SMU students and alumni climbers competed against climbing groups and individuals from the Dallas area, Oklahoma University, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, A&M Commerce, UT Dallas, Oklahoma State University and Tyler Junior College at SMU’s Outdoor Adventure Center’s Second Annual Pony Pulldown Climbing Competition on Saturday at the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports.
SMU had four students and two alumni participate. Mary Wall placed third in women’s limestone and Stephanie Jensen (’06) placed second in women’s sandstone. In the men’s competitions, James Kang(’06) placed first in limestone and Ryan Dingwall, a freshman, placed second in sandstone.
The number of entries in the competition more than doubled from last year. Registration was open to any climber 18 or older. The event consisted of 52 competitors this year despite a 50-competitor limit.
“We limited it to 50 competitors because of concern with space and time,” said David Chambers, the Outdoor Adventure Coordinator. “We now see that there was plenty of room and time and will probably open it to 15-20 more next year or possibly [make it] a two-day event.”
In preparation for the event, the Outdoor Adventure staff reconfigured the handholds of the climbing wall tower, as well as the concave bouldering wall, to create the color-coded routes the competitors were judged for scaling. The staff was also on hand to work the event, serving as judges, spotters and belayers.
“We devised our rules straight from the USA Climbing Format,” Chambers said, “because last year was a test of sorts. Our climbing center staff knew what to expect and did a great, professional job throughout the process.”
Competitors were divided into men’s and women’s divisions and classified into three categories: limestone beginners, sandstone intermediate and granite advanced.
Points were awarded for reaching the top of individual routes and a percentage of the points could be deducted for each time the competitor fell before reaching the top or for touching a different colored handhold on his or her way.
The climbing tower was surrounded by seven belayers who judged the climbers as they ascended, marking their score on the climber’s scorecard after each attempt. Other judges monitored the bouldering wall and spotted the unharnessed climbers.
At the end of the day, Texas A&M’s “Craggies” took home most of the awards.
“The routes were very good with a lot of natural holds,” Stefan Kuhlman, a sandstone Craggie, said of his experience. “I came last year. I did a lot better then.”
It was SMU alum James Kang’s first climbing competition.
“My favorite part of the event was interacting and climbing with so many people,” Kang said. “Most climbers, even when competing, are very supportive of each other and that made the event very enjoyable. Hopefully we can get more Mustangs involved next year.”
