Climbers from Greater Victoria joined Cowichan-area athletes as the Cowichan School District hosted the Choc and Chalk Bouldering Competition at École Mt. Prevost School on Monday, Sept. 9.
Students from Stelly's Secondary and Belmont Secondary competed against their climbing counterparts from Chemainus, Quw'utsun and Quamichan schools at the school district's climbing facility at École Mt. Prevost School.
"Over 100 students participated in this event which was a great success," said Cowichan Valley School District spokesperson Jeff Rowan.
Six of the Cowichan district athletes earned spots in the top three.
Qwu'utsun Secondary's Samantha Smith was third in the advanced female division while schoolmates Isaac Montes and Jack Storie placed second and third respectively in the advanced male division.
In the intermediate male grouping, Qwu'utsun Secondary's Simon Garnett was first overall while Quamichan's Fisher Bleachley took third.
Qwu'utsun Secondary's Jacob Burkhardt earned second place in the non-binary division.
Rowan said the Cowichan district's climbing programs have been run under the guidance of Chemainus Secondary principal Jaime Doyle, and teachers Mark Whitney (Qwu'utsun Secondary) and Trevor Prest (Quamichan) while Qwu'utsun Secondary teacher Joanne McLarty and Quamichan school principal Claire Whitney are also instructors.
The Cowichan School District has been running after school climbing clubs in addition to specialty PE classes focused on both bouldering as well as rope climbing at the École Mt Prevost Climbing Centre for the past decade and the sport has grown tremendously in popularity with students. Cowichan has even had nearly a dozen climb for Team BC and compete at the Canadian national level over the years.
Doyle said the most recent competition is one of a series hosted by the Cowichan (fall), Belmont (winter) and Stelly's (spring), and will culminate in a championship sometime in May.
"Our goal is to create climbers," he said, adding that one of the best things about climbing is that it's a sport that's so good for girls and their confidence.
"They're stronger than boys when they climb," said Doyle. "Boys will eventually catch up with their strength, but for girls who often feel intimated by boys — when the girls start to climb and realize they can do better than the boys, they love it. But it's a very equal sport that way."
Those wanting to try out the sport can go to École Mt. Prevost School on Tuesday/Friday nights from 4-6:30 p.m., when the wall is open to the public. There's a $5 drop in fee and those under 13 must be with an adult.
