REEL ROCK FILM TOUR - THURSDAY, OCT 1 - AT ROCKTOWN

Rocktown Climbing Gym, in association with the Renegade Picture show, brings the 4th Annual Reel Rock Film Tour to the Oklahoma City Bricktown area for the very first time. REEL ROCK 09 features the world premiere of the climbing film, Progression, as well as the new First Ascent series from the innovative producers at Sender Films and Nat Geo Adventure Channel. Also in the lineup are the two winning short films from this year’s highly competitive REEL ROCK Filmmaking Competition. Tickets are $10 . For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, please visit http://www.rocktowngym.com or call 319-1400.

Go to http://rocktowngym.com/filmtour.html for more details and to purchase tickets online.

Lights Out Climbing Night Photos

Pictures from the Light Out Climbing Night have been posted.

NewsOK Article

There's a great story about the Touchstone Youth Project at Rocktown by NewsOK columnist Carrie Coppernoll.

Photo Gallery

Rocktown Coach takes 3rd at Extremity Games

On July 16, Oklahoma Climbing Team coach Jacqueline Farris competed in the Extremity Games in Pontiac, Michigan. The Extremity Games is an extreme annual sporting event/competition for individuals living with limb loss or limb differences. The Games allows participants to demonstrate skill and passion while competing for cash and other prizes. The Games include all types of "extreme" sports ranging from skateboarding, moto-x, martial arts, wakeboarding and - rock climbing.

Jacquelyn took third place in the Top-Rope competition category and took home a check for $250. This was Jacquelyn's first major competition and first competition of this type.

She had this to say about here experience:
"For me the Extremity Games was several "firsts." My first real competition to compete in and the first time I had ever climbed with other climbers with limb difference or limb loss. This was the first time that I had ever been able to climb with other climbers that really understood what it is like to have to adapt to the sport that I love. Throughout qualifying and finals the competitors were getting huge routes and pushing the competition while encouraging everyone. Being able to climb with, compete with, and share beta with the best adaptive climbers from all across the US was truly amazing and I look forward to next year."

We congratulate Jacquelyn on her success and are proud of her representation of Oklahoma climbers and all athletes involved in adaptive sports.

A complete re-cap of the events and winners is posted here on the Extremity Games website.

Nationals Update

We are having a great time here at the SCS Nationals in SLC, Utah. The best young climbers from across the country have converged here and it is truly amazing to watch them climb. I am impressed that kids that have been climbing for so little time demonstrate so much poise, confidence and performance on a stage this large.

It is quite an accomplishment for one to qualify to get to this level and even bigger to make it beyond.

Despite a fantastic effort and some great climbing, Nicholas's journey at Nationals has ended. While there is still a bit of a sting for him in not making it to the next round, we are quick to remind him that we are extremely proud of him for making it this far and giving it his best shot. This is Nic's first year competing so the knowledge he's gained from this experience will surely carry him further in his years ahead as a competitive climber.

Nicholas easily cruised the first climb. On the second qualifier he climbed about 3/4 up the route and fell on a weird pinch move. The rest of the field fell just a couple moves above him but at this level of competition that was enough to make the difference.

I am including some video from the competition including a shot from the warm-up area and Nicholas's first climb.

Rocktown Climbers Represent

Two Rocktown climbers are out representing Oklahoma and our gym in competitive climbing right now. Jacquelyn Farris, an employee of Rocktown and Coach of the Oklahoma Climbing Team, is currently at the Extremity Games in Pontiac, Michigan. This is the first competition of this type for Jacquelyn and we wish her the best.

Also on the road is Nicholas Strong who is completing at the USA Climbing Sport Climbing Series Nationals. Nicholas is in the Youth C category for boys. The competition takes place at Momentum Climbing Gym in Sandy, UT over the course of three days; Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Nicholas will be there with his dad and Aaron Gibson, Head Coach of the Oklahoma Climbing Team.

Will keep you posted with details and results as we can.

In the mean time - wish them luck!!

Oklahoma Climbing Team Report - From Divisionals to NATIONALS!

The Oklahoma Climbing Team just returned from Adventure Rock Climbing Gym in Pewaukee, Wisconsin where four members of the team competed in the USA Climbing Sport Climbing Series (SCS) Divisional competition. The Division (Division 3) included climbers from three Regions in the US, representing 15 states. Some of the best young climbers in the country were at this competition.

And while this was the first time that ANY Oklahoma climber has competed in a USA Climbing Sport Climbing Divisional competition, and the first time for the Oklahoma Climbing Team, the team members demonstrated poise and confidence and represented our state and Rocktown very well.

Of the four climbers that competed in the qualifying round on Saturday, all four made it to finals on Sunday. Even, Emily, who took quite a fall on her second route in qualifiers, and might have been unable to compete the next day due to a shoulder injury, but through her own determination, entered the finals round and gave an outstanding effort.

The finals round was particularly exciting with only one route to divide the field and decide who would advance to Nationals. We were excited to have two individuals advance. We would like to congratulate Nicholas Strong and Arek Parker in qualifying for Nationals. Nationals will take place in Sandy, Utah at Momentum Climbing Gym on July 10-12.

Overall, the competition was wonderful and the kids did a fantastic job. Their determination, dedication, and excitement for the sport seems to grow with each event.