On Thursday afternoon, a swarm of costumed climbers surrounded the rock wall in Ping Recreation Center, each with notable additions to their Halloween ensembles. A harness-wearing Spiderman, chalk bag-toting Rocky Balboa and carabiner-carrying banana were just a few participants of the 8th annual Outdoor Pursuits Halloween Climbing Competition.
The event began just after 4 p.m. when the two leaders of the competition, Brenna McFarland and Katie Bullock-Gawf, went over the schedule for the evening and the list of rules for climbers to adhere to. Both leaders work for Outdoor Pursuits, the former as the climbing wall supervisor and the latter as the graduate assistant in charge of the climbing wall and rentals. Registration was $25 for the event.
“I’ve worked every single climbing competition since I’ve been here, initially just as an assistant, working, running around, belaying,” said McFarland, a junior studying environmental science. “But the past two I’ve actually been able to lead as supervisor, which has been really awesome.”
In addition to leading it, McFarland is also one of the route-setters for the competition. In the week leading up to the competition, the wall was closed to the public so McFarland and her coworkers could strip down and clean the wall before setting, testing and grading a fresh set of routes for the competition.
“It’s definitely a big planning process,” she said. “We also connect months in advance with sponsors to try to get prizes and such. There’s definitely a lot going on but it’s also always super exciting.”
Part of the excitement comes from the day the competition is held every year. Outdoor Pursuits hosts one competition per semester: one in the spring with a different theme each year and one in the fall, always on Halloween.
“Climbing competition, in general, is exciting, but having the ability to also dress up and have it around this time of year, which is such a big weekend and time of year for Athens in general, it just adds to the stoke,” McFarland said.
Erin Baumann, a junior studying ceramics, competed for the first time this year and also found special enjoyment in the festive atmosphere.
“I really love everyone’s costumes,” she said. “I love Halloween, I love talking to the people that I know … also my friends came and supported for a little bit which was so nice.”
Baumann started climbing last year at a Womxn’s Climb Night, hosted every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the rock wall. She engaged further in the sport when she took a Fundamentals of Rock Climbing course in the spring, taught by Elliot Remer.
“I also teach the one credit hour outdoor classes, so if you want to go canoeing or caving or climbing or hiking or whatever,” said Remer, a first-year graduate student studying parks, recreation, hospitality and tourism. “I don’t know if enough people know about (those classes).”
Remer began climbing indoors approximately 10 years ago, but eventually shifted his interests to the many mediums of rock climbing.
“Climbing outside is what I’m most interested in, it’s a great way to interact with nature in a fun way,” he said.
Remer competed in the Men’s Advanced division, the one with the most unique final podium. First place in Men’s Advanced was a three-way tie between Cade Spencer, Rocco Piaskowski and Blake McDaniel, Josh Bradac took second place and Remer took third.
Winners of the nine different divisions (beginner, intermediate and advanced for men, women and open registration) were determined by a scoring system rather than by speed. Each climber had to attempt three different routes under the scrutiny of judges watching from the second floor of Ping. Baumann placed second in her division, Women’s Beginner, and found the competition came easier to her than expected.
“I could keep myself calm … and actually follow the routes, sometimes I just don’t follow the route so I’m not really used to it that much,” she said.
According to McFarland, watching other climbers tackle the routes she set is one of the competition’s highlights.
“Seeing all the excitement, seeing some of my best friends and participants, people I see around the wall, be able to showcase their skills, it’s really awesome,” she said.
