Petro-Canada FACE Grants for Andrew Wilson and Alannah Yip

Alannah Yip and Climb Base5 head coach Andrew Wilson have received a 2017 Petro-Canada Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE) grant.

The annual grant goes to 55 potential Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their coaches. The funding is up to $10,000 and will go towards training, travel and other costs associated with Olympic competition.

Alannah Yip has had a breakthrough year, first by winning Lead, Speed and Boulder at Canadian nationals to become a triple-crown champion and then by climbing Division Bell, her first 5.13d, and Pulse 5.14a for her first of the grade.

Earlier this year, Yip finished fifth at the IFSC Chongquing Bouldering World Cup. A few months later, she ended up in ninth at the IFSC Navi Mumbai Bouldering World Cup.

Wilson has been a leading coach in Canadian climbing for years. He started climbing around the age of 15 in North Vancouver. He studied coaching and exercise science at the University of British Columbia.

He has over two decades of experience and was the head coach of Canada’s national climbing team. Since 1988, Petro-Canada has supported over 2,900 athletes and coaches on their way to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Our soon-to-be 24-year old team athlete just sent Cheakamus Canyon's Pulse, the first 5.14a ever established in Canada…. And with borrowed gear no less! She's the first female ascent and it's a pretty amazing accomplishment for any Canadian #ohcanada #itsnotthegear . . ? from @alannah_yip – So so so happy to have sent Pulse 5.14a today! This route is special to me because it was the first 5.14 in Canada ??. Not only was it my first of the grade, but also a FFA! • For all intents and purposes it shouldn't have gone – it was my fourth try of the day so I was exhausted, and I was so scatterbrained that I forgot my harness at home. Luckily I could borrow one and kept it together for the send! • Thanks to @philip_quade for the amazing shot, @miles_adamson @jj_mah @seanbea for all the belays, and my sponsors @scarpana @skratchlabs @climbbase5gym for all of your support.

A post shared by Climb Base5 (@climbbase5gym) on Sep 15, 2017 at 8:21am PDT