Team Trials

 

I have to say that I am enjoying watching the USA Climbing team trials. Of course with the hopes that one day we will see Brendan there! So just watching to try to figure things out because, hey, you never know!

The only way to get invited to the Team Trials is by placing in the top 40 climbers in your category at the Yeti Climbing National Championship, otherwise known as Open Nationals. Team Trials are going on right now from March 12 - 16, 2025, so they tend to land predictably in March. 

How does it all work? Well, watching the lead competition, the men started out with 31 competitors and reduced it to the top 24 climbers for the Semis. Finals took the top 8. There are apparently points accumulated by climbers so the podium doesn't necessarily determine who makes the team. 

The manual in section 2 states that points are awarded from the National Championship PLUS the National Team Trial competition. The total number of points determines who makes the team. With Colin Duffy and Jesse Grupper already preselected for the lead team, that left three spots on the team for the top three ranked climbers. Sergay Lakno, Decland Osgood, and interestingly Cruz Padilla who came in 9th at the Trials but had more points than the 3rd place finisher, Dillon Countryman, because he came in 1st at the National Championship.

I can't say I understand the reasoning behind this system, but it does seem that it provides validity to the number and challenge level of the total amount of competitions that a climber competes in. The way to ensure you get on the team is that you must do well at BOTH events. That does make sense in that the team is looking for the most well-rounded and experienced climbers, but it is hard to understand when looking at the Team Trials itself without knowing this.

Well, we will see what happens tomorrow for Bouldering!

Update: Bouldering was amazing! And we have connections to two of the climbers who came from our Division, Vail Everett and Melina Constanza. Brendan grew up with Vail at many youth competitions and I have to say we all saw this coming watching his immense talent over the years. Congrats Vail! Melina is older than Brendan but comes from our Division as well. He met her at a training camp in Philadelphia where she gave him expert advice. Big thanks and congrats to Melina! She is amazing!  You both have done amazing things for the sport of climbing!

                CLIMB ON!

Photo Credit: Orea Media