climb in the comps, and depending on the category, you arn't able to climb and judge. They always try to get the best people, and prepare them as well as possible, but that can't always happen.

2) Climbing times being too short. Well, if they were too long, that would kind of defeat the purpose of the competition. Part of it is knowing that you only have 3 or 4 or 2 hours to complete your best problems.

3) Ah yes, the general disorganization. If this hangout comp will be anything like ours are, you will have a new respect for the people organizing it. Such as when we were building our new wall, we would get home around 3 or 4 am, and have to go to school or work the next morning. And that's with the comp still almost a month away. The Wednesday-Friday before the comp is crunch time. Get as many volunteers in to do stuff such as strip and wash the walls and holds, repair stripped t-nuts, unpack new holds, organize prizes, hang banners, vaccume everything, build a DJ booth, figure out the layout. Then the setting, uh, sets in. The finals get set, then marked, put in boxes, and put away, the rest of the setting gets done, along with bringing in crash pads. Oh, and did I mention the paperwork? I injured myself the night before our comp, broke my toe, so I set off to the office to help out. Lots to get done, organizing lists, making sure everyone will get the correct shirt, making up scheduals for the judges and volunteers. Making sure all of our volunteers are fed that night. Then there was the video guys in there working to get the projector screens and lighting set up.

When I left at midnight the night before the comp, I think there were still about 10 people there working their butt's off. Got in at around 7 day of, I believe we were opening at 8? Don't remember now. Still lots to get done! This part was just a blur. I was running around all morning, making sure everyone was happy. Then headed out for a quick lunch, and back at it again. During the break, we build the isolation booth out of tarps and ropes, just tied it out of the way, and it was time for the afternoon climbing. I was coaching a few climbers for that. Then came the fun part. Stripping down half the gym and setting up the finals. We also had to keep all the routes seperated into bags, and labelled so they oculd go back up, then the finals got put up.

Anyways, I cant remember the rest of the day. Although it may seem quite disorganized, they staff of the comps are doing their best!

[monkeyboy]

I think that instead of comp "shirts" they should do comp" whistler bike park passes".
Just my two cents!

[Cara_Biner]

too many spectators hanging around...even though it was roped off ( at the rockwall) from spectators...they stilll managed to be congesting the climbing area. Esp parents of kids... and hey i would love a bike park pass instead of a t-shirt...all over that idea

[ctardi]

ctardi,

Yes, you'll see me there, and you'll have to listen to my voice for most of the day. I was hoping everyone would post what they disliked about comps to see if there is anything else we might not have thought of.

Bringing this back off topic... Yes I saw/heard you there. I was the only guy in rec from the Rock Wall climbing in the afternoon, 4th in rec, so I'm happy, and you probably saw me there. Anyways, shoot me a PM, would like to know how the comp went from the organizer's point of view. Heard you guys had fun setting this morning?

[ctardi]

Lots of fun! Things went OK but definitely some things we will improve on for next year. Very happy with everything though

Yea, it's just the simple stuff. I think you could have used a few more volunteers. Judge's shirts are nice to have. Two people for throwing out prizes makes it go much better. One announcing and pulling names, the other tossing them out. Just things like that.