Rock climbing makes its debut at State Games
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- Created on Monday, 02 August 2010 04:02
- Written by Nathan
Photo by Bryan Oller, The Gazette
By CHENG SIO, THE GAZETTE
One of the objectives of the Rocky Mountain State Games is to showcase the skills and dreams of athletes all across the region.
Another objective could be for friends and family to engage in friendly competition.
Such was the occurrence Sunday at CityROCK Climbing Center, the site of a new State Games sport: rock climbing.
For instance, take the case of Tyler Youngwerth, who won the girls Junior Division.
The 17-year-old soon-to-be senior at Cheyenne Mountain High School is an accomplished indoor rock climber. Youngwerth placed second at the Sport Climbing Series Youth National Championships last month and will head to the International Federation of Sport Climbing World Youth Championship for the second straight year in September.
Youngwerth and her twin sister, Jesse — who missed qualifying for the world championships by one spot, have been climbing since they were 3 and competing since they were 8. As Tyler says, it’s a “really fun job.”
However, the States Games, compared to her competitions could be just what the doctor ordered.
“In nationals, we usually have an isolation (area), so everyone is separated from the crowd,” Youngwerth said. “You can’t talk to anyone. ... You can talk to the other competitors but not after they climb. One person would go out in a chair, sit facing the crowd. You get all psyched out and everything, and then do the climb.”
For the past two days, Youngwerth said she’s had fun. Sure, there’s the rush of competition, such was the case Sunday when her and two friends, 12-year-old Megan Mascarenas and 23-year-old Jeremy Finnegan, were vying for bragging rights. But the loose environment is what she enjoyed most.
“It’s a little more social,” Youngwerth said. “I don’t get as nervous. It’s completely chill. It’s like climbing in the gym.”
Speaking of gyms, Allen and Raiden PoorBear from Arvada treated almost everything like a jungle gym.
“They love climbing,” said Jennifer Hall, the boys’ mother. “They will climb everything from a house to fireplace. At least here, it’s structured. It’s safe. There’s rope.”
Hall, 33, said she has had to pull them down from the fireplace wall at Mimi’s Cafe and from the rock sidings of cabins.
While Hall held the rope for one of her boy’s climbs, her other son spent time with his grandparents, who are from Pueblo. Allen, 8, and Raiden, 6, rotated throughout the day.
After one of his climbs, Raiden said it was challenging.
“Because the rocks are sort of spread out,” he said.
Hall said her boys have been rock climbing for about two years. If they climb mostly everything, she figures they might as well be productive.
“If they love climbing that much, they should do it for a sport,” Hall said.
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