Thursday 28 October 2010

Looking forward to next round of national climbing series


We've been loving the action and atmosphere so far at this year's Scottish Tooling Series. As sponsors of the series and major prize givers we're also enjoying being an integral part of the national climbing competition.

At last weekend's round two, at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore, we watched in awe as some of the top climbers worked their magic on the indoor climbing walls. Defending female champion Anna Wells was also in good form.

The 20-year-old Aberdeen student won the series in 2009 and is bidding to retain her title. Anna, a mathematics undergraduate, will compete again in the third round of the nail-biting STS at Transition Extreme in Aberdeen this Saturday.

Anna, who has been climbing since she was eight, said: “I like the challenge of this indoor competition. It’s very difficult and requires a lot of mental focus and physical power. And I am still learning a lot but I would love to be the winner again this year.”

The 2010 STS comprises a series of five competitions across Scotland. Saturday is the third round in the series, and the final will be held at EICA Ratho, near Edinburgh, on November 27.

The competition has attracted climbing pros such as Kev Shields and Scott Muir.

Junior stars include Stevie Addison and Jonathan Field, who are both members of the British Junior Climbing Team.

The STS, now in its third year, tests climbers’ skills as they scale indoor climbing walls using ice axes and winter climbing boots, instead of bare hands and rock shoes.

Dry tooling is a discipline of climbing rock that is more often utilised outdoors on rock.

It has developed because there are times when climbers need to move from ice, where axes and crampons are most useful, to sections of rock face. On the rock they must be proficient at finding the right nooks, crannies and holds to make secure moves while still using the axes and crampons. And like so many winter sports, the discipline has been turned into a competition.

On Saturday Aberdeen spectators can watch the thrilling contest as climbers bid to complete a range of tough routes on the indoor walls without falling or weighting the rope.

As well as bidding for a podium position in one of three age categories for both male and female climbers, Big Tree Campervans have put up a host of great prizes. We are giving away a three-day hire of a Big Tree Campervan to the overall male and female winners in age categories 16-40 and 40+. For juniors there’s a climbing rope prize.

After Aberdeen, the series heads to the Ice factor, near Kinlochleven on November 13. Come and say Hi to us at any of the events. We'll be delighted to chat and to show you around one of our fab campervans.


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