Estes Park Climbing Team

Nestled at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a paradise for anyone interested in climbing and bouldering. It should come as no surprise that Estes Park has a climbing team that continues to grow in both numbers of kids taking up the sport and in the success those kids are having on the national and even world stage. Thirty five climbers from nine to seventeen years of age have been a part of the Estes Park Climbing Team during the 2007-08 climbing and bouldering seasons. Most of these kids now call climbing their primary or only sport. Their lives are being positively impacted by the outdoors and the love of climbing.

The Teams

The Estes Park Climbing Team calls the EPIC Gym at the Estes Park Mountain Shop home. The program actually consists of two teams. The Rec. Team allows young climbers to hone their skills and develop the strength necessary to succeed at the sport of climbing. Competitive climbing is encouraged but not required on this team. Members of the team usually advance to the X Team after a few years if they are interested in competing. The Rec. team is coached by Dan Michalec.

The X Team is made up of older kids and competitive climbing is required at some level. Yoga train is discipline of the X Team and climbers continue to develop their skills to the highest level. Stephan Greenway and Michelle Hurni are the coaches of the X Team.

Success on the X Team

The Estes Park Climbing Team boasts three members of the US National Teams in the past year. Laurel Todd was the reigning National Champion in the Female 11 & under category at the Youth National Championships in the summer of 2007. Although she moved up to a higher age category in 2008, Laurel added a third place finish at the Youth Bouldering National Championships recently held at the Spot Gym in Boulder, Colorado. Hunter Schumaker has been a perennial member of the Youth US National Team in one discipline or another for the past four years. Hunter was a member of the National Team in speed climbing at the 2007 Youth National Championships. She also moved up in age category in 2008, but managed to make the Youth Bouldering Team with a fourth place finish at the Youth Bouldering National Championships.

Paige Claassen began to compete on the world level this past season by participating for the US in climbing and bouldering at the World Championships in Aviles, Spain in 2007. Paige’s 14th place finish in bouldering came as a surprise as the World Championships were her first international bouldering competition. Paige, at the age of 17, was able to compete at the Adult National Championships in Salt Lake City in January 2008, placing 2nd behind Emily Harrington. She added a third place finish at the 2008 Adult Bouldering National Championships, providing her with a place on both the Adult National Climbing and Bouldering teams.

With all the competitive success that several kids have achieved as part of the team, the Estes Park Climbing Team’s greatest accomplishment has been in providing a non-traditional sport and developing kids in that sport, to be better prepared for life. Climbing is an amazing sport that teaches self confidence, discipline and the ability to overcome obstacles that these kids will carry with them the remainder of their lives.