Climbing Comps - Kinda Fun

I like indoor climbing because the stakes are so low, I dn't have to get quite as geeked up to go enjoy it. I didn't think I'd enjoy climbing competitions, since to me climbing is like fishing, done for myself, not to prove I'm better at it than someone else. But my kid is on a climbing team, and this year I've ended up watching the pros climb at two events. The first was Psicocomp in Park City, and then this weekend at the Portland Boulder Rally. In both cases I was there to supervise/chaperone/drive my kid, but in both cases I ended up having a lot more fun than I thought I would. The sport is getting pretty good at putting on a show. If you haven't gone to one of the "bigger" events (a "big" event in the climbing world draws 400 people) you should try to catch one. Catch a buzz, and go sit in a dark gym with loud music, watching phenomenal athletes do crazy moves under the lights. It's a good time.