1st local competition of the "rope" season.

The Front, in Ogden, hosted the first local competition of the year on Saturday.

Sami placed 2nd, just behind her teammate, Aspen White.

It was an inspiring 3-hour competition with some hard-fought and beautiful climbing.

Nationals - Four More Photos

Lance Hansel, father of Austin Hansel (team member who competed in Nationals in the Male Youth B Division), shared these photos. It is nice to see what a good camera can do. Thank you Lance and Melanie.

Nationals - pictures

Our friend, Melanie (Victor's mom), shared these photos

Victor Chalking Up

Sami getting ready to climb.

Ready!!

Victor on a climb.

Victor with a one-arm hang.

Victor checking his score during Nationals.

Sami at Regionals

Sami - Regionals

Getting inverted.

Nationals - Louder Than 11 Video

A producer named Louder Than 11 posted a great video from the last day at Nationals. It really captures the mood and visuals of the scene.

Sami is seem climbing in the background at around 36 and 47 seconds in. The routes she climb on the last day are covered from the beginning through about 2:45.

Teammate Nathaniel Coleman is seen at 6:30 and then at 8:25. Nathaniel was the defending National Champion  He placed 3rd this year in the hard-fought Youth A catagory.

The Friends

After getting home, I have to say that the best part of climbing is the friends.

  

Teammate and great friend Victor Baudrand

 

Victor's Dad and Brother, Julian and Oscar Baudrand

Zoe Fishman (my other "little sister") came to see me from Boulder, CO

Coach Austin Lee

Teammates (and great friends) McKenna and Aspen

Amy Fishman, my friend since we were babies.

 Coach Kyle McFarland

 Teammates Victor Baudrand and Aspen White.

Breakfast at the Hotel with Coach Austin Lee, Victor, Aspen, and me.  

The Climbs of Day Three

This is the crazy "horseshoe" climb where they had to go up and then down.




Climb #2 had a fun "dive" out to one of the holds.


Climb #3 had a difficult move up high.

Awards

6th in the nation!

6th place!

It was a drop in two places from yesterday, but still an incredible effort and result. The scoring was incredibly tight with 4th, 5th, and 6th place all having the same points and the results being determined on other factors.

Waiting with Friends

My Friend Amy Fishman came to see me from Boulder, CO.

My Teammates McKenna and Aspen

Waiting for results to post

Sami with her favorite shoes: the Mira VS

Done! Waiting for the other climbers.

Hard to say how she will place.

Great attitude! So much fun.

Second climb was good.

Did not get a top. Still good.

First one topped after two falls.

Sami is up next!

This first problem has them going up and down in a horseshoe pattern.

Starting in 15 minutes

There has been some amazing climbing this morning. Sami's group starts in about 15 minutes. There have been two injuries, one carried off on a stretcher.

Right now, Sami is in isolation. It is a room away from the competition where the competitors warm up.

Links to pictures and videos

Sami climbs tomorrow morning at about 11:30 mst.

There are some new videos from yesterday here 

Sami took 4th today!

Sami improved a few spots and is now 4th! She moves on to the finals tomorrow.

Video and photos to follow tonight.

Done!

Sami climbed the third well. We have to wait for results now.

My guess is she did well enough to move on to the finals tomorrow.

No top on #2. Still pretty good position.

Feeling good waiting for climb #2

Sami is the first one to top #1!!!!

Sami is up!

Falls

The falls look scary!

Crux of the first climb.

Kids are falling off of this "bulge"

Starting

Sami's group has started.

These climbs look so hard today!!

Videos on YouTube!

There is a Team Momentum Channel on You Tube.

There are a few of my climbs:

Climb #2 -

Climb #3 -

And there are more videos there of my friends Victor, Palmer, and Nathaniel.

Day 1 - Climb 2

Fall!

The right hand hold did not have much to grab. Truly hanging by her fingertips!