The Boulders Climbing Gym in Central Saanich is hosting the 2013 B.C. Provincial Sport Climbing Championships this weekend.
This Saturday and Sunday (March 30 and 31) the climbing gym at Stelly's Secondary will host youth climbers from all over the province who will compete in categories including 11 and Under, 12/13, Youth B, Youth A, Junior and Open. There will also be competition in a number of non-sanctioned categories for all ages and abilities.
The provincial championships is the first of three major events scheduled for the Boulders Climbing Gym this year.
"We are extremely excited to be hosting the provincial championships," said Boulders Board Chair Kimanda Jarzebiak.
"The best of the best in the province will be competing and no doubt a number will return to our facility later in the spring for the nationals and again in August when we host the World Youth Championships."
Boulders Gym is the only facility of its kind in Canada and has become known as a state-of-the art facility because of its 60-foot (18-metre) high world class competition climbing wall with a retractable door.
Jarzebiak noted that the facility is quickly becoming noticed by the major sport climbing associations.
"Hosting both the nationals and the world championships is an incredible opportunity for us," she said.
"We are the first facility in North America to be selected to host the World Youth Championships and given that, the International Olympic Committee is very close to adding climbing as an official Olympic event. We expect a huge amount of national and international attention to be focused on our facility at both the Nationals and the Worlds in August."
This weekend, the provincials begin with qualifying rounds from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, with finals in all events beginning Sunday, March 31 at 9:30 a.m. The event wraps up with the speed finals at 12:30 p.m. with an awards ceremony will follow at 1:30 p.m. All spectators are welcome to attend free of charge.
– With files from Boulders Climbing Gym
Upcoming events at Boulders
The Boulders Climbing Gym will host the National Sport Climbing Championships over the May long weekend. The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) 2013 World Youth Championships will be held August 15-19. Visit www.climbtheboulders.com for more information.