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)