USAC Routesetting has just announced that applications will be accepted for the upcoming ABS Championship season. This includes positions at ABS Divisionals, ABS Open Nationals and ABS Youth National Championships.
ABS Open National Championship
The ABS Open National Championship will be held February 21 – 22, 2014 in downtown Colorado Springs at the Colorado Springs Auditorium. National Chief Jeremy Hardin will again lead the event and has four Assistant positions available for a week of setting some of the most creative bouldering problems seen in the U.S.
ABS Open Nationals is the country’s premier bouldering competition featuring pro’s like Daniel Woods and Alex Puccio.
2013 ABS 14 National Championships – Men’s Highlights from USA Climbing on Vimeo.
ABS Youth National Championship
The week following Open Nationals the ABS Youth National Championship (February 28 – March 2) will take place in the same location. National Chief Ian McIntosh will lead his first National crew through an intensive week of routesetting ending in a mind-boggling three day competition. There are three Assistant, two Apprentice, and three Internship positions available. This large crew allows for a great combination of up-and-coming setters wishing to make their mark on the national setting scene, while working under seasoned Level 4 routesetters.
The three day competition is one of the most complicated competitions to orchestrate. Due to the size of the climbing wall the setters must go through a dizzying array of mid-comp turnovers which involve changing individual boulder problems to fit upcoming categories without the comp ever stopping.
2013 ABS 14 National Championships – Youth Highlights from USA Climbing on Vimeo.
ABS Divisional Championships
Also available are coveted routesetter internships at two of the five ABS Divisional Championships. These two positions will be available at the Divisionals hosted by the BLOC bouldering gym in Tucson, Arizona and Gravity Vault in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Both of these Divisionals will be lead by USAC Level 5 Chiefs, and according to USAC Routesetting rules, the Chiefs can have an intern that is a Level 2 setter. But as the official announcement states, “There is NO certification outcome from working as an Intern at a Divisionals competition, but you will gain valuable experience with a Level 5 Chief Routesetter at a Championship level event.”
Like all Divisional Championships, these comps will take place January 11 – 12, 2013.
Apply
The deadline for all applications is November 15, 2013. Go to usacsetting.net for more information and to download an application.
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