Back for another year, the Hangout Open takes place this coming April 12-14.
The event, which takes place at the Hangout climbing centre in Duncan, “is designed as a celebration of all the hard work the climbers of Vancouver Island have put in during the indoor climbing season,” said Hangout co-owner David Murray. “We bring in guest setters from different gyms to create a diverse climbing experience, and challenge all athletes to do their best by recognizing those top performers with an invitation to our unique, fan friendly finals experience.”
This year competitive athletes can choose to compete in one of three divisions. The top athletes in the Youth (14 and Under), Open (14 and Over), and Masters (35 and Older) divisions will battle for the title of Hangout Open Champion on Saturday.
The Open qualification rounds are on Friday afternoon and evening, April 12.
The Youth qualification round is Saturday morning with the Youth and Open finals later on in the day.
The event is not just for competitive climbers, however. Those hoping for a more social experience can gear up for the Recreation division on Sunday, April 14.
“If this is your first competition, or you simply are not prepared emotionally to try your very hardest and test yourself, this is a fantastic opportunity to make new friends, be proud of yourself, and have a good time figuring out the new problems and maybe even win a prize,” Murray said.
Ultimately, Murray’s goal is to provide high calibre climbing opportunities for Island climbers without the major expense of travelling to the Mainland. To learn more about the Hangout Climbing Centre visit www.climbhangout.com