Discovering Climbing Community & Competition in Denver

Ask anyone in the TURNER office and they’ll tell you that I’m obsessed with climbing. I’m not good, nor strong, but I have a lot of enthusiasm for the sport … and everyone in my desk pod will attest that I talk too much about it. [Header photo: Movement Climbing + Fitness]

So it's no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer at USA Climbing’s National Sport and Speed Championship Competition, which took place this past March at Movement Climbing + Fitness, Denver’s newest climbing gym. USA Climbing is committed to the success and growth of competition climbing in the U.S. The organization has been vital in promoting rock climbing, and thanks in large part to its efforts, the sport will – for the first time ever – be a part of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. That’s huge.

The level of energy and athleticism during the competition was incredible. It was a conscious effort on my part not to fangirl over Margot Hayes, a Colorado climber who just became the first woman to send (climb without falling) a 5.15a route. I watched Ashima Shiraishi, a climber 10 years younger than me, move gracefully up the hardest route without falling and decided I want to be like her when I grow up.

I have a pretty personal connection with Movement Climbing + Fitness. When I was but a wee TURNER intern, I also worked part-time at this gym and it’s where I found my community – as do many others when they first move to Denver. Now, I spend three to four nights a week there attempting to climb (but mostly falling over and over again). Knowing the people who planned and set the routes was absolutely a highlight of the whole competition. Watching their expressions as nationally recognized athletes climbed their carefully thought out routes was incredible.