Local climber Alison Vest was the big winner at the first climbing competition at Elevation Place in Canmore, winning the open women’s category at the Rockies Rampage competition on Saturday (Jan. 11).
With the climbing wall pulsating thanks to a DJ and pumped up crowd, Vest was the only woman to reach the top of two problems on Saturday night. Having spent much of her career with the Canmore Youth Climbing Team, Vest was a definite hometown hero, destroying problems that suited her style.
Vest is a Canmore resident, but moved to Edmonton this year to attend school.
The finals pitted eight men and eight women against one another on several different routes. Climbers were given four minutes to reach the top and could make as many attempts as they wanted.
Erica Carlson and Eva Thompson finished second and third respectively, while another Canmore youth climbing team member Becca Frangos was fourth.
“It felt awesome. It was amazing to compete in front of a home crowd. It gives you so much energy. I climbed my best. On my last route I got to the top, so that was a big breakthrough,” Frangos said.
Frangos and her sister Sarah are mainstays on the local climbing scene. Speaking from experience, Becca said the competition was one of the best.
“The familiar faces and the energy it gives off (was the best). Competing at home, it gives you so much energy to get to the top of those routes,” Frangos said. “It was great to see people who don’t normally compete here. I’m sure there will be people asking to try out for the climbing team next year.”
Route setters did a great job challenging the climbers, Frangos said, which made for a great show.
“The routes were quite challenging, but that’s better because it makes you put on a better show,” Frangos said.
On the men’s side, local athlete Simon Yamamoto qualified for his first-ever open men’s final. He topped one route on Saturday night and surprised himself with his strong result.
“I didn’t expect to make the finals, but if you climb hard, you get to see the results,” Yamamoto said.
In a crowd that included many of his friends, coaches as well as Mayor John Borrowman and several councillors, he said he did his best to impress.
“It was really motivating to do better to represent Canmore,” Yamamoto said.
The team begins a rope climbing competition on Saturday (Jan. 18) in Calgary as they march towards national championships.
In youth categories, the Bow Valley was well represented. Tula Sherkat, Manon Mackasey, Albert Reed, Alina Arvisais, Hunter McLaughlin, Sara Frangos and Dexter Bateman all finished in the medals in their respective age categories, with several others knocking on the door.
