Two Local Boys Climb Their Way to Nationals

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two Saratoga Springs students have qualified for USA Climbing’s national championships to be held February 10-12 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT. Vincent Sablich, who is a 9th grader at Saratoga Springs High School, has been climbing competitively with USA Climbing for five years. He has made it to Regionals and Divisionals all five years and to Nationals in winter 2015 for Bouldering and summer 2015 for Sport and Speed. Sablich trains four days a week at a climbing gym - locally at The Edge in Halfmoon and Rocksport in Queensbury. He often travels to other gyms throughout the Northeast. “When I was younger, I always wanted to climb Mt. Everest, so over the summer of 2012, I did the Rocksport summer camp, became obsessed with rock climbing, and have been doing it ever since. In that camp, I met Robert ‘Doc’ Livingston, my Rocksport coach, who inspired me to climb and compete,” said Sablich. “It is so unique from other sports, and I hope to go to the Olympics for climbing one year.” His coach at Rocksport, Robert “Doc” Livingston added, “Vincent epitomizes the kind of young climber we love working with. His passion for training, his understanding of local climbing history and ethics, and his huge heart. We expect great things from him in the years to come and are proud to call him part of our Rocksport family.” Kenneth Rose is a 5th grader at Division Street Elementary and started climbing at eight years old on the school climbing team at Rocksport Indoor Rock Climbing and Guiding Center in Queensbury. He is only in his second year of competing with USA Climbing and he is already heading to nationals. Rose’s typical gym schedule is three days a week of individual and team training at Rocksport with an additional onsite training day at The Edge. Off days are spent recovering or doing core work or stretching – or just having fun playing outside. “I like the feeling of pressure. It helps me stay focused. And I don’t just climb to train and get stronger; I do it to have fun,” stated Rose. “I’ve been climbing my whole life. I climbed into my friend Jake’s crib when I was about six months old.” USA Climbing is the national governing body of competition climbing in the United States, promoting three competition disciplines: bouldering (shorter problems without the use of ropes), sport and speed climbing (longer problems with the use of ropes). These run during two separate seasons throughout the year. Climbers must first compete in a minimum of two “local” competitions to qualify to compete in Regionals. The top 40-50 male and female youth climbers in the United States compete at Nationals, where the top 4 make it onto the USA Team to then compete in World Championships. For more information on local climbing or competitions, visit: theedgehalfmoon.com or rocksportny.com