WATCH: City Rock Johannesburg hosts the South African Sport Climbing Nationals
FONEAINEBLEAU – Sport climbers from across the country meet at City Rock Johannesburg to see who is best.
It was a nail-biting adrenaline rush when City Rock Johannesburg hosted the South African Sport Climbing Nationals.
From 29 June until 1 July, the venue in Fontainebleau was packed with 95 climbers from all over the country competing in speed, lead and boulder categories.
Family and friends showed their support below with cheers and gasps as climbers did everything in their power to reach the top, and become national champions.
“Speed and boulder were definitely the most exciting events, speed mainly because the climbers would race each other up the wall as fast as they could,” said Cally Bishop, general manager of City Rock Johannesburg.
“Bouldering is always exciting and action-packed and lead climbing always leaves the spectators with anxious, sweaty hands as [climbers] make their way up the high walls, never knowing when they are going to fall off the holds due to the intense and technical routes.”
She said the route setters put up excellent climbs that ensured there were close finishes.
In the end, winners were announced in the U13, U15, U17, U19 and open categories, but the main winners at the end of the weekend across the three divisions were Dylan Vogt for the men and Angela Eckhardt for the women.
City Rock Johannesburg can boast that Vogt is one of their climbing coaches, and Eckhardt works part-time at the venue while she is finishing matric.
READ: Africa’s best youth sport climbers converge on Fontainebleau
Eckhardt will represent South Africa in sport climbing at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics.
“Indoor sport climbing in South Africa is relatively young but is definitely growing,” continued Bishop.
“Outdoor sport climbing in SA has been around since the early 70s. With City Rock opening, it has made the sport more accessible and we have seen more competitors over the last three years.”
Bishop hopes more and more people can be exposed to sport climbing so the sport can grow and reach new heights.
ALSO READ: It’s time to climb
