I had a great time rock climbing in Spain with my parents and Celine Cuypers! We discovered the wonderful climbing areas Oliana and Margalef and climbed some great routes.
I climbed my first 8c (‘Fish eye’) and my 14-year-old friend Celine topped her first 8b named ‘La Marroncita’!
More detailed story coming soon! 🙂
Oliana
This year the Belgian Youth Championship was held in Altitude CCM in Braine-l’Alleud near Waterloo. Several years ago, when I was still a Youth C climber, I had climbed my first Belgian Championship in this climbing hall.
Chloé Caulier and I topped both qualification routes, the first one quite short and technical and the other one having a more overhanging part and small holds.
During the observation I read the final route with Chloé and we both were not sure how to climb a strange looking section, a big volume which seemed to lack holds. Our final route had orange holds (in Belgium we have 10 groups climbing at the same time, so we climb on colours).
Chloé and me reading the final route (Photo: Cuypers)
After having warmed up and discussed the route with Celine Cuypers and Elfe Claes, both Youth B but climbing the same final route, it was my turn to climb. The beginning of the route was not too hard, there was only one tricky move just before the overhang and then there it was: the big volume.
Eventually, the moves on the volume were strange but climbable just as we had read it, and then there was a rest at the top of the volume. When I wanted to continue I discovered that the next 2 holds were really bad. I searched for some time and I finally managed to do the move by making a heelhook with my left foot on the volume. The next part was difficult too with small holds, but I managed to climb to the second last hold which was an impossible sloper. I decided to jump to the last hold and I was super happy that I could grab the last hold!
The jump to the last hold (Photo: Cuypers)
Chloé climbed up to the confusing part just past the volume and ended up 2nd. Margot Verhaeren was 3rd. My Youth B friend Celine climbed very well, she managed to touch the last hold and won in her age group.
Celine at the tricky part (Photo: Cuypers)
My friend Pavitra Vandenhoven (Youth B) participated again in the Paraclimbing competition and topped both qualification and final routes! Amazing! The final route was really hard and the routesetter did not think she would be able to top out.
Sébastien Berthe is now too old to compete in youth competitions, but he did a good job by demonstrating the routes, in his cycling shorts 🙂 and being a funny speaker. We now have our own Christopher in Belgium 😉
Results and pictures at Belclimb (French and Dutch) and Climb2Climb
Podium Lead Junior 2013 (Photo: Yves Guérit)
Other awards:
Award Promising Young Athlete Province of Antwerp 2012 (Photographer: Miel Pieters)
From left to right: Hans Van Alphen, Peter Genyn, Cathy Berx and me (Photo: www.nnieuws.be)
Saturday 2 February 2013: the 2nd competition of the Belgian Youth Cup in Arlon.
Chloé and I topped our qualification routes. We had a very technical final route with some tricky moves and small holds. I was very happy that I managed to top out.
Celine Cuypers (female youth B) had the same route as me. She topped out too and ended up 1st. My friend Pavitra Vandenhoven (female youth B) was very strong in the paraclimbing competition!
Having lunch with Pavitra in the Landrover of the Cuypers family
The first competition of the Belgian Youth Cup took place on January 19th. Climbers from all over Belgium and even its neighbouring countries came to Klimax (Puurs).
Klimax in Puurs (Photo: Tom Van den Eynde)
It was the first time in the Belgian climbing history that a paraclimbing competition was organised. Cheered on by the public Pavitra Vandenhoven (female youth B) and Daphne Glazema (female youth D) both topped their qualification and final routes!
Pavitra Vandenhoven Belgian Youth Cup Klimax 2013
Daphne Glazema
Chloé Caulier and I topped out our qualification routes. I also managed to top out the final route which Chloé just missed by searching for a heelhook. I ended up 1st, Chloé 2nd and Margot Verhaeren 3rd. My friend Celine Cuypers won in female youth B!
Chloé and me reading the final route (Photo: Tom Van den Eynde)
Meeting everyone again after the winter break was really nice! The next cup will be on February 2nd in L’Escale in the south of Belgium where there will be a paraclimbing competition too.
Celine and I having fun
The Belgian youth competition season lead starts on January 19th in Klimax/Puurs followed by L’Escale/Arlon on Februari 2nd and Stone Age/Brussel on Februari 24th.
For the first time there will be a new category: paraclimbing. The organising climbing halls will build special routes and of course they hope that a lot of paraclimbers will be present.
I certainly will cheer on my friend Pavitra (Youth B female).
All competitions are “open” so non-Belgian climbers are very welcome too.
Poster Belgian Youth Cup 1 (OVJK) 2013
John Ellison, youth coach of the British Team, started the Climbers Against Cancer project. The website which will be launched in a few weeks.
climbersagainstcancer.org
