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Collegiate Senior Heads to National Climbing Competition

2/2/2017

Parker Reed, a senior at Collegiate School, travels next week to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the USA Climbing National Championships on Feb. 10-12. A climber for Richmond’s Peak Experiences team, he will compete in bouldering against 47 of the top 18-19 year olds from around the country.

Bouldering involves climbing on large rocks up to 20 feet high with no ropes or harnesses. (Parker also competes in sport climbing, which involves the use of ropes and harnesses to scale walls up to 60 feet.) He practices four afternoons a week for three hours. On weekends, if he doesn’t have a competition, he heads outdoors to one of his favorite spots, New River Gorge in West Virginia.

“It’s one of the best climbing places,” he said. “There are some of the best routes I’ve ever tried.”

To reach nationals, Parker competed in two local competitions (placing 6th and 2nd, respectively), advanced to a regional competition (4th) and finally a divisional championship (6th). At nationals, he will have four minutes to complete a route he has never seen before and one that is at or above his skill level. Because problem solving plays such an important role in climbing, Parker might wait a bit longer before his first attempt to make sure he understands what he needs to do to top the route, says Matt Londrey, Parker’s coach.

“He's gained this ability over years of climbing,” Mr. Londrey said. “There might kids who are stronger than him, but Parker can beat all but the best when it comes to technique and smarts.”

In 2016, Parker competed in sport climbing at nationals and finished in the Top 25. Even though this will be his first national championship in bouldering, he has a specific goal in mind.

“I’m hoping to make it to the semifinals,” he said. “It might be a stretch, but I’m training as hard as I can.”

After the competition, no matter what the outcome, Parker intends to keep scaling new heights.

“Climbing is so much fun for me,” he said. “When you get to the top of a wall it’s incredible. It’s a challenge, and when you see yourself improving it feels good. That’s what gives me the motivation to train hard and get as strong as possible.”

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