Modern day spiderwoman, Sierra Blair-Coyle, has been quite the show stopper this year! At just 16 years of age, Sierra qualified to compete in the 2010 IFSC Professional Bouldering World Cup. At the ABS Nationals, Blair-Coyle was the lone 16-year-old to finish in the top 5 at the qualifying event. As perhaps the top rock climber of her age, Blair-Coyle has proven that she has the talent to make big moves at the elite level.
(via: sierrabc.com)
At the Teva Mountain Games, Blair-Coyle was among the athletes competing on an artificial climbing wall with a height of nearly 20 feet. 20 feet? No big deal right? …Wrong-O! The wall was for bouldering…where ropes aren’t used.
Many tout bouldering as the fastest growing segment of rock climbing due to the high risk- high reward factor. Climbers are given scores based on how far up the wall they can climb without falling. As always, the top of the wall marks the desired destination.
For Sierra, the Teva Moutain Games proved a perfect opportunity for Sierra to size up the stacked field of elite women climbers. In an Bennington Banner article, Sierra said she had, “never seen so many talented people in one place” and “…knew it was going to be a super-tough competition.”
(via: sierrabc.com)
As the youngest competitor in the women’s division, Blair-Coyle finished an impressive 18th out of 34 with no regrets. She was stoked on her performance and knew that she had given it her best effort. Competition at the elite level opened Blair-Coyle’s eyes to a wide world. She returned home a with a rejuvenated focus. Don’t let the sweet sixteen stigma fool you, Sierra already has some pearls of wisdom in those chalk pockets of hers. She knows what she needs to work on—strength. Because, “the stronger you are, the easier it is to go slower.”
For a complete rundown of results visit www.tevamountaingames.com.
For anything and everything Sierra Blair-Coyle related visit www.sierrabc.com.
(photo via: Climbing.com)
