USD’s Climb Fest grapples new challenges

The 38-foot-high rock climbing wall in the Wellness Center will transform Oct. 8 into a competitive landscape for the fourth-straight year of Climb Fest at the University of South Dakota.

USD Climbing Club president Brad Swart said the event is the beginning of fall competitions for the group and is a good start to draw attention to rock climbing in Vermillion. Swart estimates between 40 to 70 competitors will participate.

The Climbing Club currently has 80 members, but only a team of 12 practice together. USD climbers compete against schools like South Dakota State, Minnesota, Minnesota State-Mankato and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In addition to getting ready for those competitions, Climb Fest also serves to raise money for the club. The club will use the money to go to competitions and climbing trips, but most of the money will go toward the spring break trip.

“The atmosphere is wonderful with a friendly competition,” Swart said. “It’s a great way for people to meet up and help the club earn some cash.”

Matt Schlimgen is the head of recruitment for Climbing Club. He said Climb Fest has benefits that go beyond the competition.

“It is a great workout, and I have met some of my best friends through rock wall climbing,” Schlimgen said.

Climb Fest is also a way for people to experience new routes, he said. The Wellness Center does put up new routes on a weekly basis, but new routes and set paths for climbers will be made during the event.

“It’s like burning a new candle,” Swart said. “After a little while, it gets a little boring climbing the same thing.”

This year’s Climb Fest will include prizes for winners, but the introduction of costumes is also being encouraged by organizers. The best costumes will receive prizes, and there will be a raffle after the event.

First-year Deanna Bradshaw said she plans to participate in the competitive climbing event. She said the costumes will be interesting, but she’s competing for a different reason.

“It is a new way to work out, and it works every muscle,” Bradshaw said. “I like to climb, because it is like a big puzzle to figure out.”

Climb Fest will be held in the Wellness Center Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. Competitors can pre-register for $20 or at the door for $25. The competition has three divisions for registration: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

To get $5 off either registration, participants can donate two cans of food to the Vermillion Food Pantry.

(Photo: Sophomore Baylee Knippling climbs the 36-foot high rock wall in the University of South Dakota Wellness Center Sept. 25.)