The Adventure Climbing Center hosted its 17th annual Top Rope Climbing Competition at the Multi-Activity Court, drawing 50 participants across four divisions for a day-long event on May 2.
One of the closest competitions was in the men’s intermediate division, where Kevin Zhang beat Jack Hubschmitt in a timed tiebreaker. Yogita Sharma / Daily Nexus
The competition featured beginner, intermediate, advanced and open divisions with most categories separated into men’s, women’s and nonbinary groups, while the open division was co-ed. A total of 20 climbers competed in advanced, 17 in intermediate, nine in open and four in beginner. All competitors received five raffle tickets and a one-topping pizza coupon to Woodstock’s Pizza.
One of the closest competitions occurred in the men’s intermediate division, when fourth-year economics and data science double major Kevin Zhang beat second-year psychological & brain sciences major Jack Hubschmitt in a timed tiebreaker. Both climbers attempted the same route, with Zhang securing first place after reaching the top the fastest as spectators cheered from below.
Other divisions also came down to narrow last-second tiebreakers. According to an event staff member, fourth-year psychological & brain sciences major Breanna Elman, the advanced women’s category required a tiebreaker on a “high-point climb” in the open division, where the winner was determined by who could reach the highest point on the route.
Event organizers grouped divisions together throughout the day to manage any overlap within route difficulty to reduce wait times.
“We grouped these categories together because a lot of the beginner climbs that are higher difficulty are going to be the easier levels for our intermediates, so there’s that overlap,” Elman said. “We would have people waiting in line for the same climbs, and it would be too long of a wait time.”
The competition was supported by Adventure Climbing Center (ACC) staff and volunteers who designed the climbs and ensured safety throughout the event. Parker Inglis, a third-year environmental studies major and head route setter, said the role involves managing both logistics and creativity.
“There’s a lot of organizing [and] budgeting,” Inglis said. “Putting up holds on the wall and establishing what difficulty they are.”
Zaina Barclay Hamir, a second-year data science and philosophy double major and ACC staff member, described working the event as “very much like being a vertical lifeguard.”
“I set a climb for this competition, and the employees who set climbs can’t compete, so I was really excited to be on the other side,” Hamir said.
She added that while climbing can often feel individual, competitions highlight a broader sense of community.
“Rock climbing is inherently a bit of a solitary sport, so the experience at competition is that it’s one of the best ways to showcase the community,” Hamir said.
Participants said that the sense of community was a defining feature of the event. Brayden Nickerson, a UCSB alum and the first-place winner in the co-ed open category, said despite being competitors, they often support one another.
“Even though you’re competing against people, you’re still working with those same people,” Nickerson said. “Some of my biggest competitors, all encouraging each other and sharing strategies for the climbs. It’s a win if anyone gets to the top.”
Elias Sabbagh, a second-year mechanical engineering major who placed third in advanced men’s, said he did not expect to place.
“I really like the community here, it’s what keeps me coming back,” Sabbagh said. “I showed up just for fun, tried my best and I ended up getting third place.”
For some climbers, the event marked personal milestones. First-year mechanical engineering major Hannah Grinblat, who began climbing at the start of the school year, won first place in the women’s intermediate division and also received the event’s largest raffle prize: a climbing rope. She said the supportive environment stood out even during competition.
“It’s a great way to destress and have fun. I’ve worked my way up to now being able to win intermediate,” Grinblat said. “Everyone’s really nice, we’re competing against each other but you wouldn’t think that. People are giving other people advice — trying to help out.”
Spectators also described a similar atmosphere. Second-year environmental studies and cell and developmental biology double major Summer Baars said the event made it easy to connect with others.
“It’s a very open community so it’s very easy to talk to everyone,” Baars said. “I’ve talked to more people here today than I feel like I do in my classes.”
Second-year graduate student Nadav Kempinski said he appreciated both the route setting and the persistence of competitors.
“I keep on seeing people come back to the same route they keep falling on,” Kempinski said. “It’s really cool to see the tenacity people are bringing to this.”
A version of this article appeared on p. 8 of the May 7 print edition of the Daily Nexus
