Comments on: UP, Up & Away! Skymasters http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/ Wed, 7 Jan 2009 03:46:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Percy Bishton http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-750 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:11:54 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-750 This was a hard comp to set, and we couldn't do all the things we wanted to do as the organisers were pretty strict on 'safety issues'. I wanted the competitors to traverse the truck, climb in through the door and honk the horn (which would be linked to the stopwatch to stop the clock)! The organisers had no problem with climbers pulling on plastic holds, but wouldn't allow climbers to pull on the fenders, etc on the Ford Ranger in case it fell apart....apparently the Ford Ranger was not designed to be climbed on! Me and Ste set most of the routes on the floor, before the truss was winched up. We quickly realised that a route with 90 feet of horizontal climbing after 45 feet of ascent was horrifically tiring for the competitors (even though Ste could throw laps on the route on demand) so had to tone the difficulty down quite a lot. The finals route was probably only 5.13b, but a huge route that delivered a unique pump that I have never experienced on plastic before. Not good for a bouldering specialist like myself! My thoughts on the whole thing was that it was a cool comp - very enjoyable to watch for the crowd, which is just what the sport needs. We added a time limit to make the climbers go fast - a concept I like to think of as 'speediculty'. A slighty easy level of difficulty so that you have to dispatch quickly in order to win - no more ties for positions any more as if 20 people send the route they will be split on time. You never know, it could catch on.... The organisers were well pleased with the event and I'm sure it will be run again next year - possibly bigger and better though! If i could, I'd build the horizontal section, hang it 20 feet above a big water tank, and host the worlds first deep water speediculty comp. This was a hard comp to set, and we couldn’t do all the things we wanted to do as the organisers were pretty strict on ’safety issues’. I wanted the competitors to traverse the truck, climb in through the door and honk the horn (which would be linked to the stopwatch to stop the clock)! The organisers had no problem with climbers pulling on plastic holds, but wouldn’t allow climbers to pull on the fenders, etc on the Ford Ranger in case it fell apart….apparently the Ford Ranger was not designed to be climbed on! Me and Ste set most of the routes on the floor, before the truss was winched up. We quickly realised that a route with 90 feet of horizontal climbing after 45 feet of ascent was horrifically tiring for the competitors (even though Ste could throw laps on the route on demand) so had to tone the difficulty down quite a lot. The finals route was probably only 5.13b, but a huge route that delivered a unique pump that I have never experienced on plastic before. Not good for a bouldering specialist like myself! My thoughts on the whole thing was that it was a cool comp - very enjoyable to watch for the crowd, which is just what the sport needs. We added a time limit to make the climbers go fast - a concept I like to think of as ’speediculty’. A slighty easy level of difficulty so that you have to dispatch quickly in order to win - no more ties for positions any more as if 20 people send the route they will be split on time. You never know, it could catch on…. The organisers were well pleased with the event and I’m sure it will be run again next year - possibly bigger and better though! If i could, I’d build the horizontal section, hang it 20 feet above a big water tank, and host the worlds first deep water speediculty comp.

]]> by: Joe Czerwinski http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-742 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:38:46 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-742 That is what I am talking about. Totally out of the box. I would have had the climber actually open the door of the Ford, get in and honk the horn. I would still liket to see a little more dynamic nature on or between the walls. But think of the forerunning. Lower the truss to the ground and boulder it. That is what I am talking about. Totally out of the box. I would have had the climber actually open the door of the Ford, get in and honk the horn.
I would still liket to see a little more dynamic nature on or between the walls. But think of the forerunning. Lower the truss to the ground and boulder it.

]]> by: mike http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-741 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:06:34 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-741 Word! When the press releases went out to the media about Skymasters many thought it was a joke. But it's plain to see that even though the format was basically the same as other comps and the climbers were not world renowned; the comp was still a huge success. What I like about Skymasters is that they didn't mess with the climbing. One still had to be a good climber to win. No party tricks needed to win. They essentially put on the same play on a new stage and the crowd loved it. It's nice to see there are still some people out there willing to think creatively and take a chance to put on great events. More comps like this will undoubtedly change competitive climbing for the better. Word! When the press releases went out to the media about Skymasters many thought it was a joke. But it’s plain to see that even though the format was basically the same as other comps and the climbers were not world renowned; the comp was still a huge success.

What I like about Skymasters is that they didn’t mess with the climbing. One still had to be a good climber to win. No party tricks needed to win. They essentially put on the same play on a new stage and the crowd loved it.

It’s nice to see there are still some people out there willing to think creatively and take a chance to put on great events. More comps like this will undoubtedly change competitive climbing for the better.

]]> by: tyson http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-740 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:36:11 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/03/27/up-up-away-skymasters/#comment-740 that is something that could be sold to ESPN. unfortunately (or fortunately) that is what competitive climbing needs. something to bring in the layman. something to bring in the fatasses watching ninja warrior (love that show). if we had that type of event at the xgames, people would flock to see it, and if it was done with the same walls as the UK event, without ropes, over water, it would be one of the hottest shows at the games. that is something that could be sold to ESPN. unfortunately (or fortunately) that is what competitive climbing needs. something to bring in the layman. something to bring in the fatasses watching ninja warrior (love that show).
if we had that type of event at the xgames, people would flock to see it, and if it was done with the same walls as the UK event, without ropes, over water, it would be one of the hottest shows at the games.

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