How to Watch The National Team Trials and Paraclimbing National Championships
Semi-final and final rounds will be livestreamed on Outside Watch
The post How to Watch The National Team Trials and Paraclimbing National Championships appeared first on Climbing.
The Deets
USA Climbing’s National Team Trials begin tomorrow at Sportrock Rio, located in the Rio Lakefront Shopping Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Paraclimbing Nationals will immediately follow the Trials, beginning on Saturday, March 9. Semi-final and final rounds will be livestreamed on Outside Watch (see the schedule below).
The Team Trials will feature rounds of Bouldering, Lead, and Speed climbing. The stakes are high; the top two ranking athletes from each discipline will receive a spot on the team. For Paraclimbing Nationals, the top three athletes in each category will receive team invites. All team members will have the opportunity to represent the U.S. at World Cups and Championships.
Categories included in Paraclimbing are: Neurological/Physical Disability (RP1, RP2, RP3), Visual Impairment (B1, B2, B3), Upper Extremity Amputee (AU2, AU3), Lower Extremity Amputee (AL2), Seated (AL1), Youth, and Open. Note that the numbers correspond with degrees of functionality, with one being the smallest amount of functionality (more impairment) and three being the highest (least impaired).
The registered athletes comprise a list of who’s who, including former double Lead and Bouldering National Champion Melina Costanza, top ranking Lead and Bouldering athlete Adriene Clarke, former World Cup finalist Ross Fulkerson, young guns Dillon Countryman and Hugo Hoyer (both top-ranked in Lead and Bouldering), top ranked speed climbers Merritt Ernsberger and Callie Close, former Paraclimbing World Cup Gold medalists Brian Zarzuela and Benjamin Mayforth, and so many others. A complete list of registered athletes for the Trials and Paraclimbing Nationals may be found here.
[Also Read: Veterans Battle Youth Standouts at USA Climbing’s National Championships]
The Current Team
There are a number of athletes who have already qualified via Olympic qualification or eligibility for the Olympic Qualifying Series. Note that these athletes do not need to participate in the trials.
For the men, the preselected athletes include Colin Duffy and Jesse Grupper for Lead and for Bouldering; and Samuel Watson, John Brosler, Zachary Hammer, and Noah Bratschi for Speed. On the women’s side, preselected athletes include Natalia Grossman, Brooke Raboutou, Anastasia Sanders, Kyra Condie, and Kylie Cullen for Lead and for Bouldering; and Emma Hunt and Piper Kelly for Speed.
The door is wide open for paraclimbers, as there are no pre-selected athletes for the U.S. paraclimbing team.
The Livestream Schedule
- March 5th – Speed Finals – 6:00 pm (1 hour)
- March 6th – Lead Semis – 10:00 am (2 hours)
- March 6th – Lead Finals – 6:00 pm (1 hour)
- March 8th – Boulder Semis – 10:00 am (2.5 hours)
- March 8th – Boulder Finals – 6:00 pm (2 hours)
- March 10th – Paraclimbing Finals – Session 1 – 11:00 am (2 hours)
- March 10th – Paraclimbing Finals – Session 2 – 3:30 pm (2 hours)
Following the events, stay tuned for results and a photo gallery.
The post How to Watch The National Team Trials and Paraclimbing National Championships appeared first on Climbing.