News
ACA Setting Clinic
The ACA was very grateful to have Flannery Shay-Nemirow share wisdom with our setters this past weekend. The setting clinic took place at Bolder Elevated in Calgary and the boulders were created for our young team Alberta athletes who will be attending regionals and nationals this spring. Go team Alberta!
Thank you: 2025 ropes provincials
We wrapped up the 2024/2025 top rope and lead season with our provincial championship this weekend. What an amazing display of talent from all the athletes!
Thank you to Simon and everyone at the CCC Rocky Mountain for hosting this weekend at your amazing facility.
Thank you to Matty and the route setting team. 3 rounds with 10 categories was a monumental task and the routes were amazing.
Thank you to the small army of volunteers that helped coordinate, judge, and everything else that we needed to pull off the competition.
Thank you to Chris and his team of belayers. Amazing work ensuring the safety of our athletes.
And finally, thank you to all the athletes and coaches for putting all your hard work onto the walls this competition and all season.
Notice: Finals scheduled moved forward 30 mins
The schedule for the finals round of the provincial ropes competition has been moved forward 30 minutes from the previously posted times. Check out the event page for updates. Note that the semifinals schedule has not changed.
2025 Lead & Top Rope Provincials Updates
Volunteer sign up link posted! Sign up to help our athletes. We need over 75 volunteers to support the qualifier round on Saturday April 05.
Tentative schedule posted!
YouTube streaming links posted!
And more!
Head over to the event page to stay up to date.
Thank you: Jr/A/B provincial bouldering
We wrapped up the Jr/A/B bouldering season at Niche in Edmonton with the provincial championship last weekend.
Thank you to Jess, Ty, and everyone at Niche for hosting an amazing competition.
Thank you to Jon and the rest of the route setting team for an amazing set.
Thank you to the army of volunteers that helped our athletes experience the best possible competition.
And finally, thank you to the athletes and coaches for putting on an amazing display of talent and strength! We’re looking forward to seeing you all at the upcoming lead provincials, then off to regionals and nationals!
Volunteers needed: Finals @ Jr/A/B bouldering provincials
We’re looking for more judges, scorekeepers, and isolation coordinators for the Jr/A/B finals round this afternoon at Niche in Edmonton. Sign up here if you are available.
Volunteers needed: semifinals & finals @ Jr/A/B boulder provincials
We had an amazing day of qualifiers at Niche for Jr/A/B bouldering provincials today. Semifinals and Finals are tomorrow, and we need your help to give our athletes the best possible competition experience. Please sign up here if you are able to help! You’ll be fully supported by experienced ACA officials.
Reminder: Live streaming Jr/A/B boulder provincials
We’re excited to live stream the upcoming youth bouldering provincials for the Jr/A/B categories this weekend. All rounds of this event will be live streamed on the ACA Youtube channel.
Thank you: C&D Bouldering Provincials
The C&D bouldering season wrapped up with the provincial championship at Bolder Elevated yesterday. We had an amazing competition, and couldn’t be more proud of our youngest athlete categories!
Thank you to Regan, Josh, Sebastian and the rest of the staff at Bolder Elevated.
Thank you to Juan and the rest of the route setting crew for an amazing set of problems.
Thank you to dozens and dozens of volunteers that helped judge, coordinate, and much more.
Last but not least, thank you to the athletes and coaches for an amazing competition and season.
Reminder: Live Streaming ACA Youth Provincials
Can’t make it to Boulder Elevated today to watch our C&D bouldering provincials? Head over to our YouTube channel to catch all of the action! We’ll also be streaming the Jr&A&B bouldering provincials and rope provincials too!
Volunteers needed: C&D Bouldering Provincials
We’re looking for more volunteers to help our youngest athletes experience the best possible provincial bouldering competition. We can’t run these events without your help. You’ll be fully supported in your role by experienced ACA officials.
ACA Paid Coach Position: 2025 Youth Nationals
The ACA is hiring a Youth Nationals Coach to support athletes at the upcoming national Championships in Vancouver, May 15-20. Please send a resume and cover letter to Paige Boklaschuk (paigeboklaschuk@albertaclimbing.org) before April 8th to apply.
Responsibilities:
With support from Paige Boklaschuk (ACA Performance chair), identify and connect with ACA athletes who are travelling to nationals without support from their personal coach.
Support these ACA athletes at the event; including but not limited to warm-up, sequencing, mental support, appeals and result management.
Be present at the competition venue for all days of the event, as long as there is an Albertan athlete competing.
At rounds where ACA athletes without a coach aren't competing, offer support to other ACA teams and/or team manager.
Support the communications manager by taking videos and photos where possible.
Ideal candidates
Have experience coaching and/or competing at a national or international level.
Feel confident building rapport with young athletes quickly.
Have all CEC coach requirements (https://climbingcanada.ca/coaches-volunteers-requirements/).
Ideal candidates are those without a current affiliation with a gym; all applicants are encouraged to apply.
Compensation
$200 day rate
$50 per diem for each day in Vancouver plus $25 for travel days.
Flight, accomodation, and travel expenses covered.
C&D Provincial Bouldering Updates
We’re excited for the C&D Provincial Bouldering championships that are being hosted at Bolder Elevated on March 8th 2025. This is a qualified event based on the results from the regular ACA bouldering season. Registration closes at 11:59pm on Saturday March 1st. Qualified athletes have been invited to register. If you have questions about qualification or registration, reach out to communications@albertaclimbing.org
The volunteer sign up link is posted. Please consider signing up to volunteer if you are able to help. We can’t run these events without your help. You’ll be fully supported by experienced ACA officials. Help our youngest athletes experience the best possible competition.
The event page has been updated with a lot of information, so keep an eye on that throughout the week. Some updates to note:
The event will be live streamed on the ACA Youtube channel
Qualifier format is IFSC flashed, 6 problems, 2 courses, 4 on 4 off
Tentative schedule is posted
Scoring results, qualifier video link, running order link, and more details
Registered athletes will receive detailed information by email throughout the week leading up to the competition.
Thank you for a great weekend of climbing!
We wrapped up the youth local lead and top rope season with a double header this past weekend!
Thank you to everyone at Bolder Elevated and Calgary Climbing Centre Hanger for hosting a pair of amazing competitions. Regan, Josh, Fos, Seb, Will, Simon, and the rest of the staff: we are truly grateful to you for hosting and supporting youth competitive climbing.
Thank you to Ty, Heather and the rest of their route setting teams. Amazing routes on the walls as always!
We want to share our appreciation for a small army of volunteers, including belayers, that helped us this weekend! We had several people that volunteered at both competitions, and we appreciate your commitment!
Last but not least, we want to thank the athletes and their coaches. You put in a lot of work this season, and we couldn’t be more proud of you.
Next up: provincial bouldering (C&D), then provincial bouldering (Jr&A&B), then a combined lead and top rope competition.
We’re live streaming all youth provincial competitions!
The ACA is going to live stream all three youth provincial competitions on our YouTube channel. We’re still working out the details, but the intention is to stream the entirety of both bouldering and the rope provincials. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications to stay updated. We’ll also post details on the event pages for each competition. Reach out to communications@albertaclimbing.org if you have questions or comments.
Updates for multiple competitions
We’re excited about hosting the final ropes locals for both the Jr/A/B and C/D categories. Registration closes soon, so head over to 2mev.com before registration closes. Both competitions have tentative schedules and volunteer sign up links active on the event pages (Jr/A/B and C/D + Tier 2). Please consider signing up to help if you can. We can’t run these competitions without your help.
We have also sent out invites to register for the Bouldering Provincials events, so look for those in your email. All ACA Provincial competitions this season are qualified events. If you have questions about qualification or registration, please contact jacquelynmitchell@albertaclimbing.org
Registration Reminder: rope locals, boulder provincials
Don’t forget to register for the upcoming lead and top rope local competitions to cap off the regular youth season! We’ll be posting details including schedule, volunteer sign-up, and more soon!
Bouldering provincials for both the Jr/A/B and C/D is now open as well. Provincials are now a qualified event, and all qualified athletes have been invited to register via email. Please contact jacquelynmitchell@albertaclimbing.org if you have questions about qualification or registration.
Keep an eye on the event pages for each competition at albertaclimbing.org and register at 2mev.com
Coach / Setter positions for upcoming ACA Camp & Clinic
Attention coaches and route setters: The ACA is seeking applications for paid coach and route setter positions at an upcoming ACA Youth Training Camp and Setting Clinic. See details below on behalf of Paige Boklaschuk:
Setting position applications (due March 10)
Details: Facilitated by IFSC setter Flannery Shay-Nemirow, this setting clinic will allow experienced competition setters to build competition setting leadership experience by mentoring new competition setters. Experienced setters will spend April 10th with Flannery, learning the logistics and leadership skills involved in leading a competition crew. On April 11th, each mentor each be paired with 2 mentee setters and will guide them in setting competition boulders for the ACA youth training camp will be set over 2 days. There will be ample time for discussion, collaboration, and sharing concrete advice on building a competition setting career. After the event, setters are invited to observe the ACA youth nationals training camp and provide insight to athletes on the boulders.
Mentors (Experienced competition setters):
Ideal candidates have 3+ years experience setting competitions at the provincial and national level. Leadership experience (head setter at competitions, head setter at commercial gym, experience leading setting clinics) is a plus.
Interested in providing mentorship to new competition setters.
Compensation: $250/day for April 25, 26, and 27
Please send setting resume and optional cover letter to paigeboklaschuk@albertaclimbing.org
Mentees (new competition setters):
Minimum one year commercial or local competition setting experience with aspirations to set at the provincial and national level.
Interest in taking part in a collaborative, mentorship-based setting clinic.
This position is unpaid as it is considered a development experience for mentees.
Please send setting resume and optional cover letter to paigeboklaschuk@albertaclimbing.org
Coaching position applications (Due March 10th)
Details: The ACA bouldering youth training camp is aimed towards ACA youth athletes who will be competing at youth bouldering regionals or nationals in 2025. Coaches will collaborate with the ACA to run a successful training camp and create a supportive learning environment. The training camp will consist of mock competitions, technical sessions on boulders, and potentially workshops with setters and/or coaches.
Coaching application:
Ideal candidates have 3+ years of competitive coaching experience. Experience coaching or competing at a national or international level is an asset.
Compensation: $200/day for April 12th
Please indicate your training, education, and whether you have any specific expertise that you could share in a workshop with the athletes.
Please send setting resume and optional cover letter to paigeboklaschuk@albertaclimbing.org
Thank you Grip IT!
The Youth B, Youth A, and Jr. Bouldering Local just wrapped up at Grip IT Nelson in Saskatoon this morning!
Thank you Jay Holowach and the staff at Grip IT. Great to see the new facility!
Thanks Lily and the rest of the route setting crew!
Thank you also to the volunteers, athletes, and coaches. Many of you persevered through risky and adventurous driving conditions. It couldn’t have happened without you!
Thank you for another great competition @ Coulee
Our last boulder local competition for the C&D + Tier 2 categories wrapped up at Coulee Climbing in Lethbridge this weekend.
Thank you Randy, Alanna, and the staff at Coulee Climbing. Amazing hosts once again!
Thanks Matty and the rest of the route setting crew! Awesome boulders for our youngest athletes.
Thank you to the army of volunteers that ALWAYS show up. We can’t run these without you and greatly appreciate your help.
Last but not least, thank you to the athletes and their coaches. You put it all out there and we’re so impressed by your strength, athleticism, and skill this season!
The local season is nearing the end, so keep an eye on the event schedule for the Top Rope local at CCC Hanger in Calgary in February and provincials afterwards. Don’t forget to register at 2mev.com
