Climbers set for first championship since Covid

Athletes Mila Piatek, Cara Hicks and Eli Cachatoor-Faber are looking forward to their club hosting the Central North Island Rock Climbing Championships at Mount Maunganui’s Rocktopia and speed wall at Blake Park on October 4-5. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Tauranga is gearing up for its first rock climbing championship since before the pandemic, and climbers from across the North Island will gather to compete.

Bay of Plenty Speed Climbing Association (BOPCA) will host the Central North Island Rock Climbing Championships at Mount Maunganui’s Rocktopia and speed wall at Blake Park on October 4-5.

BOPCA spokeswoman Felia Faber said the regional series was held in Rotorua, Waikato, Tūrangi and Tauranga. The last series was not completed because of Covid lockdowns, and the idea to revive the regional series came up this year.

“We’ve got people coming from as far away as Auckland and Wellington and everything in between.”

At back is BOPSCA secretary Felia Faber and committee members Maeve Henihan and JJ Niles, and in front is athletes Eli Cachatoor-Faber, Cara Hicks and Mila Piatek. Photo / Brydie Thompson
At back is BOPSCA secretary Felia Faber and committee members Maeve Henihan and JJ Niles, and in front is athletes Eli Cachatoor-Faber, Cara Hicks and Mila Piatek. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Faber believed more than 150 climbers would compete across the two-day championship.

“It’s mostly about getting kids involved and getting them into it.”

The championship would cover three competitive categories: lead, top rope and speed.

The speed climbing category would be held at the speed wall in Blake Park, with climbers aiming to reach the top of the wall as quickly as possible.

Former Tauranga Boys’ College climber Julian David, who represented New Zealand in speed climbing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, would compete at the championship.

Top rope was for the youth categories because it would include a belay system that climbers would go up, clipped in the whole time, with an endpoint to be reached. Points would be gathered by using particular rock holds.

BOPSCA athlete Cara Hicks ahead of the Central North Island Rock Climbing Championships in Mount Maunganui on October 4-5. Photo / Brydie Thompson
BOPSCA athlete Cara Hicks ahead of the Central North Island Rock Climbing Championships in Mount Maunganui on October 4-5. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Lead was the category for open and under-19 climbers, where they would have to clip themselves in as they progressed up the wall. Points would be gathered in the top rope and lead categories by using particular rock holds.

Faber said rock climbing was a great sport for children to get involved in. “I’ve got four kids competing in various categories, and the camaraderie and friendship between the competitors is amazing.

“I think that the really cool thing about rock climbing is that community. That’s why I think people should get into it.”

A “have-a-go” hour was planned on the weekend for those who want to try the sport, said Faber.

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