Recapping my last elite event of the year! I’ll be honest, this NACS was challenging - mentally and physically. With long days in the hot sun and social issues out of our control, this team handled it well.
I also got to be speed starter for the first time! I still have much to learn, but I think this was a great start.
And a friendly reminder - belayers support all athletes in our sport. We don’t care who you are, your experience level, how hard you climb - we only care that you climb. Everyone belongs in climbing and I’ll continue to show my support on and off the field of play. 🏳️⚧️
The first photo is from the incredible @h23studios .
As always thank you so much to @trangoclimbing for providing my gear!
Reflecting on the season I’ve had as I prepare for my last major event for the year. I’ve managed to serve competition climbing at every level in some capacity all in one season. Led a competition belay clinic at @mesarimaustin , Head Belayer for a Qualifying Event, Head Belayer for Youth Regionals, Head Belayer for Collegiate Divisionals, Belayer for Team Trials, and Head Belayer for the Paraclimbing World Cup.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the belay community. I love you all and I’m so lucky to get to serve these amazing athletes with you.
Thank you also to @trangoclimbing for providing me with equipment this season. I feel so lucky to belong to a thoughtful community of climbers who represent all sides of our sport and to get to use such thoughtfully made equipment. From the harness to the backpack to the rope - everything I’ve received is clearly designed by thoughtful people who care deeply about our sport. Seriously, if you don’t have anything from Trango you’re missing out!
Let’s do one last NACS in a few weeks and do it all over again next year. See ya soon.
Some of these photos are from my phone or camera and some are from @cajphotography and Hunter (@h23studios ) for @trangoclimbing
Next up on the Trango Belay Team Roster is @_c.lad_ 👀
"I'm C Lad (or "Catherine Ladner") and I started belaying for a challenge course at a Girl Scout camp in the summer of 2018. Since the beginning, I've focused on creating a calm, safe environment to help others push themselves to new heights.
I was introduced to climbing in 2019 when I started working in adventure education at LSU. I fell in love with the community and getting to teach others how to climb and how to belay. The World Games was hosted in Birmingham, AL, when I was home for an internship in the summer of 2022 and I signed up to volunteer. At an event later that season, Ty asked me, "do you belay?" To which I responded with an enthusiastic "yes," and I belayed my first North American Cup Series event the next season in 2023.
I have since become one of USA Climbing's Assistant National Belay Coordinators and I help manage the belay program on a national scale. I've belayed national elite events and international paraclimbing events since 2023. At home, I serve as Head Bealyer for youth qualifying events and regional events in central Texas. I also help produce content that teaches competition belaying and celebrates our best belayers on the @usabelay Instagram and YouTube.
My goal is to give the same belay to every climber, whether in the gym or on the competition foor, and to leave this program and the climbing community better than I found it." - C Lad
#TeamTrango
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#TrangoGear #LiveInTheAscent
How lucky am I to serve our best athletes with these incredible people?
Photos from National Team Trials at Mesa Rim taken by @hannah.davis_1 .
Equipment from @trangoclimbing .
At Trango, we don’t just make climbing gear—we’re committed to supporting the sport at every level. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the Trango Belay Team, a handpicked crew of expert belayers who will be the backbone of some of the biggest competitions in the world. With @_tyhardaway_ , @noah_kiwi , @_c.lad_ , and @megsknecht on our team, we’re making a bold statement: World-class climbers deserve world-class belay support...
The link to read more about our the new Trango Belay Team is in our bio!
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#TrangoGear #LiveInTheAscent
