Youth from all over Alberta and western Canada will be climbing to great heights on May 7th and 8th at the Wilson Climbing Centre on University of Alberta's campus as part of the Alberta Climbing Association (ACA) Youth/Open Provincials competition series event.
Youth, ages 11 - 19, both male and female, will compete on a pre-determined route to accumulate points towards their competition season total. This tournament is a precursor to the National competition where climbers compete to gain a position on Canada's national climbing team.
Each climber will have a set time to scale a pre-set route, collecting points as they make their way up the 48 foot tall High Wall Loft in the Wilson Climbing Centre. The routes will be set to a varying degree of difficulty based on gender and age. Each participant will climb on two qualifying routes on Saturday and a semi-final and final route on Sunday.
This is the second ACA sanctioned Difficulty Climb (rope climb) event the U of A has hosted in the Wilson Climbing Centre since opening in January 2015. The team, led by supervisor Lloyd King, has been working for months to prepare for Rope Rumble from organizing route setting team, training and certifying belayers (the individuals who control the ropes during the contestants climb) to preparing accommodation options for competitors and their families; coordinating local retailers' such as Mountain Equipment CoOp, Track & Trail and climbing companies Petzl, Flashed. River Valley Health and their Chiropractic specialists will also be onsite.
"Creating a great experience for the climbers, their supporters and spectators is something we take great care in," says King. "Climbing is growing in popularity at a rapid pace and we want to make the Wilson Climbing Centre one of the premier climbing facilities in Canada. The opportunity to host an event the scale of Rope Rumble in being open just over a year and a half is exciting and we aim to impress further in the hopes of hosting National's in 2017."
Rope Rumble is also an open event to anyone who wants to register to compete. Competitors can be any age, both male and female. An expected 150 climbers will be taking part in the competition series. The event is an open spectator event for the general public.
What: Rope Rumble
Where: University of Alberta Wilson Climbing Centre
When: Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8, 2016
Time: Qualifiers (Saturday): 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Semi-Finals (Sunday): 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Finals (Sunday): 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Registration
Over the phone at 780-492-2231 or online at www.activityreg.ualberta.ca or in person at the
Wilson Climbing Centre (#1 on the attached map.)
Payment can be made to the Customer Service Centre at the phone number above, or in person at the Wilson Climbing Centre.
*NOTE* registration CLOSES May 6th at 11:59pm. There will be no registration the day of the event.
Schedule
Saturday - Qualifiers for Youth and Open
Sunday - Semifinals and Finals for Youth and Open
Accommodations
We have arranged a special rate at the Campus Tower Suite Hotel (11145 87 ave, #2 on the attached map) for anyone attending this event. You can reach the hotel at 780-439-6060, tell them you are attending Rope Rumble to get the discounted rate. The suites include a separate bedroom with a queen sized bed, a pull-out couch that sleeps 2 more, and a kitchenette.
Single or Double Occupancy - $147 / night
Triple - $167 / night
Quad - $187 / night
You must book with Campus Tower by April 22 to be guaranteed a room. If you book later than the cutoff date, you will still get the discounted rate, but we cannot guarantee that a suite will be available.
We have also reserved a block of single- and double-occupancy traditional dorm-style rooms at the Lister Centre (11613 87 ave, #3 on the attached map.) To reserve a room, please fill out the attached Accommodation Reservation Form and submit it to the listed address. Book by April 6 to be guaranteed a room.
Dorm-style room with 1 single bed - $49 / night
Dorm-style with 2 single beds - $59 / night
Waivers
Each competitor must have a properly filled out Over 18 Assumption of Risk & Waiver Agreement or an Under 18 Under 18 Assumption of Risk & Waiver Agreement which will need a parent or legal guardian to sign the waiver for them. We highly recommend that you print it, fill it out and bring it with you on the day of the competition.
Competition Belay Clinic
Not competing in the event? We will need belayers for the event and are running a FREE Competition Belay Clinic on Sunday 1 May 0900-1300h. An Association of Canadian Mountain Guides certified Climbing Gym Instructor Level #2 will teach the specific skills necessary to belay a lead climber in a competition setting. You must have a minimum of 2 years' experience with lead belaying, and must be very comfortable with taking and catching lead falls. If you are interested in attending the clinic and belaying for the competition, you can register online at activityreg.ualberta.ca or over the phone at 780-492-2231.
Food, Coffee, etc. (map)
Looking for food or coffee near the Climbing Centre? Check out the following locations:
112 street and 87 ave - Right below Campus Tower: (#2 on the map)
A couple of good spots for food or coffee.
A few blocks down the road at the intersection of 109 St and 87 Ave (#4 on the map)
There are quite a few restaurants and coffee shops around this intersection that are definitely worth the walk.
There is a food court inside the Student's Union Building (SUB) (#5 on the map) with options for food and a coffee shop and Chopped Leaf right inside the PAW Centre. There are more fast food restaurants in HUB mall (#6 on the map.)
Questions?
Contact Jon Kramer with any questions about the event: 780-492-4815.