Girl vs. Wild NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Last Saturday was my very first climbing competition. Guess what I got second place. The turn out was amazing with over 75 registered competitors this was the first climbing competition for Rocktown Climbing Gym and it was a great success. Aaron and Lisa Gibson worked extremely hard to make this amazing event possible, and they definately did that. Thanks goes to all there staff for such a smooth event.

The most amazing part of the day, was also the most humbling. To say kindly, I was schooled by several pint size competitors. Kids as young as 7 yrs old were smoking me up the wall. I stood in awe, and shock as I watched a waist high climber send a 5.11 with ease. It was amazing, and at the same time made me feel a little like the worlds worst climber. Man these kids were good. Girls and boys alike were schooling the grown ups and we were loving it.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

Believe it or not, Oklahoma has rock climbing. Not just any rock climbing, but rocks that are known for developing climbers that are making names for themselves.

One thing climbers love is a little friendly competition, and Rocktown Climbing Gym in downtown Oklahoma City will host the Flashpoint Climbing Competition on Saturday.

Registration is $40 and can be done until Saturday online or onsite starting at 8 a.m.

This competition is one of several USA Climbing sanctioned events held in the Heartland Region. Climbers are coming from across Oklahoma and surrounding states to compete and climb routes ranging in difficulty and in height all the way up to 90 feet tall.

Those competing have the chance to advance to Divisionals, then on to Nationals, with the hope of advancing to the USA Climbing National Team.

The action starts at 9 a.m. with all youth, adult recreational and adult intermediate categories. Session 1 is all top-roped routes with varied difficulty and is set up in the USA Climbing Redpoint format. All routes will be made prior to competition and given a set point value based on the technical difficulty of the climb. Points are accumulated by climbing routes clean — meaning no hangs or falls, and a climber’s top 5 routes completed will be added up to make a final score.

The afternoon session gets under way at 2:30 p.m. with the Advanced category, and will be a modified onsite format competition. Climbers will be allowed to view the routes, but will then be held in isolation and will be called out one at a time to complete a series of four routes. There will be a set amount of time given to complete each route and a rest period between each. Climbers may attempt the route multiple times within the given time period, but the rope will be pulled and must be re-led each attempt. The high point of each route done will be scored and then added for a climber’s total points.

USA Climbing will award medals to the top six climbers in each category, and best of all, a competitors prize raffle will be held at the end of each competition session. I have heard from highly regarded sources that the raffle has some awesome prizes, too.

In addition to the competitors’ prize raffle there will also be a raffle/fund-raiser to benefit the Access Fund.

Anyone, climbers and spectators alike, may purchase raffle tickets for the Access Fund raffle. All proceeds go to the Access Fund.

For more information call Rocktown Climbing Gym at (405) 319-1400 or check it out on the world wide Web at www.rocktowngym.com

Now I know where I will be climbing Saturday. Grab, your harness, shoes, and chalk and head to Rocktown Climbing Gym for a day

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

Slabs are made for me. Maybe they were cut into this fabulous world for me to climb? It’s possible! This past weekend I went to my first of what I hope is many gatherings. Over the past months I have met some of the greatest that Oklahoma’s climbing community holds. From epic climbers, to kind souled rock lovers, and people just like me. We gathered for a weekend of climbing fun at Quartz Mtn this past weekend.

I amazed myself as well as my good friend Michael Morley. I am becoming an honest climber. Sure I still hold flaws, but the light flipped on. It’s like I had been stumbling in the dark for the switch and finally was led to the light. It felt so amazing to get some decent routes under my belt. With solid success under my feet it feels good. The community shared was great. Meeting and making new friends and telling tales with old pals.

It was a weekend of real adventure! Today I find myself smiling with torn paws and dreaming of climbing adventures that will be had.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

Today was a full day of bouldering the guys ran big problems that would boggle most minds V4’s were run throughout the ranch. We were definately the group to beat. This is a serious group of climbers. The rain should be rolling in soon so we are hunkering down in our teepee. Until tomorrow I am Girl vs. Wild, Jacquelyn Farris

Its 1 o’clock and myself Morley and Jack hit up some night climbing with the trusty ranch dog Chili who lead the way and killed a possum to protect us. The guys lead routes and did it all in the dark. We are in the tent and waiting for the rain to roll in. Until tomorrow I am Jacquelyn Farris Girl vs. Wild

In exactly one day and counting I will hit the road and embark on what will be a serious climbing adventure. I am headed out to climb with big boys at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper Arkansas. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch is located in Jasper Arkansas with 350 acres on the ranch and 160 adjacent and all climbable so I am sure to find a few routes top. It is called “the new climbing hot spot of the midwest” with 300 plus routes set on the ranch and a majority of them sport, and a couple hundred bouldering problems there should be enough to boggle my climbing mind for a few days. The routes range in class from 5.0-5.14a, and the hardest route is “Prophet” which climbing genious Chris Sharma set the first ascent. This is an ideal place to start climbing, and especially to start lead climbing. My good friend Michael Morley just called and told me “I will lead my first route at Horseshoe”, this means its on! Dear climbing gods, please part the skies and shine your favor on me and the gang. We are ready to climb on.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

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