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10-year-old Oak Park rock climber earns bid to nationals
Vincent Lee, 10, of Oak Park, a fourth-grader at Whittier Elementary in Oak Park, has secured a spot to compete in the USA Climbing Youth National Championship to be held in March in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Updated: January 21, 2013 1:23PM
OAK PARK — Ten-year-old Vincent Lee, a fourth-grader at Whittier Elementary in Oak Park, recently secured a spot to compete in the USA Climbing Youth National Championship, USA Bouldering Series to be held the first weekend in March in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Vincent took first place in the Midwest Regionals in December, besting kids in his category from over five states. This past weekend, he took fourth in the Divisionals Championship held in Indianapolis, Ind., from a field of 21 climbers from 14 states, earning him the national bid.
Bouldering is one of three rock-climbing disciplines in a rapidly-growing sport that is short-listed for the 2020 Olympic Games. Bouldering is a style of climbing emphasizing power, strength and dynamics. Its focus is on individual moves or short sequences of moves without ropes. The nearly year-round sport also consists of sport and speed climbing, both done with ropes.
Vincent has been climbing for three years; this is his first complete cycle climbing competitively. He began climbing at the Oak Park Fitness Formula Club during family hours on the weekend. He now trains and represents the Chicago Rock Climbing Team Hidden Peak.
