STEEPTEAM

2012-02-10T12:12:00.001-07:00

Fall Team Feedback Survey

Please click the link below and share how we are doing, and more important what you would like to see from SteepTeam in the future. This is your chance to help guide SteepTeam's direction as we strive to be the best climbing program in Montana.

All results are confidential, i.e. we do not know from whom the feedback is being given.

Thank you all for your support and energy towards SteepTeam 2011 we look forward to this SUMMER and getting together again outside...

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZLWB8DK

January February Schedule

2012-01-10T14:08:00.002-07:00

The Schedule for the rest of the season is as follows:

Tues 10th - practice
Thurs 12th - no practice, rest day for those attending divisionals
Saturday 14th - ABS Divisionals in Seattle, WA
Tues 17th - practice
Thurs 19th - practice
Tues 24th - practice
Thurs 26th - practice
Tues 31st - practice
Thurs February 2nd - no practice
Saturday February 4th - Montana Bouldering Championships

As always the schedule can be found through the Steepteam Calendar link on the right sidebar.

Cody Ice Festival

2012-01-07T16:57:00.004-07:00

I've had a few kids ask about trying out ice climbing this past year. One of the best ways to be introduced to the sport is to attend the annual Cody Ice Festival over Presidents Day weekend in February. A two day, two night event, Friday night starts out with getting all your gear sorted out, Saturday is ice climbing with a guide, and a great Saturday night slideshow. The gear and guides are included in the cost, meals are extra, but usually worth it.

I will be guiding again this year, but all the the guides are more awesome and way gnarlier than me, so no matter who your guide is you'll have a great time and learn a lot. More information and sign-up can be found HERE.

Montana Bouldering Championships

2012-01-03T10:16:00.002-07:00

Saturday February 4th 2012 hosted by Steepworld. See the official competition website for more information.

Shirts for Sale

2012-01-03T10:14:00.002-07:00

We have a small selection of Steepteam shirts in "heather navy" available for $20. All money goes back into the Steepteam fund. See Joel or the front desk if you'd like to purchase one.

December and the Holidays

2011-12-05T23:19:00.001-07:00

Just a schedule update for December

Tuesday December 6th - practice
Thursday December 8th - NO PRACTICE. Rest day for team kids going to Regionals in Boise.
Saturday December 10th - USAC Big Sky Regionals in Boise. Charlie and Kaleb will be representing Steepteam.
Tuesday December 13th - practice
Thursday December 15th - practice, this is the last practice till January 3rd.

As standard, all dates are scheduled in the Steepteam Google Calendar, linked from the right sidebar.

Significant Dates ahead include the USAC Northwest Regional Championship in Seattle in mid January and the Montana Bouldering Championships at Steepworld on Saturday February 4th.

Space Rock Jam

2011-11-16T12:37:00.001-07:00

There's no practice this thursday because we are setting for the 2011 Space Rock Jam taking place on Saturday November 19th. Competition starts at 11am and runs till 2 pm, dyno comp and awards after. Registration is at the door only. Please show up early so we can get everyone registered on time.

Cost is $35 +$5 for non USAC members. The fee gets you gym admission, 55+ new new been climbed before routes, a black light experience, t-shirt, dyno comp, awards and raffle prizes, wow, there's some good prizes this yea!

Charlie's mom is coordinating baked goods to sell at the comp to raise funds for the Steepteam non-profit. If you'd like to help out please contact the gym.

No practice Thanksgiving week, the next official team practice is November 29th.

Bozeman Full Gravity Day

2011-10-27T13:04:00.000-06:00

Spire Climbing Center's Full Gravity Day Bouldering competition in Bozeman is Saturday November 5th. Youth Competition starts at 10am, be at the gym 30 minutes early.

Gym directions and the opportunity to save $5 by pre-registering on-line available HERE.

If you signed up for the ABS Regional Competitive Team your attendance is mandatory and your fee will be covered by Steepteam.

Thank You

2011-10-14T16:23:00.000-06:00

Last night's slideshow by Rusty and keg tapping by Tanner raised $316.75 for Steepteam. A huge thanks to all that came out and partied with us.

Mount Logan: A Benefit for Steepteam

2011-10-05T21:31:00.000-06:00

Thursday October 13th we will be cutting practice 30 minutes short at 8:30pm to allow the gym to host a slideshow fund-raiser.

Steepteam has made much progress in the last year, most significantly becoming a fully certified non-profit. To celebrate the years efforts by everyone involved and showcase our local climbers venturing out into the big big world, we'd like to invite you witness Rusty Willis (team member Justin's dad) and partners presenting a slideshow of their trip to climb Mount Logan this past summer. Mount Logan is the tallest peak in Canada, and one of the largest single mountain massifs in the world.

$10 gets you admission, and for those 21 and over, beer from Carters Brewery. Doors open at 8:30, 30 minute slideshow begins at 8:45. The event is targeted towards adults but team members may stay and watch the slideshow at no charge.

All proceeds go to Steepteam, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to providing climbing mentorship and training to Billings area youth interested in improving their climbing skills through practice and competition.

A huge thanks to Rusty for showing us how sweet it can be up in the big mountains, Steepworld for giving us a space to host in, and birthday boy Tanner Callender and Jim Barron for donating a keg.

New Team Uniforms

2011-10-05T14:01:00.000-06:00

Those attending last night's sign up got a sneak peak of the new team logo and uniforms. T-shirt costs are covered in the team fee and will be handed out before the first competition in Bozeman. The shorts however at this time are optional and are an added expense. We have selected the best climbing short currently available on the market, the Prana Mojo. Lightweight, flexible, and frequently worn be the worlds best climbers, this is a high quality short.

Steepteam will coordinate and cover the printing costs for anyone who brings in a pair of new grey Prana Mojo shorts by October 28th. The shorts retail for $40 and can be found HERE. You may be able to find deals elsewhere on-line. We also plan to make a team order. If you'd rather have us get you your shorts we need your name and size on the list by October 13th.

Some of our younger members may not be able to fit into the smallest size shorts available (XS). For them we will also cover printing costs if the climber brings in a new pair of similar looking grey shorts that fits them by October 28th.

Say Hello to Chris

2011-09-25T16:14:00.002-06:00

Fellow Steepteam climbers say hello to Chris Guyer. Steepteam's new head coach. Punk rocker Chris has been climbing for 5 years, working at the gym for 3 years, and has already developed a solid all around climbing resume. From scary steep ice climbs in Cody, pumpy 5.12 sport routes in Ten Sleep, and long alpine trad routes in the Beartooths, Chris has great skills and experiences to share with other climbers to help take them to the next level.

I recently sat down with Chris for a brief Q & A

J: Favorite sport climbing area?

C: Which ever one I'm at.

J: Favorite boulder problem?

C: That one really cool route in the gym, it has pink tape, I think its a V4.

J: Favorite ice climb?

C: Funeral for a Friend (WI4, 200') above Glacier Lake in the Beartooths, it's what got me psyched about climbing.

J: Favorite route on the rims?

C: I really enjoy doing laps on Becky Crack at Zimmerman if that counts. Otherwise its probably Rockchuck arete at Gregory Hills.

J: Favorite route you've done all time?

C: I really, really enjoy the Standard Route (5.10, 800') up the Tower Innocence in East Rosebud Canyon.

J: What is your training mantra?

C: Anything worth having is worth working for. Work hard. Also, I thoroughly enjoy eating pints of ice cream, horrible for the health, but oh so delicious; I train so I can eat ice cream, who cares about climbing hard.

Chris will be leading our Local Competition Team, but don't expect practice to be all Ben & Jerry's and popsicles.

Sign Up Tuesday October 4th

2011-09-25T15:15:00.000-06:00

Steepteam will be hosting a sign-up session from 6 - 7pm on Tuesday October 4th. To assist us with our team planning we ask all climbers to register at this time. Coaches and board members will be on hand to handle registration, forms, waivers, and questions about the Fall Winter 2011 Program. Steepteam currently cannot process credit cards so we ask all registration fees to be paid with check or cash. Thanks!

Fall 2011 Competitive Bouldering Session

2011-09-17T15:48:00.001-06:00

Schedule Highlights:

Oct 11 - First Practice

Nov 5 - Bozeman Full Gravity Day

Nov 19 - Billings Space Rock Jam

Dec 10th or 17th - Regionals - Boise

Jan 14th - Divisionals - TBD

Feb 4th - Billings Gnar Star Climbing Comp

Feb 10th - Nationals - TBD

Structure:

The fall and winter season is Steepteam's competitive bouldering session which is open to anyone born ages 9-19. This fall we are hosting a USA Climbing - American Bouldering Series (ABS) specific practice team and a local comp practice team. At the beginning of the season team members will be asked commit to one squad or the other. Depending on climbers ability and maturity there is a potential for team rearrangement after practices have begun.

ABS Team Expectations:

All team members on the ABS practice squad are expected to register for the American Bouldering Series (ABS) with USA Climbing and attend all practices and competitions with the team. Attendance at competitions is very important. In order to compete at Regionals you must compete at a minimum of 2 local competitions. Please note the dates of the local competitions and schedule accordingly. There is an additional competition fee of $140 to be on the ABS practice team. This fee covers your USA Climbing membership ($70) and pre pays you for the 2 local competitions ($35 each). The ABS team will be head coached by Joel Anderson.

Local Competition team Expectations:

All local comp team members are expected to attend all practices and local competitions. They are not expected to partake in USA Climbing National qualifier events. The local comp team will be practicing along the same trajectory as the ABS team culminating in a new unique climbing comp hosted by Steepworld at the beginning of February. The Local Comp team will be head coached by Chris Guyer.

Team Costs:

Gym Fees: This grants climbers access to use Steepworld Climbing Gym. All team members are expected to hold a membership at the gym while on the team. A three month membership runs $100 and gives you full access to the gym.

Team Fees: This cost covers coaches time and travel for 25 practices and a minimum of 3 competitions, uniforms, insurance, administration, and other necessities needed to run the Steepteam non-profit program. For the 2011 fall session the team costs will be $140. The ABS Team has an additional mandatory comp fee of $140. This cost may fluctuate in the future dependent with the goals of the program and the number of kids participating.

Practice Times:

Starting Tuesday October 11th, practices will be Tuesday and Thursday nights, with the Local Team 6pm-7:30pm and the ABS Team, practicing from 7:30pm - 9pm. A more detailed schedule is linked from the right sidebar of this page.

Scholarships:

New this fall. To meet our goal of making climbing available to all Billings area youth, Steepteam will be offering need based scholarships. Please contact Thad, Joel, or Jim for a form.

Coach Recommendations

2011-09-11T21:51:00.002-06:00

See the sidebar links for some coach recommendations on gear and reading.

Fall 2011 Bouldering Session

2011-08-28T15:47:00.002-06:00

All dates are tentative.

More information will follow in the upcoming weeks.

Oct 11 - First Practice

Nov 5 - Bozeman Full Gravity Day

Nov 19 - Billings Space Rock Jam

Dec 10th or 17th - Regionals - Boise

Jan 14th - Divisionals - TBD

Feb - Nationals

Thursday June 9th

2011-06-09T15:15:00.002-06:00

The weather refuses to cooperate. Tonight's practice will be indoors at the gym at regularly scheduled indoor times. Practice will be fun and light.

Saturday's trip to Mill Creek is still on as of now.

Thursday June 9th

2011-06-07T15:22:00.001-06:00

Weather permitting we will be at Gregory Hills.

Mill Creek - Saturday June 11th

2011-06-07T14:37:00.002-06:00

Directions from Livingston to the climbing is located HERE. The drive from Billings takes about 2.5 hours. The climbing is on great rock and well worth the time. We will meet at a pullout on the right hand side of the road 0.25 miles past the Passage Falls Trailhead. Parking may be limited and we may need to park at the Passage Falls Trailhead and hike up the road to the rocks. A close up map of the area is HERE.

We will meet at the Warm Up Wall near the road (clearly visible from the road) at 11am. If the weather forecast looks bad and we cancel we will post here Friday night. We should be back to our cars around 3pm.

Thursday June 2nd

2011-05-31T10:25:00.002-06:00

Thursday evening's practice on June 2nd, will be a bouldering session at Phipps park. Juniors leave the parking lot at 6pm, Seniors meet out at the boulders at 6:45. Bring your crash pads!

Cody Trip - May 28th

2011-05-27T14:25:00.001-06:00

Saturday's trip to Cody is a go. Bring warm clothes. See the post below for the additional details. See you there.

Steepteam Social

2011-05-25T10:47:00.002-06:00

The Barron's, Charlie, Jim, Karen, and Lola, have graciously volunteered to host this spring's Steepteam social event. All team members, parents and siblings are welcome.

Festivities will start after the Dirtfest on Sunday June 5th, around 5:30pm. Food, a little climbing, and casual chat will be the agenda. Burgers, Brats, and sodas will be provided. Everyone is welcome to bring sides, snacks, or desserts. If you're interested in helping the Barrons' out give them a call or contact the gym.

Directions:
The best thing for everyone to do is to park in the MSU-B lot on the corner of Rimrock and Virginia, and walk up our street (there is very limited parking at their house or in the cul-de-sac)
A google map is located HERE.

DIRTFEST

2011-05-25T10:44:00.002-06:00

The Dirtfest is scheduled for Sunday June 5th, with registration starting at high noon and climbing beginning at 1pm. Contact Steepworld climbing gym for more information.

Cody Reschedule

2011-05-20T13:58:00.001-06:00

Due to weather, Saturday's trip to Cody has been rescheduled to Saturday May 28th.

Thursday May 19th

2011-05-19T14:18:00.001-06:00

Tonight's practice will be indoors at the gym at regular gym practice times.

Cody - The Island - May 21st

2011-05-16T13:36:00.003-06:00

We'll meet at the Parking area at 10:30 am and walk in. The walk in is along the side of the road through two tunnels and is potentially the most dangerous part of our trip. The climbing is in the shade, bring warm clothes even if the forecast is in the 70's. The walk and climbing base area is flat and lawn chair friendly. If the weather forecast looks bad we will make phone calls Friday night. We should be back to our cars around 3pm. It's about a 2 hour drive from Billings.

Another map locating the parking spot is located HERE

Practice Thursday the 19th

2011-05-16T13:34:00.001-06:00

Thursday the 19th we will practice at Gregory Hills unless weather prohibits.

Practice Thursday May 12th

2011-05-10T15:34:00.002-06:00

This Thursday, May 12th, we will be bouldering at Phipps Park for our outdoor practice. Junior team will depart from the parking lot at 6pm. Senior team will meet at the boulders (visible from parking lot) at 6:45pm. Bring your crash pads!!!

TIMBER CANYON - MAY 7th

2011-05-04T15:05:00.002-06:00

Timber Canyon is 20 miles southeast of Bridger, off of HWY 310. A landmark based map is available at the gym and a web based map is available here and here. Mytopo.com says the coordinates of the canyon are latitude = 45.1722 & longitude = -108.6589. Both the landmark map and the aerial/topo map are highly recommended as signs are often non-existent and roads are sometimes no more than a two wheel track. A higher clearance vehicle is recommended. (Subaru or greater). Cell phone access is spotty at best.

Approaching the Canyon, as the road starts heading up towards the top of the south rim, be looking for a left turn that takes you into the mouth of the Canyon. The parking and access to the climbing is from this road further up the canyon. It is this segment where the road gets rough.

We are meeting out there Saturday May 7th at 10:30am and plan to climb till 2:30-3pm. The drive from Billings takes about 1.5 hours.

For those that want someone else to worry about directions, I (red Subaru Forester with a black Thule topper) will be leaving the Maverick station north of Bridger at 10am sharp. Anyone who wants to follow us should meet there prior to 10am Verizon time.

If you know where the climbing is, you are welcome to show up early as Jim and Thad should be out there ahead of the group.

Thursday April 21st

2011-04-18T11:42:00.002-06:00

Due to the lack of school on Thursday and Joel's absence, we will be departing from our normal outdoor schedule. The outdoor session will begin at 4:30pm for Junior Team climbers at the base of "The Walkup" at Gregory Hills. Senior Team climbers may show up at 5:15pm. Climbing will end at 7pm.

Outdoor Team Climbing Sessions

2011-04-18T11:37:00.003-06:00

Thursday nights at Gregory Hills, Zimmerman Park, or Phipps Park
Click here for last year's map (still applicable) to the climbing at Gregory Hills

TIMES:
Junior Team outdoor sessions go from 6:00 - 7:15pm
Senior Team outdoor sessions go from 6:45 - 8:15pm
All sessions meet at their respected times at the base of “Welcome to Billings” or the parking lot of Zimmerman or Phipps.
Due to a limited time window we will start at 6:00pm and 6:45pm sharp. Account for the 5 minute hike to the base in your arrival time estimate.

RULES:

All team members must have a climbing partner(s) with whom they will not separate from the start until the end of the evening.
Youth D’s are not allowed to belay.
Youth D’s under the age of 10 must have a parent / responsible adult accompanying them at all times.
All team parents are welcome to attend, watch, and learn.
Youth C’s may belay another team member with adult supervision. (highly encouraged)Senior team members (youth B, A & J) may belay // lead belay if they have been checked by Joel or Jim.
Only Senior team members (youth B, A & J) are allowed to walk along the top rim of the climbing area.
Wandering away from the group, horseplay, and rule infractions results in a warning. Second offense and you will no longer be welcome to climb with the team outside.

GEAR:
rugged shoes, harness, climbing shoes, chalk, chalk bag, water, warm jacket, hat, gloves, rain jacket, bug spray, camera. and a back pack to carry it all.

WEATHER:
A final weather go // no-go decision will be made at 4pm Thursday afternoon. If the weather looks questionable, call the gym (25-CLIMB) after 4pm. If the weather is unclimbable
we will have practice at our normal indoor practice hour times. Juniors 6pm, Seniors 7:15pm. If the weather goes bad during an outdoor session, kids will be
evacuated to cars at the base of the hill and wait for parent pick-up.

Bozeman Spring Fling

2011-04-13T15:00:00.002-06:00

Saturday, April 16. Registration 8-8:45 AM, Climbing 9-2, Awards at 2:30ish. FIVE HOURS OF CLIMBING TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Online registration here.

Schedule Note

2011-03-30T13:12:00.002-06:00

The team will not be climbing outside the first two weeks of practice. Our first Thursday outdoor session will be April 21st. The google calendar has been updated.

Try Outs and Costs

2011-03-21T21:06:00.005-06:00

TRY OUTS:

Next week on Tuesday the 29th and Thursday the 31st Steepteam coaches will be at Steepworld Climbing Gym from 6pm to 8pm for kids and parents to ask questions, register for the team, sign forms, and demonstrate the prerequisite abilities for the spring outdoor session. Climbers can come in at anytime during the hours posted above as these are not official practice sessions. All we ask is that climbers do come in on one of the days as we would like the administrative tasks out of the way when the team begins on April 5th. Please see the post below regarding what the prerequisite abilities are.

TEAM COSTS:

Team Fees: This cost covers coachers time and travel, ropes and anchors, insurance, administration, and other necessities needed to run the Steepteam non-profit program. For the 2011 spring session the team costs will be $130. This cost may fluctuate in the future dependent with the goals of the program and the number of kids participating.

Spring 2011 Outdoor Session

2011-02-24T20:06:00.002-07:00

It's -4 outside, but spring is on the way. The focus of the spring session will be on climbing outside, the team will also attend two comps, (Billings and Bozeman) but will not be training for Regional, Divisional, and National competitions. Team members are welcome to compete in those events if they desire to do so. The winter bouldering session is our competition focused session.

TRY OUTS:

Steepteam is not a guide service. Steepteam is a program for youth with climbing experience to develop further skills towards becoming a life long rock climber. Our outdoor sessions take place in potentially dangerous environments which are not conducive to teaching beginners.

All team members are expected to have their own shoes, harness, chalkbag, locking biner, and belay device.

On the first day of practice all junior team members (birth years 1998-2002) are expected to A.) climb a 5.9 boulder problem in the gym, B.) properly put on and secure their own harness and C.) properly tie into a climbing rope.

All senior team members (birth years 1993-1997) are expected to A.) climb a v1 boulder problem in the gym, B.) properly put on and secure their own harness and C.) properly tie into a climbing rope, and D.) demonstrate proper top rope belay technique.

Tryouts will take place Tuesday March 29th or Thursday March 31st, where all climbers will be expected to demonstrate the above skills in front of a coach.

If your kid does not have the above skills, Steepworld Climbing Gym has opportunities to learn basic rock climbing skills and safety techniques through its Development Program. After the above skills have been established the climber may transition into the Steepteam program.

PRACTICE:

Starts April 5th and run every Tuesday and Thursday until June 9th. Tuesday practices will be at Steepworld Climbing Gym and the Thursday practices will be outside at Zimmerman Park or Gregory Hills. Junior team 6pm-7:15pm. Senior team 7:15pm-8:45pm.

COMPETITIONS:

April 16th - Bozeman

April 30th - Billings

May 14th - Regionals in Bozeman. All team members are encouraged to attend. You do not need to be a USAC member to compete.

If you are planning on competing towards USA Climbing SCS Nationals you will need to attend three local comps, thus you would also need to attend either Pocatello on April 2nd or Provo on May 7th. The Divisional Championship is June 18th in Salt Lake.

OUTDOOR TRIPS:

May 7th

May 21st

June 5th - Dirtfest

June 11th

The above dates can also be viewed at the STEEPTEAM CALENDAR

COSTS:

Gym Fees: This grants climbers access to use the Steepworld Climbing Gym. All team members are expected to hold a membership at the gym while on the team. A three month membership runs $90 and gives you full access to the gym.

Team Fees: This cost covers coaches, gear, insurance, administration, and other necessities needed to run the Steepteam non-profit program. We are still determining our spring session costs at this time, more info will be posted when known.

Visit Steepworld Climbing Gym or call 25-CLIMB for more information.

Nationals Results

2011-02-24T19:56:00.002-07:00

Gnarly Charlie and Coltron Waymonator went down to Boulder for the ABS Nationals this past weekend. Out of the 39 best climbers in the country, Colton finished in 27th place and Charlie 3rd. Congrats to both on great performances.

Boise Regionals Schedule

2011-01-05T15:53:00.002-07:00

HERE is a link to the Front Boise's website and tentative schedule for the Big Sky ABS Regional Championship on January 15th.

End of session team schedule

2010-12-21T10:48:00.002-07:00

Here's the practice schedule for the rest of the fall // winter climbing session.

Tues Dec 21st - practice
Thur Dec 23rd - practice

Tues Dec 28th - no practice
Thur Dec 30th - no practice

Try your best to eat healthy over the christmas break and get into the gym a couple days and climb for fun. If you're traveling, try to visit another gym, every major city has one and will usually allow you to boulder without a partner. New route styles and terrain are always beneficial to climbing improvement.

Tues Jan 4th - non Boise attendees 6pm-7:15pm, Boise attendees 7:15pm-8:45pm
Thur Jan 6th - non Boise attendees 6pm-7:15pm, Boise attendees 7:15pm-8:45pm
Tues Jan 11th - non Boise attendees 6pm-7:15pm, Boise attendees 7:15pm-8:45pm
Thur Jan 13th - no practice, mandatory rest day
Fri Jan 14th - travel to Boise
Sat Jan 15th - Big Sky Regional Championship - Boise

Boise Hotel

2010-12-16T14:44:00.003-07:00

The team has secured a block of rooms at the Shilo Inn Riverside near downtown and the gym for Friday evening the 14th and Saturday night the 15th of January. They have an indoor pool and hot tub. The discounted team rate is $55 per night.

Reservations under this discount can only be made by calling 208-344-3521 and ask for the Steepteam room block.

Boise Regionals Registration

2010-12-14T11:06:00.002-07:00

Registration is now open for Boise Regionals. You can do so HERE. January 15th at the FRONT in Boise, Idaho. A great bouldering gym with a spectator friendly setup. The competition will likely start at an early hour and go all day Saturday. We will finalize our hotel selection for Friday and Saturday night this week at practice.

Anyone who competed in two local competitions this fall (Bozeman and Billings) and is a registered member of USA Climbing may compete with the opportunity to receive an invite to Nationals in Boulder Colorado in February. As of now, there are only 10 team members that are eligible to compete for a Nationals spot in Boise. Anyone who does not meet the above competition and membership criteria may still compete but will not have a chance to move on to Nationals.

The Regional competition is done in an on-sight format, different than what we're used to. In order to properly prepare kids for the competition, starting in January the senior team practices will be only open to kids competing at Regionals. While I dislike splitting the team in this manner, the Regional competition is a large investment for those attending, both in terms of time, money, and emotion. Anything less than proper preparation for the competition would be a disservice to those that are making that investment. Junior team practices will be open to all climbers with assorted activities and new routes available for everyone to try.

Competition Week

2010-11-28T19:48:00.002-07:00

Friday and Saturday, Steepworld will be hosting the Space Rock Jam 2010. The gym will be closed during preparation Wednesday and Thursday, and will open back up for the Adult Comp Friday at 6pm. The Youth Comp starts at 11am Saturday morning.

SPACE ROCK JAM 2010

2010-11-10T13:24:00.003-07:00

On Friday December 3rd Steepworld Climbing Gym will be hosting its 4th annual Rock Jam bouldering competition, the SPACE ROCK JAM 2010. The gym will be decorated out in black lights so wear your day-glow.

Adults climb Friday night December 3rd 6pm - 9:30pm while the USAC ABS Youth climb Saturday morning December 4th 11am - 2pm. Both comps will host a dyno competition after the main event.

$35 gets you on the wall climbing, a t-shirt, and a raffle ticket. Youth comp non-USAC members will be charged an additional $5 surcharge.

Bozeman Full Gravity Day

2010-10-26T15:58:00.003-06:00

November 6th at Spire Climbing Center. Click the title to link to the Spire Climbing Center Web page. The competition starts at 10am and runs until 1pm, with awards followed after. Be at the gym at 9:30am. Costs are $35 if you sign up in advance online (link: HERE). Also EVERYONE will need a new waiver filled out even if you climbed at last years competition. Waivers can be found HERE.

Our fall session is focusing on competitive climbing and our goal as a team is to have everyone climb at regionals in Boise on January 15th. To qualify for regionals you need to climb at both the Bozeman competition and the Billings competition on December 4th. You also must be registered with the USAC before the Bozeman comp (see post below). If anyone is having trouble with online registration or finding travel arrangements please let us know.

Join USA Climbing

2010-10-19T15:13:00.003-06:00

To compete as a team at Regionals in Boise on January 15th, all team members need to A. join USA Climbing ($55) before Nov 6th and B. attend both the Bozeman (Nov 6th) and Billings (Dec 4th) ABS bouldering competitions. Join or renew your USA Climbing membership here.

The Status of the Junior // Senior Teams

2010-10-14T15:26:00.005-06:00

We sat down, looked at who was committed to the team for this fall's session, and made an interesting realization. Collectively as a team we have greatly improved in the past year, especially our younger members. A simple life lesson was brought back to light, "our age does not define how strong we can climb." (or do most anything for that matter)

With this rediscovery we are redefining the Junior and Senior teams to be only a division of age, not ability. This fall both teams will be doing the same workouts and given the same 75 minutes of practice time. Seeing as abilities across the board have come up to a similar level, I think it is best to have kids of similar ages practicing together. With that, I ask all team members born 1998 or later attend the Junior team practices and those born in 1997 or earlier attend the senior team practices.

If a climber has a conflicting schedule with their respected practice time talk to us and we can work something out. Any questions please don't hesitate ask.

Fall Bouldering Session 2010

2010-09-19T21:53:00.003-06:00

Schedule Highlights:

Oct 19th - practice starts

Nov 6th - Spire Full Gravity Day Competition, Bozeman

Dec 4th - Space Rock Jam Competition, Billings

Jan 15th - Regional Championship, Boise

Expectations:

The fall session is Steepteam's competitive bouldering session. We will resume our focus on outdoor climbing in the spring. All team members are expected to register for the American Bouldering Series (ABS) with USA Climbing and attend all competitions with the team.

Costs:

All team members are expected to have a gym membership ($35 monthly, $120 for 4 months) In addition team fees (coaches, shirts, etc) for the fall session will again be $100. Estimated local competition entry fees will run $25-$35 and the regional championship in Boise running around $50-$75.

Practice:

Starting Tuesday October 19th, practices will be Tuesday and Thursday nights, with the Junior Team (Youth Category C and D practicing from 6pm-7:15pm and the Senior Team (Youth Category B, A, and J) practicing from 7:15pm - 8:45pm. A more detailed schedule is linked from the right sidebar of this page.

Youth D: born in 2000 or later
Youth C: born in 1998 and 1999
Youth B: born in 1996 and 1997
Youth A: born in 1994 and 1995
Junior: born in 1992 and 1993

Steepteam Fall 2010 Calendar

2010-08-29T17:49:00.002-06:00

The planned schedule is up for the Fall 2010 Bouldering Season. You can find the calendar HERE or the link on the right sidebar. Expectations and costs will be posted in the next couple weeks.

FALL 2010 SEASON

2010-08-13T10:41:00.002-06:00

The fall 2010 season will start October 19th and will run through January 15th. More details to come as they develop.

Steepteam Party - Sunday June 6th

2010-06-03T10:56:00.002-06:00

The Steepteam end of year party will be hosted by Charlie Barron and his parents, Jim and Karen. They have some boulders in their backyard so bring your crash pad and shoes, there might be some first ascents up for grabs.

Festivities will start after the dirtfest on Sunday June 6th, around 5:30pm. Food, a little climbing, and casual chat will be the agenda. If you're interested in helping the Barrons' out give them a call or contact the gym.

Directions:
The best thing for everyone to do is to park in the MSU-B lot on the corner of Rimrock and Virginia, and walk up our street (there is very limited parking at our house or in the cul-de-sac)
A google map is located HERE.

Practice Thursday May 26th

2010-05-26T15:07:00.001-06:00

Thursday's practice will be our last practice until the DirtFest on June 6th. I unfortunately will be out of town on business. Ryan, Thad, and Jim will be running practice.

End of Season Party

2010-05-25T17:13:00.002-06:00

The Barrons, Charlie, Jim & Karen, have graciously volunteered to host our season wrap up party on June 6th after the Dirtfest (5:30pm). It will be a casual evening of food, activities, small talk, and team awards. I'm sure They'd appreciate any assistance you may be willing to provide. You can contact them via the phone list or contact the gym. We'll post directions to their house as we get closer to the date.

The Final Exam!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-21T11:18:00.003-06:00

A take home exam (images above) was given out at Tuesday's practice. While not mandatory, if the exam is turned in completed at Tuesday's practice on the 25th, the climber will receive $10 on their account at Steepworld.

the Last of the Spring Session

2010-05-18T15:52:00.003-06:00

MAY
Tuesday 18th - Steepworld
Thursday 20th - Gregory Hills
Saturday 22nd - 10am - Zimmerman Park Bouldering Tour, bring your crash pad. Due to the size of the team and limited number of routes in east Rosebud we've had to reschedule to something more feasible for a group of our size.
Tuesday 25th - Steepworld
Thursday 27th - Gregory Hills - Last team practice

JUNE
Sunday 6th - Dirtfest outdoor comp / climbing festival. 1pm Zimmerman Park.

Like last year we may have an end of season party if any parents are willing to host such an event.

Cody - Saturday the 15th

2010-05-14T10:32:00.001-06:00

I was told some people were still a little lost on the map to Cody. Follow the link to a google map showing where we will be meeting up at 10:30am. HERE.

Thursday Night Practice 5-13-2010

2010-05-13T16:19:00.000-06:00

Tonight we will be at Gregory Hills

Cody Trip Re-scheduled

2010-05-07T10:08:00.002-06:00

Due to weather the Cody trip has been re-scheduled for Saturday May 15th. Same time and same location.

Thursday May 6th

2010-05-06T12:45:00.001-06:00

Practice will be inside tonight at regularly scheduled times.

Cody Trip - Saturday May 8th

2010-05-05T12:30:00.002-06:00

We'll meet at the Parking area at 10:30 am and walk in. The climbing is in the shade, bring warm clothes even if the forecast is in the 70's. The walk and climbing base area is flat and lawn chair friendly. Parents of youth D climbers will be asked to belay so come ready, we've got harnesses. If the weather forecast looks bad we will make phone calls Friday night. We should wrap up around 3pm. It's about a 2 hour drive from Billings.

Thursday April 29th

2010-04-29T13:27:00.001-06:00

Due to the weather, practice on Thursday April 29th will be inside at the gym at the regularly scheduled time. 6pm Junior Team - 7:15 Senior Team. See you there.

Timber Canyon

2010-04-21T20:38:00.005-06:00

We are meeting out there Saturday April 24th at 10:30am and plan to climb till 2:30-3pm. The drive from Billings takes about 1.5 hours.

For those that want someone else to worry about directions, Jim or myself will be leaving the Maverick station north of Bridger at 10am. Anyone who wants to follow us should meet there prior to 10am Verizon time.

Thursday night outdoor sessions

2010-04-13T16:42:00.001-06:00

click on image to enlarge

Week of April 4th - 10th

2010-04-02T10:09:00.002-06:00

A couple of tweaks to the schedule. nothing has changed since we announce the Harvest session on Tuesday.

Tuesday April 6th - practice on the walls at Harvest Church in the Heights. All climbers need a harness.

Thursday April 8th - practice at Steepworld. harness required.

Saturday April 10th - Spire Spring Fling Climbing Competition. Spire Climbing Center. Gym opens at 8am. Competition starts at 9am. Awards around 2:30. register online here.

Updates

2010-03-29T15:07:00.002-06:00

Yes, there is practice the week of spring break. All kids need their own harness this week. We will be going outside soon and in order for kids to be comfortable with the safety techniques they need to have a full understanding of their gear. What better way than to practice those techniques in a safe controlled environment like the gym.

Also there will be practice on Thursday April 8th. It was previously labeled as no practice.

The Spire Spring Fling is Saturday April 10th. It is a roped climbing competition. It is not a mandatory event unless you are competing in the USA Climbing SCS series. It is a fun event however. Info on times and Sign up on-line here.

First Day of Practice

2010-03-08T09:18:00.003-07:00

Who's excited?!?
Practice starts this Tuesday, March 9th.

Junior Team 6-7:15
Senior Team 7:15 - 8:45

As usual on the first day of practice we will have a team parent meeting in the gym at 7:10 to go over the outline for this spring and answer any questions.

registration is available at the gym before and during practice.
See you there.

Spring 2010 Session Schedule

2010-02-21T15:14:00.004-07:00

Steepteam Spring 2010 Program

a google calendar of the below is available by clicking on the "STEEPTEAM CALENDAR" on the right sidebar.

March 9th - first practice, focus on technique and fitness

March 18th - no practice

March 20th - Steepfest 2010 Climbing Competition

March 23rd - first rope practice, everyone needs a harness

April 8th - no practice

April 10th - Spire Spring Fling roped climbing competition in Bozeman

April 15th - first outdoor Thursday practice weather permitting

April 24th - outdoor climbing at Timber Canyon east of Bridger

May 8th - outdoor climbing in Cody

May 22 - outdoor climbing in East Rosebud Canyon

June 5th - Zimmerman Park Dirtfest outdoor bouldering competition

Junior team practices at 6pm - 7:15pm

Senior team practices at 7:15pm - 8:45pm

weather permitting, after April 15th Thursday practices will be outside. ALL KIDS NEED THEIR OWN HARNESS.

Costs:

3 month gym membership + team fees. Costs should be similar to previous sessions. Climbing competitions have an additional registration fee.

USA Climbing Sport Climbing Series (SCS)

kids interested at competing for a shot at nationals will need to register with the USAC and compete in three local comps and Regionals. Information regarding the SCS can be found here. Due to large travel requirements and a growing collective interest in outdoor climbing, the team has decided to place emphasis on progressing our outdoor skills through outdoor practices and trips, climbers competing in the SCS will need to manage their own travel and competition registration. I am available to handle any questions regarding such.

Happy Valentines

2010-02-10T16:42:00.003-07:00

from Dani's finger to you.

Cody Ice Festival

2010-01-20T18:31:00.003-07:00

I've had many kids ask about trying out ice climbing this past year. One of the best ways to be introduced to the sport is to attend the annual Cody Ice Festival over Presidents Day weekend in February. A two day, two night event, with Friday night getting all your gear sorted out, Saturday ice climbing with a guide, and a great Saturday night slideshow. The gear and guides are included in the cost, meals are extra, but usually worth it.

I have guided the past two years at the event, unsure as of yet if I will do so again this year. More information and sign-up can be found here.

Fall Wrap Up

2010-01-19T15:34:00.002-07:00

We had 18 climbers climb at Regionals this past Saturday, and 4 climbers received invites to Nationals, Ben, Charlie, Matt McGrail, and Emma Murter. As a bonus to everyone's hard work Steepteam finished in a very, very, very close 2nd place to Team Momentun from Salt Lake. A lot of kids faced some very difficult routes and set the bar for expectations in the coming future. Regionals wraps up our Fall // Winter session, We will start up again on March 9th with a more outdoor focused agenda.

Regionals Week

2010-01-12T10:37:00.002-07:00

Tuesday : Mock onsight climbing comp
Wednesday - Friday : Mandatory rest days, no climbing, and no practice on Thursday
Saturday : Regionals at Spire. Know your time to be in isolation and don't miss it! Event schedule posted HERE.

REGIONALS

2010-01-06T18:06:00.002-07:00

Bozeman - Spire Climbing Gym
The schedule for Saturday the 16th is posted here note the early start time for certain categories. Estimated event wrap-up is targeted to be around 6pm.

The sign-up deadline is MIDNIGHT SATURDAY JANUARY 9th.
you do not need to be a USAC member to compete, the event is open to all.
The link to register is here.

We will be having a team discussion regarding plans for our spring session during some downtime at the Bozeman comp. I'll let parents know what time that will be the day of. We will tentatively start practice on March 9th.

Holiday Updates

2009-12-17T15:59:00.005-07:00

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

2009-11-30T21:16:00.002-07:00

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

2009-11-30T21:03:00.002-07:00

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

2009-11-11T14:19:00.003-07:00

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

2009-11-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

Follow the link

Phipps, USAC, and Bozeman Registration

2009-10-29T21:28:00.004-06:00

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

2009-10-01T22:00:00.000-06:00

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

2009-09-30T15:26:00.001-06:00

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

2009-09-29T22:05:00.001-06:00

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

2009-07-15T20:49:00.001-06:00

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

2009-07-13T19:03:00.002-06:00

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

2009-06-27T14:08:00.003-06:00

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

2009-06-16T21:51:00.002-06:00

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

2009-06-05T13:55:00.001-06:00

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

Dirtfest

2009-06-03T13:14:00.002-06:00

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

2009-05-29T09:27:00.003-06:00

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

2009-05-19T21:22:00.003-06:00

Competition Registration here.

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

2009-05-17T20:21:00.002-06:00

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

2009-05-13T13:13:00.002-06:00

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

2009-05-05T12:55:00.003-06:00

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

2009-05-03T23:03:00.003-06:00

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

2009-04-29T22:18:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-28T08:37:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-27T16:20:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-21T14:41:00.003-06:00

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

2009-04-19T18:52:00.003-06:00

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

2009-04-15T01:02:00.001-06:00

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

Regarding Bozeman.......

2009-04-14T23:33:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-08T15:25:00.002-06:00

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

2009-03-30T22:03:00.004-06:00

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.