Recap, Photos and Videos from Northwest Boulderfest 2018

Canada was in the house last Saturday for Seattle Bouldering Project’s Northwest Boulderfest 2018.

There were three Vancouverites climbing in finals, as well as Calgary’s Pete Woods on the mic to emcee (along with Austin’s ruffled-pink-shirt-clad James Santelli).

Top five men and women made it to the final round. Alannah Yip and Allison Vest qualified first and second, and Sean McColl made it through in fifth place.

BOOM ? back on top ?? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Crazy surprise comp weekend at @seattleboulderingproject for North-West-Boulder-Fest. A sketchy qualification had me going out first for finals and found this cool beta for B2! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I totally thought @alexmfritz had won when he also did the last boulder second go but I ended up with 1 less try ? Big shoutout to him for the silver and destroying qualifiers; also to @nikolaimilburn for completing the podium! Finals had a stacked field with @steezybailey and @drewruana in finals as well! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Congrats to @michaelakiersch for the win and @alannah_yip and @quinn.climber for heir medals as well ? Thanks to the setters and crowd for a great weekend! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?: @seamonkeyrunnn & @jj_mah ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @adidasterrex @scarpana @walltopia @joerockheads @verticalartclimbing @flashedclimbing @perfect_descent #verticalart #climbing #train #canada #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #athlete #igers #amazing #sports #fitspo #gymlife #power #fitfam #adventure #fitness #work #workhard #workout #strength #challenge #follow #ninja #gym #fun

A post shared by Sean McColl (@mccollsean) on Oct 21, 2018 at 1:20pm PDT

Finalists with Santelli and Woods

Hats off to the setters. Aside from men’s problem one, which was too easy (all finalists flashed it), it was a stellar round of boulders; they varied in style, produced great separation and the crowd got to see many (but not too many) tops.

Women’s problem one was tricky but doable for most of the finalists. Alannah Yip got the only flash, while it stumped Allison Vest.

Drew Ruana on the flash and Vest working problem one

Alex Fritz and Yip both flashing problem one

McColl showed the crowd what a seasoned world cup climber can do on men’s problem two. The only other finalist to do the problem – with great control and skill – was Fritz.

McColl styling problem two

After the setback on problem one, Vest regrouped, which is not always easy to do, for a solid send of problem two. Yip stayed on top of the leaderboard with another flash.

Vest pressing it out on problem two

Yip on problem two

It was a tight race for first place for both men and women. Fritz and McColl both finished all four problems but, in the end, McColl came out on top because he had fewer attempts.

McColl on top of men’s three

Fritz giving a wave to the crowd after men’s four

On the women’s side, Michaela Kiersch was trailing Yip in attempts going into problem four. Yip seemed unstoppable. Kiersch pulled off an impressive send of the jump-start, powerful, crimpy boulder.

But then, to the surprise of the crowd, Yip got shut down. Kiersch’s turned out to be the only send of the final boulder and she took first place.

Kiersch with some excellent footwork on problem four

The only woman to send all four problems, Kiersch won the event. Yip came second with her quick ascents of three boulders. And Quinn Mason, who also had a great night with three tops, came third.

McColl won for the men, Fritz with a close second and Nicholas Milburn came third.