Get ready to send it. Today, students, staff, and faculty at the U are competing in the second annual SENDsations bouldering competition, sponsored by the U’s Outdoor Adventures.
Climbing will begin around 4:30 p.m. and go for about two hours in The Summit, the George S. Eccles Student Life Center’s climbing wall. Competitors can climb as many bouldering problems as they want during that time and will receive points based on the difficulty of the routes they complete- which were all set by the U’s Climbing Team. Judges will choose the top three men and women for the finals, and after the best climbers duke it out, they will announce winners.
With sponsors like Petzl, Black Diamond, CoalaTree, and Deuter, winners (and most participants) can plan to walk away with such gear as chalk bags, t-shirts, and crash pads.
Keith Howells, GA of operations at Outdoor Adventures, said as of this morning, 40 of the 60 spots are taken, and while people can sign up for the competition at the door, he strongly suggests signing up before time online. The entrance fee is $5.
This event is one of two bouldering competitions Outdoor Adventures hosts during the school year. The other is the Dyno Comp during spring semester.
“I think overall these events like SENDsations are an opportunity for the U of U climbing community to get together at The Summit, build each other up as fellow climbers, and have a lot of fun while doing what they love,” Howells said. “For me, there’s no community quite like the climbing community.”
Photo courtesy of University of Utah Outdoor Adventures