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Results From University Bouldering Series in Western Canada

The University Bouldering Series (UBS) has reached the West. After running for four seasons in Ontario, the competition has branched to British Columbia.

The first University Bouldering Serious comp in B.C. Photo Drew Copeland
The first University Bouldering Series comp in B.C. Photo UBS

By Drew Copeland

On Sat. March 19, nearly 100 boulderers showed up to Climb Base 5 in Coquitlam for climbing, prizes and good times. The format was a scramble competition, with participants tallying their scores over two hours of climbing, the atmosphere was fun and encouraging, ideal for climbers new to the competition scene.

Students were from six schools throughout the Greater Vancouver Area and even a couple from the University of Victoria.

David Leburn, event organizer. Photo Drew Copeland
David Albert-Leburn, event organizer. Photo UBS

Event organizer David Albert-LeBrun says that things went very well for UBS West Coast Volume 1. “It was a successful competition in the sense that we have people who are looking forward to another competition, regardless of how hard they climbed.

“Kaleb Thomas and the setters at Base 5 Climbing did a really great job and it’s pretty hard to set problems for that range of difficulties. The hard thing about UBS is that you are trying to cater to beginners, but then you have nationally ranked climbers too.”

The first University Bouldering Series in B.C. took place at Climb
The first University Bouldering Series in B.C. took place at Climb Base 5. Photo UBS

The series started in January 2012 in partnership with the University of Guelph Climbing Club and the Guelph Grotto.  It has been hosted by gyms throughout Ontario with participants coming from as far as Montreal and Thunder Bay.  Now it is taking off in BC.

“The UBC team clinched the overall victory (based on the top three women and top three men from each school) and will have their name enshrined on the trophy–a slab of granite,” said Albert-LeBrun.

“At the end of the day, we really just want to grow the community.” The series finale will take place on March 26 at Boulderz in Etobicoke. For more info visit here.

The University of British Columbia winning team. Photo Drew Copeland
The University of British Columbia winning team. Photo UBS

Beginner Male

1 Lucas Greenough Simon Fraser University
2 Daniel Noakes Capilano University
3 Preston Wright Simon Fraser University

Beginner Female

1 Melissa Fowler University of British Columbia
2 Sandra Kim University of British Columbia
3 Kirin Lamb Capilano University

Open Male

1 Gavin Johnson Capilano University
2 Stephen Baker University of British Columbia
3 Leo Robinovitch University of British Columbia

Open Female

1 Allison Vest University of British Columbia
2 Alannah Yip University of British Columbia
3 Maria Celkova Simon Fraser University

Alumni/Public Male

1 Eric Sethna University of Waterloo
2 Tristen Gosselin Public
3 Taz Barrett Public

Alumni/Public Female 

1 Tiffany Melius Public
2 Alison StewartPatterson Public
3 Nicola Williams Public

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