UBC Buildering Contest 7

Andrew on Chem Alley.

Download all article images, plus others taken from the night: comp7.zip

April 7, 2009.
------------------

This year's contest had me sweating. Firstly, April kinda snuck up on me, and I really wanted the competition to be held before the end of classes. This meant giving people only four days notice of the event, which probably explains the lack of international participants. Making such last minute travel arrangements would be difficult and expensive. Yeah right. International participants? Nope, despite being the largest, longest running, most prestigious buildering contest in the universe, the clientele has always been locals only.

Despite the short notice, we had a respectable twenty builderers show this year. Some of these builderers wore Cliffhanger jackets. Cliffhanger STAFF jackets (Cliffhanger is a local climbing gym). Second point of my apprehension: real climbers. [I struggled over whether to put real in quotes, either way I'm offending some demographic. No quotes. Sorry builder kids/parkour kids/me.] Since my climbing ability tops out at V5 at best, I could only set the routes so hard. I hoped this wasn't going to be a cakewalk.

This photo makes my life. Frederi on West Parkade Mantel.

The menu:

1. Bio-Science Undercling - 8pts.
2. Psychology Vent - 5 pts.
3. West Parkade Windows - 3 pts.
4. West Parkade Mantel - 10 pts.
5. Chemistry Traverse - 7 pts.
6. Chemistry Alley - 6 pts.
7. Hebb Roof - 6 pts.

I could bore you by going into detail on each climb, but that's what the new guidebook is for which, in case you didn't notice, I've been linking to excessively.

In the end, three people climbed all the problems. A bonus round was held, Lower Koerner Campus. I hoped someone would be eliminated. Shaun and Jan both on-sighted it, and Tim, well he left before I announced the bonus round. Too bad for him. The winners settled on the prize, a UBC Croquet Society t-shirt, over a rousing game of rock-paper-scissors. Shaun took it, making up for his lousy roshambo skills from last year when he also tied for first. Go rock, nothing beats rock.

All in all, the event was a huge success. I got a lot of positive feedback, and I think everyone had to stop and think about at least one problem before destroying it, which equals success in my book.

For those wondering, "a UBC Croquet Society t-shirt"? Well, "croquet" is a long running code word for buildering, which is particularly useful when advertising such events on campus. Sure, this means you have to be in the know, and it is theoretically possible that someone could show up expecting to play actual croquet, but that's never happened.

There is an official UBC Croquet Society, but they try desperately not to play the game. Keddie Scientist tells me the person who started the club a few years back did so to receive free money from the student government, which he and his buddies spent on beer. Inevitably at one point a croquet enthusiast wanted to join the club, which caused endless turmoil amongst the founding members. These days, they might even be legit, I dunno. In any case, the CroqSoc made some really nice t-shirts last year, and Christian picked up a half dozen for us builderers. They were quite surprised by the sudden surge in interest in their club. Yay for croquet!

Something new under the sun: a Cliffhanger staff member buildering. Bio-Science Undercling.

People parted ways after the award ceremony, but I wanted to re-shoot some photos from the roof of the Koerner Library for the new guidebook. Grant and Shaun were down to tag along. There's a good route to get onto the roof. The technical crux is at the bottom, a rounded cement bulge likely designed specifically to prevent people from climbing higher up. After that, it is easy 5.4ish climbing to the top.

The more secluded choice is the north east corner, which also has ladder at the very top heading to the rounded glass roof. The bulge is quite a bit more serious on this side though, as it is about 20 ft above the cement.

I headed up first, making the bulge look more awkward than it usually is. Grant followed. There's a trick to making the bulge a little easier: you pinch the vertical ribs with your feet, allowing you to scum up and grab a positive edge set back about a foot from the top. I didn't bother telling Grant this, as he's been up the route before. The next thing I know Grant is sailing through the air. It's quite spooky watching someone fall from a height where you know there's no hope of walking away from it unscathed.

Grant hit the ground the best he could, but still hit hard. He tried to get up and walk it off, but wasn't able to put any weight on his right foot. We hoped for a heel bruise at best, but it turned out to be a fracture.

A bit of a sour note to end an otherwise brilliant evening, but Grant is in good spirits. "In a way I'm glad I learned my lesson, never treat anything with nonchalance when gravity is involved. I'm sure you won't let my fall get in the way of your stoke for buildering but I just wanted to make sure. I'll be down to get back out there soon."

Extra points for wearing All Stars. Psychology Vent.

The easiest, yet most serious, problem of the night. West Parkade Windows.

Jan...West Parkade Mantel.

...making the hard look easy. West Parkade Mantel.

Shaun at the crux. Bio-Science Undercling.

Yes, down is that way. Chemistry Traverse.

Jan working through the crux. Chemistry Traverse.

This balancy rock-over with no hands gets the heart pumping. Chemistry Alley.

The final official route of the night. Hey is that a full moon? Figures. Hebb Roof.

Bonus round. Lower Koerner Campus.

Jan...

is...

unstoppable! (and Shaun too.)

Shaun and Jan with the trophy.