Holiday Updates

ABS Regionals Bozeman - January 16th.

Registration is open on-line ONLY. The cost is a bit pricey, at $82.50. I understand those who may want to elect out of competing. The comp cost will include a t-shirt, mostly likely food, and maybe some other perks. This is a rare opportunity to attend a regional / divisional level event this close to home. Climbers from Salt Lake, and Boise will also be in attendance. Plus Spire will have Molly Beard, certified U.S. National routesetter, acting as the head routesetter!

Practice schedule:

Tuesday Dec 19 - there will be practice. No practice then until January 5th. The gym will be open during the break and your memberships are still active. I highly encourage team members to get into the gym for a little climb time.

The January practices are very important for those attending the Bozeman Regionals. We will be simulating regional competition like situations and the information and experience passed along will be crucial towards the climbers success at Regionals.

Fall Results

Bozeman

Billings

Cody

Spring Sport Climbing Season:

Full schedule will be posted in January as details roll in, but expect an early March start date.

Cody Comp this Saturday the 5th

Really, it's happening. Saturday December 5th, climbing starts at 12 noon. Be there 30 minutes early. Cost is $25. This cost covers gym competition fees only. There most likely will not be a t-shirt or raffle.

The gym is located at Core Mountain Sports just across the street (north) from Wendys, just off of Sheridan Avenue (the main drag.) For those who've never been, expect a smaller gym with tight, unique angles, interesting routesetting, and a crowded atmosphere.

Space Rock Jam

Whew, a huge thanks to all who participated and helped pull together our greatest Rock Jam yet. Nearly 80 competitors coming from Sheridan, Cody, Red Lodge, Bozeman, Helena and of course Billings. We've got big shoes to fill next year to match the excitement had by all. Results are posted at the gym, steepworld.com and soon to be up at usaclimbing.net

Credit goes out to:

Primary Sponsors: La Sportiva, Mad Rock, Black Diamond, Five Ten, Mammut

Steepworld staff: Jim, Katie Joy, & Chris

Routesetters: Joel (head setter) Jay, Nate, Ben, Ryan, Jim, Tanner, Thad

Helping Hands: Miles, Jeremy

Artists: Charlie's dad, Alika's mom & sister

T-shirt design: Joel

Space Rock Jam

Youth: Saturday November 21st - climbing starts at 11am
Adult: Friday November 20th - climbing starts at 7pm - team parents can climb at a discounted rate.

$35 entry fee includes climbing, sweet t-shirt, and raffle

VOLUNTEERS: We've got SPACED OUT plans for this years competition. To fully realize our vision we could use a few parent volunteers Thursday evening or Friday afternoon to take on a couple top secret tasks. Must be comfortable on a ladder and keep a secret. Talk to Joel or Jim to coordinate. Also we are looking for a parent volunteer to coordinate pizza // food sales. Profits go into the communal team fund.

Phipps Photos

Follow the link

Phipps, USAC, and Bozeman Registration

Senior Team members and others who have some outdoor experience are invited to a tour of the boulders in Phipps Park this Saturday at 11am. Bring your crash pad if you've got one. Also, dress for the weather, bring water, shoes, chalk, etc.....

Online registration for the USA Climbing American Bouldering Series (ABS) is available here. When asked to fill in your team enter "Steepteam" and "Joel Anderson" as your coach.

Online registration for the Bozeman Full Gravity Day is available here. Registering online saves you $5.

USA Climbing Membership

All Steepteam members need to become members of the USA Climbing American Bouldering Series prior to the first competition in Bozeman on November 7th. Click this posting's title to link over to the sign up.

October 27th, 7:10pm - informational meeting.
There will be an all team parent informational meeting the night of the first Practice at 7:10pm. We will go over expectations, schedule, and answer any questions.

FALL TEAM COSTS AND EXPECTATIONS

First Practice - October 27 - Juniors at 6pm - Seniors at 7:15pm - Full Team Parents meeting at 7pm

EXPECTATIONS:
The Steepteam program operates on a no cut policy. The team is divided into two practice sessions;

Senior Team - 7:15pm - 8:45pm
senior team members should be able to boulder V1 or top rope 5.9
Junior: Born in 1991 & 1992
Youth A: Born in 1993 & 1994
Youth B: Born in 1995 & 1996

Junior Team - 6pm - 7:15pm
previous climbing experience is desirable for Junior team members.
Youth C: Born in 1997 & 1998
Youth D: Born in 1999 or later

Junior team members with exceptional technical skill may be moved up to the Senior team at the coaches discretion. Each team member is expected to be present and have all necessary gear (shoes, chalkbag, harness) at each practice and competition.

COSTS:
2009's Fall Session costs are $100 for team fees and $105 for gym fees (3 month gym membership or equivalent). An additional $120 will be needed for a USA Climbing ABS membership ($30) and 3 competitions (~$30 each comp). Team and Gym fees are due at the beginning of each session.

FALL 2009 SCHEDULE

FIRST PRACTICE - October 27th - Tuesday // Thursday
Bozeman Full Gravity Day - Saturday Nov 7th
Billings Space Rock Jam - Saturday November 21st
Cody Bouldering Comp - Saturday December 6th
Clinic with pros Alli Rainey & Kevin Wilkinson - December 15th
REGIONALS - Saturday January 16th - Bozeman
NATIONALS - Feb 12-14 - Alexandria, Virginia

no practice December 24th - 31st

All team members will be expected to join the USA Climbing American Bouldering Series and compete in Bozeman for Regionals. Some weekend outdoor sessions may be announce at practice pending weather and availability of coaches. A tour of Phipps Park bouldering is high on our priority list.

Climbing Comp on the Web

One of the biggest bouldering competitions of the year, The Mammut Bouldering Championships, will be streaming live from Salt Lake City July 21st.  Check out the link here.

National Finalist

Charlie went to the USA Climbing SCS Nationals this past weekend in Salt Lake and took on three days of challenging competition. An impressive effort qualified him for finals on Sunday and a 7th place finish. And somehow, without really trying, he took a podium place with 2nd in speed climbing. Give the man a high five next time you see him.

Rimrock Roped Ticklist

Below is a ticklist for the roped routes at Gregory Hills. Jim Rott hangs a couple top ropes every Thursday night to promote a group climbing session. Call the gym ahead of time to verify where.

RockClimbing.com hosts an on-line guide to the roped routes of Gregory Hills. Follow this LINK. Much thanks goes to "The Mayor" for maintaining the guide.

A bouldering guide is in the works and a bouldering ticklist will be distributed then.

Team Party

The team end of the season party will take place at the Weiss household at 5pm Sunday June 28th after the Dirtfest Bouldering competition at Zimmerman park.  More details to follow soon.  For more information on the Dirtfest visit Steepworld.com

Dirtfest Reschedule

Due to weather the Dirtfest has been rescheduled for Sunday June 28th. Spread the word!

Dirtfest

The 13th annual Billings Dirtfest is this Sunday June 7th from 12-4pm. A great opportunity to learn and gain outdoor bouldering experience, plus lots of prizes. more details are located here.

divisional flights

DELTA AIRLINES
My departure flight leaves Billings Friday the 12th at 11:40am thru Salt Lake and arrive in Sacramento at 3:52pm.

My return flight leaves Sacramento Monday the 15th at 6:00am thru Salt Lake and arrives in Billings at 11:12am.

Divisonals

Competition Registration here.

sign up by wednesday may 20th

Hotel information here.

reserve by sunday may 24th

the team calendar (see link on right sidebar) has been updated with divisional practices.

Regional Wrap Up

I was very impressed with how our team handled ourselves in the face of some stiff competition and some very stiff routes.  At the end of the day everyone was still smiling and I was proud of how everyone climbed.  Regionals is always a special event that celebrates our community of youth climbers and provides an opportunity to acknowledge significant efforts and successes made by our ever improving climbers.  I hope everyone gained something from the experience.

We had 15 climbers compete and we did some serious crushing!

8 climbers qualified for Divisionals in Sacramento June 13th-14th

6 climbers were medalists - Emily (3rd) Parker (3rd) Ben (3rd) Colton (3rd) Charlie (1st) Nate (1st)

Region MVP's - Charlie & Justin

Region Most Improved - Parker

Region most likely to be President - Carter

Regional Coordinator's Pick - Colton

Great Job and look to climb with Jim on the rims on Thursday nights this summer.  Also the Dirtfest at Zimmerman Park will be the weekend of June 6th.

For climbers attending Divisionals, practice is Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm - 7:45pm.  Travel plans will be discussed at practice on the 19th.

BOISE REGIONALS

May 16 REGION FINALS - Boise Peak Fitness
The registration deadline is May 13 at 11:59 PM MST

AM Heat: MYA, MYJ, FYB, FYA, FYJ, MYD, MYC
8:00 AM-ISO opens
8:50 AM-ISO closes
9:00 competitor meeting
9:10 5 min preview
9:20 first climbers
NO PM HEAT CLIMBERS ARE ALLOWED IN THE GYM FOR THE AM HEAT

PM Heat: FYC, MYB, FYD
11:45 AM-ISO opens
12:35 PM-ISO closes
12:45 competitor meeting
12:55 5 minute preview
1:05 first climbers

The awards ceremony will be held as soon as possible following the PM heat-around 4PM
SPEED CLIMBING will immediately follow the awards ceremony

DO NOT MISS YOUR ISO CLOSING TIME!
See you all at the hotel, I'll be leaving Billings around 7:30am.

Team Photos and Hotel Web Registration

A team photo will be taken at 7:15pm thursday May 7th in the gym during the junior and senior team switch. Please be there on time with your steepteam shirt.

We are also looking for team photos taken from previous years. I recall photos being taken at Momentum Regionals in 07 and Bozeman Regionals in 08. If you have one of the digital files you can email it to me.

If you have not yet reserved a room in Boise you can now get our group rate through our own personal Doubletree web reservation portal located here. The $69 team rate is good if reservations are made by May 12th.

Boise Registration

Climbers competing in the Regional Championship in Boise on May 16th need to register by May 13th.  Registration is only available online.  It is located here.  Do not miss the deadline.

RE: Thursday

This Thursday night's practice (4/30/09) will be at the gym at regular times instead of outside due to the anticipated weather.  

Remember the Cody Comp Saturday, be there at 11:30.  Climb hard and climb smart.

Boise Regionals

I have organized a block of rooms in Boise for Regionals Friday night May 15th and Saturday night the 16th at the Doubletree Hotel Boise-Riverside. The hotel is about a mile from the gym, near downtown Boise, outdoor pool, and pets are OK. We have a team rate of $69 per night.

The Regional Championship in Boise will begin early morning Saturday May 16th. It will likely run late into the afternoon.

Parents need to call and reserve their room at this number 1-800-222-8733 or 208-343-1871 say you are with Steepteam and you should get the discount. We may also have some Cody climbers and parents stay with us again.

additional hotel information is linked here.

The Weeks Ahead

I will be out of town for this weeks practices and competition.

Tuesday April 28th - practice with Tanner and Jim

Thursday April 30th - practice on the rims 5:30pm everyone

Saturday May 2nd - Competition at Core Mountain Sports in Cody, begins at noon. Be there at 11:30. I expect to hear our team was the most well behaved and most encouraging team at the competition.

Practices on May 5th, 7th, and 12th - these practices are mandatory for all climbers attending Regionals in Boise. If you miss these practices you will be lacking critical information to help you score well at Regionals.

A Thursday outdoor session update

In regards to Thursday's outdoor sessions at Gregory Hills, Jim Rott will be up on the rims throughout the afternoon with his college class. All team climbers are invited and encouraged (more climbing time!) to show up at 5pm and hike up the trail to meet him. If you arrive later just hike up to the rocks to meet the group. I will be there around 5:30.

Thursday Nights at Gregory Hills

Starting Thursday April 23rd Jim Rott will be hanging a couple topropes up on the Rims. Thursdays have been the traditional climbers meet-up for quite some time and this is a great chance to expand your outdoor climbing experience. We will be climbing with Jim on Thursdays for the next couple weeks but the opportunity is available all summer to climbers with their own harness and ability to belay. Sessions start at 5pm, if you show up later, hike up to meet the group.


EXPECTATIONS:
It will be dusty, dirty, buggy, windy, hot, and cold, dress accordingly and bring water. Outdoor climbing is different than indoor climbing! It can be harder, weirder, scarier, even painful. There are only a few easy routes on the rims, most routes are in the 5.9-5.11 range. Due to large team numbers and the fact that the outdoor climbing experience is much slower than in the gym, expect to climb only two or three routes. Parents are encouraged to attend and belay.

click the image for an enlarged map

Photos added

a few Billings Steepfest photos were added to the STEEPTEAM PHOTOS page, linked thru the menu on the right.

Regarding Bozeman.......

Spire Climbing Center has asked that everyone attending this weekends competition to re-file their climbing liability release waiver.  Sounds like this may be an annual thing now.  A PDF copy of the waiver,  located here, should be printed out, signed, and brought to the comp on Saturday.  If your parents are not present, and you do not have a signed waiver, you will not be able to climb.  See everyone Saturday at 9:30am and don't forget your harness!

Calendar Outlook

A. No practice this Thursday April 9th, but team members are encouraged to still come in and climb on their own.

B. Spire Comp on Saturday April 18th - $35 - Starts at 10, be at the gym by 9:30. FYI - It will be heavily attended and with a 4+ hour climbing time awards may not wrap up until 3pm or later. Everyone needs their own harness. If you do not have a harness be sure to rent one from Steepworld prior to the competition.

C. First outdoor practice is Thursday April 23rd at Gregory Hills. All team members meet at 6:30pm in the Rockwood Circle Cul-de-sac. Everyone needs their own harness. If you do not have a harness be sure to rent one from Steepworld prior to the practice. We loose valuble climbing time trading harnesses back and forth.

D. The outdoor practice on May 10th will be at 4pm, location to be determined.

Results and Reminders

Saturday's Billings Competition results are posted HERE.

Tuesday March 31st is the last possible chance to register for USA Climbing Sport Climbing Series.  See the link in the post below.

Next Competition is the Bozeman Spring Fling on Saturday April 18th.  Information is posted HERE.

Upcoming Important Dates

Thursday March 19th - Intro to top roping for the Junior Team.  Intro / review of lead climbing for the Senior Team.  All team members will need a harness, some are available to rent from the gym.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Saturday March 21st - 5pm - 7pm - Date was moved from the 22nd to the 21st. Practice at Spire Climbing Center in Bozeman.  Lead climbing Senior Team members only.  

Saturday March 28th - Steepfest Bouldering Competition at Steepworld.  Climbing begins at 11am be there at 10:30am.  USA Climbing registration is due.  Sign up HERE.

as always all scheduled dates are listed on our team calendar.

Spring 2009 Costs and Expectations

Less than two weeks, March 10th, Juniors at 6pm, Seniors at 7:15pm

Expectations:
The Steepteam program operates on a no cut policy. The team is divided into two practice sessions; Junior Team ages 8-13 and Senior Team ages 14-19. Some previous climbing experience is desirable for Junior team members. Senior team member ideally should be able to boulder V1 or top rope 5.9. Junior team members with exceptional technical skill may be moved up to the Senior team. Each team member is expected to have all necessary gear (shoes, chalkbag, harness) at each practice and competition. Rentals are available at the gym.

Costs:
2009's Spring Session costs are $100 for team fees, $105 for gym fees or equivalent membership, and $175 for a USA Climbing membership and 4 competitions. Spring Session team members may elect to opt out of USA climbing and save $100 off the USAC membership and competition cost. Team and Gym fees are due at the beginning of each session.

Steepteam Spring Calendar

I'd like to ask everyone to direct their attention to the spring season calendar, practices, competitions, outside events, all now located on the web ...... here ...... First practice is March 10th.  It is a web calendar that I will keep updated along with this website.  I recommend bookmarking it.

I plan to add team costs and expectations in the following week.

307 Bouldering Comp - Cody, WY

Final times are set:
Saturday February 7th
women and youth (15 and under) 4-7pm
Men (16 and up) 6-9pm
$25, raffle at the end of the comp ~9pm
Core Mountain Sports, Cody WY, north of Wendy's
while not an official team event, I will be present, route setting or climbing.

Upcoming Spring Schedule

Our USAC Spring traing session will start on March 10th.
The tentative comp schedule will be.........
3/28 - Billings
4/11 - Bozeman
5/2 - Cody
5/16 - Regionals - Boise, IDAHO
6/13 - Divisionals - Bay Area, CALIFORNIA
7/10 - Nationals - Salt Lake, UTAH
More info on the spring program will be posted within the next couple weeks.

Cody will be hosting the Wyoming Bouldering Series on Saturday February 7th. It will not be an official Steepteam event, but myself and other team members may attend. More information here--> http://www.307bouldering.com/event.php?id=64