Good-bye, not-so lazy days of Summer…

Summer Camp climbers show off their stuff!

Whew! Although it’s still so hot one wouldn’t realize it, Summer as we know it has come to an end. Now it’s time for the After-School Programs and Youth Climbing Teams to kick into gear! Our teams are already turning their focus towards theABSBouldering Season, which begins in October. It should be a strong season, with last year’s team returning more experienced (and taller!), and several promising newcomers.

Happy Birthday to us!

The Ogden Front turned a whopping one year old in August. Dynos, crate-stacking, and one GIANT candle dominated the celebration. Thanks to all our members for keeping us around!

 In family news, we ‘ve got an amazing season of comps and special events coming up at all three Front gyms, so be sure to check back here often!

Coach Chris reports from SCS Nationals in Altlanta

Day two of qualifiers wrapped up today. After a hard fight yesterday, we had to step up our level of focus. We climbed against some of the best in the nation and fell short of advancing to the semi-finals.
Austin and Axel both showed up focused and determined, and they climbed strong over the last two days. I’m very proud of the accomplishments of these two as well as the entire Front Climbing Team. In our first season of sport climbing we had 6 kids qualify for Divisionals, and 2 advancing to Nationals (not bad for a bouldering gym).
The Front Climbing Team ended their season proudly. It has been great coaching these young athletes and watching their skills and abilities grow throughout the year. Thanks to the team parents for all their support in helping to make our programs a success, and a huge shout out to the coaches who have put in their time and energy throughout the season. Thanks Laura, Ling, Sam, and Spy for all your hard work and the development of The Front Climbing Team. The future looks bright!

Austin, tryin' hard!

News Flash: Austin and Axel in Atlanta!

Axel, super chill as usual, waiting for the go-ahead to start climbing.

Austin Hansel and Axel Dillman, accompanied by Coach Chris Call, are at the SCS Nationals at Stone Summit in Atlanta.  Both are competing in the Male Youth C (ages 12-13) division. This is the first year these kids have competed on ropes, and they’ve had a stellar showing this season, with Axel adapting his mad bouldering skills to be able to hang on just a little bit longer, and Austin with just about one year of rock climbing of any sort under his belt. 

 

 

Austin and Coach Chris talk strategy.

They’ve made it here through a combination of hard work and motivation, a coaching staff who love to see these kids grow in the sport, and amazing support from their families.

Both Axel and Austin climbed this morning in day one of Qualifying rounds, and now just have to sit tight until day two wraps up tomorrow to see where they’ll come out. Fingers are crossed that they’ll make it into Semifinals on Saturday (and then on to the Finals on Sunday)!

Summer Camps have begun!

Last week The Front’s super summer camps began with an awesome group of campers! Thanks to all our first session campers for making it such a fun week! Campers learned all about climbing technique, knots, roped climbing, and played tons of fun games! Could you climb while playing catch with a beach ball? These kids did! Check out all the fun from the week below. For more pictures check out The Front’s facebook page, and for more information about our summer camps visit www.frontslc.com!

Dustin shows off his moves on the steeper stuff!

Kai crushes on the traverses!

Kayla keeps her style while on the wall

Philip is all smiles during rope climbing

Campers decorate their week’s poster with all their favorite things about climbing. Look for it in the gym!

Bergan keeps her focus on rope!

Dustin and William keep a beach ball in the air while climbing- talk about challenging!

Caleb shows off his bouldering skills

Kai shows off his knot tying skills

Teams Crush at SCS Divisionals!

 

 

This past weekend The Front’s SLC and Ogden Youth Climbing Teams made a strong showing at the SCS Divisional Competition at Momentum. Theresa Nielson, Kathleen Stone, Axel Dillman, Austin Hansel, and Dallas and Devin Hammond all qualified to move on from Regionals last month in Bozeman.

For the girls, Theresa and Kathleen finished 13^th and 16^th in Youth A in the semifinals on Saturday. Dallas came in 14^th in Female Youth C, and her brother Devin placed 14^th in Male Youth D. In Male Youth C, Axel and Austin took 5^th and 7^th places, both qualifying for the finals on Sunday. After a hard-fought fight, Austin came out 8^th, and Axel’s 6^th place finish won him an invitation to Nationals in Atlanta!

Respect to the climbers, coaches, and parents who’ve represented The Front so strongly this competition season! You make us proud. And congratulations and good luck to Axel!

What!?

From this...

To this. In two days!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What!? Six comps in seven weeks!? Why, who could pull off a thing like that? The Front can!

 

The Ogden Climbing Festival this past weekend marked Comp #2, with Comp #3 ramping up to take place this weekend at The Front Boise. The Climbing Festival was forced indoors by rain, snow, and generally awful conditions, but no one was complaining because there was a bevy of brand-new roped routes waiting for their heavily chalked little hands at The Front Ogden. For its’ fourth year, The Weber State Outdoor Program event filled the weekend with demos, competition, and celebration that brought the Ogden climbing community together. For The Front, it was our first foray into the realm of roped competition! See the wrap-up here.

 

The next four of the six comps are all components of the FCC Semi-Pro Bouldering Series. “Semi” as in “not too serious”, and “Pro” as in “you can win money”. The FCC Series is all about acknowledging the high level of climbing talent that abounds in Northern Utah/Southern Idaho. The three Qualifiers (one at each Front gym) lead up to Semi-Finals at the Front SLC on May 13th. The FCC Finals will take place the next day, as a highlight of The Get Outdoors Expo at the Southe Towne Expo Center. Qualify at The Front Boise this Saturday, the 16^th, or on the 23^rd at The Front Ogden.

‘Tis the season!

Helloooo Spring!

When warm temps slap you in the face and tweets of the non-electronic kind rings in your ears, it can mean only one thing… SPRING!

So rather than dragging a generator and hairdryer to your favorite boulder in a desperate attempt to speed up the spring melt- relax, and come on down to the Front- where you can train on our walls and equipment without worry of the spring runoff.

**** New for Spring ****

Want more options for training? The Front is now offers the Metolius Simulator and Project hangboards and their awesome rock rings for sale!

Lapis brushes. We have them. You want them. You may not know why you want them, but you do. And here’s why- straight from Rock & Ice magazine:

“THE LAPIS BOAR’S HAIR BRUSH IS A LEGEND* as far as chalk-removing instruments go. Made in Europe, Lapis brushes are difficult to find here in the States, but more than a few specialty climbing shops are “core” enough to carry them. Boar’s hair is soft, and doesn’t erode the rock, especially sandstone, the way stiffer brushes do. Its swinish molecular structure is particularly suited to lifting chalk off slopers and leaving the natural friction and texture of the stone.”
-A.Bisharat, R&I 187

In addition to new gear, The Front has expanded its selection of drinks and snacks to include several organic and all natural choices! We now offer Stonyfield yogurt smoothie, Reed’s Ginger Brews, Izzy Natural Sodas, organic orange juice, Pirate’s Booty, Ginger chews, Dagoba chocolates and Terra chips to name a few! Check ‘em out at the snack counter!

Glass Recycling now available at The Front!

We support your habit. Bring your glass to us.

Tired of your neighbors thinking you’re a drunk because you have trash bags and boxes full of glass bottles in your garage or backyard? We’re here for you. We’ve got two new glass recycling containers at our Salt Lake gym ready to help you stop your glass hoarding ways. Reclaim your neighborhood reputation- or at least get them to stop putting AA coupons in your mailbox.

These receptacles of redemption are conveniently located in our parking lot next to our dumpster. Use ‘em!

Holiday Hours at the Front SLC

Holiday Hours At The Front SLC

Christmas Eve: 7am-5pm

Christmas: Closed

New Years Eve: 10am-10pm

New Years Day: Noon-10pm

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!!!!!