Future Olympians climb for Australian selection

FUTURE Olympians will be on show when the Climbing Jungle at Ballina hosts a national youth competition at its indoor complex.

Sport Climbing Australia has announced its four-day National Youth Championships in boulder and lead events will be held at Ballina from May 15–18.

Australian champions will be crowned in each division as part of the selection process for the national youth team.

Indoor rock climbing (sports climbing) has grown in popularity and will be part of the Olympic Games in 2028 and at Brisbane in 2032.

Hosting the championships is a major coup for the centre, which features 650 square metres of climbing walls and a bouldering wall.

It will be repurposed for a national competition and is expected to bring 1000 people to the region.

Gym manager Sally Gidney said the governing body reached out to use the venue, which will host a national event for the first time since opening in 2020.

“They approached us, and we thought it would be a fantastic opportunity,” she said.

“We met the criteria in terms of the height of our walls and everything they need to run a national competition.

“It will be great for our facility, and it will help with tourism at a time when the town really needs it.”

Boulder and lead competitions will run simultaneously throughout the event.

Bouldering is a climbing discipline where you tackle shorter, more intense routes where a harness is not needed.

Lead climbing involves longer routes with a rope and harness.

“Our junior competitors will be able to watch a high level of competition that they haven’t seen up close,” Gidney said.

“It will help them see where they’re at and hopefully inspire them to stick with it.”

Sport Climbing Australia has put the call out for extra volunteers to help run the championships.

Volunteers will be used as judges, belayers, isolation stewards and general helpers.

Briefing and training sessions will be organised during the week leading up to the event where necessary.

For more information on volunteering requirements email [email protected] .