Story 1: The North Face sponsors Adaptive Climbing Initiative

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8gyNf56rIM&feature=youtu.be

Major outdoor brand The North Face will sponsor Paradox Sports’ Adaptive Climbing Initiative (ACI), a program designed to increase accessibility to climbing gyms for disabled and adaptive climbers.

Paradox Sports is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2007 in Boulder, Colorado. Since its inception Paradox has become the country’s premier adaptive climbing organization, providing disabled climbers with the opportunity and skills to experience outdoor climbing. With the support of The North Face, Paradox will expand its ACI program to climbing gyms across the country in an effort to introduce the sport to more people.

The organization provides intensive weekend-long training courses designed to educate and empower adaptive climbers and gym staff alike. “Adaptive climbing courses include a mix of classroom education, open discussions and on-the-wall training and facilitation over a two-day period,” notes Michaela Hardy, Public Relations Coordinator for The North Face. “After completing the course, the participants and gym will have the knowledge, resources, and equipment to launch an adaptive climbing program at their gym.”

As climbing has recently grown in popularity throughout the United States … we want the sport to be accessible to people of all abilities.

Upcoming trainings provided by Paradox Sports:

  • Earth Treks – Crystal City, VIRGINIA – (May 5-6, 2017)
  • University of Maryland – College Park, MARYLAND – (May 8, 2017)
  • Diablo Rock Gym – Concord, CALIFORNIA – (June 2-3, 2017)
  • First Ascent – Chicago, ILLINOIS – (August 12-13, 2017)
  • Planet Granite – San Francisco, CALIFORNIA (Dates TBA)
  • Central Rock Gym – Watertown, MASSACHUSETTS (Dates TBA)

If you think your gym would benefit from an ACI training, contact Paradox Sports today.

Story 2: Melissa Le Nevé climbs V14 in Fontainebleau

French climber Melissa Le Nevé has repeated Sébastien Frigault’s Mecanique Elementaire (V14/8B+) in Fontainebleau, France. She becomes just the sixth woman to climb the V14 grade.

Le Nevé is a true master of Fontainebleau bouldering. In 2015, she became the first woman to complete Font’s Big 5 (three V9’s, one V10, and a V11 in close proximity).

After retiring from the IFSC competition circuit after the 2016 season, she became the first woman to climb V13 in the forest, and now the first woman to climb V14 there as well. Given Font’s reputation for stout climbing, it will be exciting to see Le Nevé continue crushing the upper grades in other parts of the world.

Watch this video to follow along as Le Nevé climbs La Cicatrice de l’Ohm (V13):

Story 3: US competitors begin IFSC World Cup Circuit next week

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Bouldering World Cup kicks off this year in Meiringen, Switzerland on April 7-8. The event will once again be held at the Haslital Climbing Center, nestled deep within the picturesque Swiss Alps.

American athletes will have a strong showing in the upcoming event. Megan Mascarenas, Margo Hayes, Sierra Blair-Coyle, and Lisa Chulich will represent in the women’s category, while Sean Raboutou, Josh Larson, Daniel Woods, Austin Geiman, and Charlie Schreiber will compete for the men’s title.

This is the first leg on a schedule that includes a major event on American soil—the Vail World Cup, held during the GoPro Mountain Games—taking place on June 10-11. For a full rundown of the 2017 competition schedule, check out the IFSC site here.

Check out highlights from the 2016 Vail World Cup Bouldering Finals below:

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