Climbing competition in Lethbridge: the first step to 2020 Olympics

Oct 17, 2019 | 12:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – For the 100 athletes expected to take part in this weekend’s Alberta Climbing Association Regional Competition, it could be the start to much greater things.

Formally called the ACA Bouldering Competition: Youth A, Junior, Open, Coulee Climbing Director Randy Prete says the winners of this event will go onto provincials. From there, they will have the chance to go on to nationals.

Those who do well enough at nationals could earn a spot on Canada’s Olympic sport climbing team. According to the official Tokyo 2020 website, this will be the first time the Olympics have ever held climbing events.

First, though, they will have to go through the October 19th competition in Lethbridge.

“For the qualifying round, there will be seven boulder problems that are basically designed to challenge climbers in a few challenging ways in increasing difficulty,” says Prete.

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The event will start with easier climbs that can accommodate some of the younger or less-experienced athletes. The top six male and top six female competitors will then take part in World Cup format finals.

Although the name of the organization only has Alberta in the title, the event will also have people from the East Kootenays in B.C. and from southern Saskatchewan scaling the walls of Coulee Climbing.

The ACA Bouldering Competition: Youth A, Junior, Open runs form 7:30 am to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 19th.

For more details, including who will be competing in the morning and afternoon sessions, use this link.

by David Opinko