News

Sport Climbing Australia open team member Grace Crowley has taken on the USA’s top speed climbers at the 2021 Yeti National Championships in Utah, USA. 

The 18-year-old Brunswick East local qualified for semi-finals after receiving a last-minute invitation to compete in the November 13 event. Crowley recorded a time of 11.95, finishing in 13th place against 16 of the USA’s strongest climbers.

Speed climbing requires two competitors at a time to race each other, and the clock, to the top of a 15m wall with a 5 degree incline. Speed climbing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where it was combined with the boulder and lead disciplines to determine the world’s first Olympic sport climbing medallists.

Full Results from the 2021 Yeti National Championships available here.

The 17-year-old Blue Mountains local was announced as a Red Bull team member in October.

Sport Climbing Australia’s national team member Angie Scarth-Johnson has been announced as a Red Bull sponsored athlete. 17-year-old Angie officially became part of Red Bull’s ranks in October, and will have the opportunity to join some of the world’s best climbers on team trips.

Angie started climbing at age seven and first stamped her name in the record books at just nine, when she became the youngest person to ever lead a grade 31 climb, “Swingline” at Red River Gorge, USA. A year later, Angie set yet another record, as the youngest person to lead a grade 32/33.

Based in the Blue Mountains, Angie is a member of Sport Climbing Australia’s national open team, and spends much of her year travelling, competing, and climbing abroad.

https://www.olympics.com.au/news/ohalloran-makes-olympic-debut-alongside-sport-climbing/

Will Hammersla 20.7.21 FOR PODCAST.mp3

Australian Olympians Tom O'Halloran and Oceania Mackenzie are preparing to depart for Tokyo 2020.  They will be competing in Sport Climbing's for Olympic outing as part of a cohort of 20 male and 20 female athletes.  

The event will be held in the combined format with the winner determined by the ranking of the results from speed, lead and boulder.  

Tom and Oceania are two of 488 athletes from Australia competing at the games.  You can find out more about the team here: 

https://www.olympics.com.au/games/tokyo-2020/team/ 

You can support Tom and Oceania by buying and wearing some of our supporter merch!  

https://sportclimbingaustralia.org.au/Online-Shop

https://www.youtube.com/embed/34s75uFlIQk

Adaptive climber Sarah Larcombe has been named the recipient of a scholarship from prestigious outdoor brand La Sportiva.

As regular competition schedules resume, the Melbourne local is looking forward to vying for a place on the Australian Paraclimbing Team for the first time. Sarah has her sights set on the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) circuit, and would like to see paraclimbing included in the Olympic Games by 2028.

She said, “The gear provided to me from this scholarship definitely takes some of the financial pressure off being involved in climbing. I'm also so happy that major brands like La Sportiva are investing in paraclimbers and the development of our sport, and I'm proud to be able to represent my community in this position.”

Sarah is also an accomplished outdoor climber, who has recently been learning traditional climbing skills at Arapiles (Djurite).

“I'd also love to set some more ambitious outdoor climbing goals,” she said. “Half Dome [in the USA’s Yosemite National Park], maybe?”

In addition to focusing on her own climbing career, Sarah is on the Adaptive Climbing Victoria board. The organisation supports adaptive climbers to participate in sport climbing competitively and socially.

The National Youth  Championships selection policy remains similar than the previous years with the state organisation being in charge of selecting their teams.

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the following exceptional rules are set:

- The maximum quota for each state may be reviewed in the lead-up to the event. Quota will be confirmed ​3 weeks prior to the start of the event. - State Bodies are required to submit a list of selected athletes (including their contact email) for each category discipline at the latest ​4 weeks prior to the start of the event. - Athletes must be ranked by the State Body in each category discipline list. In the event the quota varies, only the top athletes in the list will be selected to participate

- Any categories may be cancelled or postponed to a later date. Categories will be confirmed 3 weeks prior to the start of the event.

Finally, we advise that state and local government rulings apply and may vary at any point in time. This may lead to cancellation or postponement of the event at the last minute. Sport Climbing Australia will act reasonably and consider state and federal government advice. Sport Climbing Australia will advise all participants of any change as early as practicable.

Sport Climbing Australia will not be liable for any loss or damage due to the postponement or cancellation of the event, change of quotas or cancellation of categories.

Access the full policy here

Women’s Combined

In the women’s speed final, Oceania Mackenzie (VIC) kick-started a dream competition with a convincing win against Ella Easton (NSW). Angie Scarth-Johnson (NSW) secured third place.

Mackenzie breezed through the women’s boulder final, flashing all three problems. Angie Scarth-Johnson followed with two tops and three zones, while Ella Easton took out third place, securing two tops and two zones.

In the women’s lead event, Oceania Mackenzie secured a top, capping off a fall-free weekend. Angie Scarth-Johnson reached 42+, securing herself a spot on the podium, while Queenslander Lucy Stirling came in third.

Women’s Combined Results:

1. Oceania Mackenzie (VIC)

2. Angie Scarth-Johnson (NSW)

3. Ella Easton (NSW)

4. Siobhan Dobie (NSW)

5. Lucy Stirling (QLD)

6. Mia Weeda (VIC)

7. Cirrus Tan (NZ)

8. Leah Jeffries (NSW)

9. Roxy Perry (TAS)

Men’s Combined

Tom Farrell (NSW) dominated the speed final, the only competitor to clock a time under seven seconds. Tom O’Halloran came in second, ahead of Newcastle’s Ben Abel.

In a challenging men’s boulder final, Ben Abel was the only competitor to find a top. Tom O’Halloran secured three zones, trailed by James Kassay (VIC), who also latched three zones, coming in third on a countback.

James Kassay put in a smooth performance in the lead final, becoming unstuck one move from the top. Tom O’Halloran also fell just shy of the top, matching Kassay’s high point.

Men’s Combined Results:

1. Tom O’Halloran (NSW)

2. Ben Abel (NSW)

3. James Kassay (VIC)

4. Tom Farrell (NSW)

5. Ned Middlehurst (VIC)

6. Chase Gatland (NZ)

7. Hugo Hornshaw (NSW)

8. Campbell Harrison (VIC)

2019 Selection

We are really excited to announce the 2019 Open Bouldering Team as well as the first International Paraclimbing Team.

International Bouldering Team 2019

International Paraclimbing Team 2019