Before printing think about environment!22-12-2013
It took over 20 years to organize an official competition out of a climbing gym. Not that gyms aren't a good place but then it's difficult to attract a non climbing audience. The Club Alpin Belge took this challenge. Full of ambitions, the French speaking federation's team organized one of the best competitions that took place in our country. The place the federation had to organize the event was full of spectators the day of the competition, the show met their expectations. Certainly when Chloé Caulier tried a magnificent depserate try in her third boulder or when Magali Hayen full of lucidity tops out this boulder with very good methods.
The Brussels Boulder 2013 could be organized after a lot of work. Luc Herickx, Administrator of the Club Alpin Belge, tells us: "The idea of such a competition started in March this year. Our goal was to show bouldering to a larger audience and offer a better visibility of this sport." The investment was big. 25.000 Euro were necessary to organize this event that the federation will pay over two years. "We talked with our partners. The region of Brussels-Capital, Brussels City and the local police helped us. The Adeps and Spirou also supported us. The structure was borrowed, we only had to go and get it in the Netherlands" continues Luc Herickx.
We're hearing that this event was a first try to organize a bigger competition. There is a clear willing to organize an international competition. Next episode of this story will be in 2015.
Next to the goals of the federation, Saturday's competion was a wonderful fight for the 2013 bouldering champion title. Surprisingly, only French speaking climbers were in the finals. The average age was also quite low, just as on last april's Belgian lead Championship.
With her experience, Magali Hayen cruised through the final by topping 4 boulders in 5 tries. Second is the young Héloïse Doumont who climbed at her best today wich gives hopes for the future. Chloé Caulier, first after the qualifications, misses her final and ends third.
On the men's side, we didn't doubt of Loïc Timmermans's victory after the qualifications. Apparently stronger, he still had to fight to win. Quite hard boulders couldn't split the climbers. The numbers of attempts were needed to establish the podium: Loic Timmermans followed by Thomas Salakenos en Simon Lorenzi.
Pictures and results of the 2013 Belgian bouldering Championship