Application

Summer is not over. It's never really over. It just doesn't stay in the same place for more than a few months at a time. Even when the mercury drops and the snow falls, summer is never that far away. To be ready for this glorious and precious time is one reason to be consistent and determined during the dreary and (sometimes) dismal months of winter. When the sun finally has its way with the sky (and school is out) we take to the earth and rock and can apply our strength and skill.
The past three months have been an awesome application of our mission "to get kids outside through climbing." BCT members spent a lot of time outside this summer.

Two decades of inspiration.

A few weeks ago while coaching the Team at Spire, I witnessed something that made me a little bit misty eyed: a twenty year age span of BCT athletes and alumni is currently inspiring our climbing community. At the limit of this spectrum, Peder Groseth, as he nears the 10th anniversary of his 20th birthday, is as strong as ever, and continues to remind us that being an adult doesn't necessitate an abandonment of the journey that gets us here. Approaching 10 years on this planet, our youngest athletes Ben, Hudson, and Jackson remind us that, despite their irreverence towards adults, youth is incredibly precious and fleeting, and should be entertained by anyone who can still experience it. The twenty year-old gym rats in the midst of this range, who have more time and opportunity than they'll realize (before it's too late), inspire us because they could be gaming, studying, or getting whatever (sic). For whatever the motivation, I support their dedication.

2012 Resoltutions

I don't make them. But the BCT has a few mantras (a statement or slogan repeated frequently) that I'd like to remind you of.

Try hard. Play fair. Have fun. Respect your body. Honor your family. Thank your friends. Care for your planet. Breathe. Listen.

'=safety

Proper use of punctuation is analogous to safety procedure used while climbing. It's all about details. Is this why I'm such a grammar snob? Not really, but I think it's a valid comparison. One who crosses his/her t's and dots his/her i's* would seem more likely to be vigilant of climbing safety habits. Indifference towards "your" and "you're" or "its" and "it's" could equate to disaster in a situation where gravity is playing for keeps. I appreciate proper use of punctuation because it demonstrates awareness and the desire to communicate effectively. I hold my climbing partners to similar standards: we check ourselves, our systems, and each other in order to "define" a safe outcome.

Here is a reference for proper use of the apostrophe: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/.

*This use of the apostrophe is not to imply possession, but to clarify. "Ts" and "is" wouldn't make much sense in print.

Whoa, Sugar!

During the holiday season allow your coach to be the voice of Christmas past, present, and future by reminding you to hold back on the sugar. It's unfortunate that a typical American diet is already laden with excess processed sweeteners, including refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup, let alone the bomb that the holiday season drops on our gut. Sugar may taste great and make us feel good, but at the quantities we consume, it is poison to our system. Because food manufacturers tend to over sweeten their products to accomodate our tastes, over the course of the day you tend to take in much more than you realize. Sugar is harmful to our bodies in so many ways but here are some of the key reasons for reducing your sugar intake.

1. Its effect on your liver: "In animals, or at least in laboratory rats and mice, it’s clear that if the fructose hits the liver in sufficient quantity and with sufficient speed, the liver will convert much of it to fat. This apparently induces a condition known as insulin resistance, which is now considered the fundamental problem in obesity, and the underlying defect in heart disease and in the type of diabetes, type 2, that is common to obese and overweight individuals. It might also be the underlying defect in many cancers." Taubes, Gary; NY Times; April 13, 2011.
2. It weakens your immune system: Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of two- and-a-half 12-ounce cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40 percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, like starches, has no effect on the immune system. Bernstein, J., al. Depression of Lymphocyte Transformation Following Oral Glucose Ingestion. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.1970;30:613
3. You don't need it: You get plenty of carbohydrates from eating food that doesn't have sugar added. Me.

Eliminating sugar from your diet should come in the form of "small victories," as it probably won't happen "cold-turkey." This list might be helpful in eliminating sugar gradually.

1. Eliminating soda or any beverage that has added sugar, HFCS, glucose, sucrose, fructose. 
2. Don't add sugar or sweeteners to anything you eat or drink. 
3. Read the ingredients of your purchases! Is sugar or a sweetener listed in the top 3? If so, it might be worth reconsidering. "Organic evaporated cane juice" has a similar effect on your system as refined sugar. It's just a bit nicer to your body.
4. Consume less sweets. 

Good luck.

BCT shines at NW ABS Region Finals!

Congratulations to Bozeman Climbing Team members who competed in the NW Region American Bouldering Series Region Finals. Kate, Hudson, and Delaney stepped it up a notch for the show-down of the best youth climbers from Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. All three made the finals! Delaney and Hudson made the cut for the Division 1 Finals January 14-15 in Seattle.
The BCT would like to thank Boise's The Front for hosting the event. They have a great crew of passionate individuals who put a ton of work into making the event possible!

Volunteer help needed for FGD 11!

We need lots of volunteer help for FGD 11. Starting November 2 at 7PM we will be stripping holds in the bouldering room. We need lots of help washing the holds, also. All Team members are required to help! We need parent help, too. Please bring a battery powered drill or impact wrench if you have one. Here is the schedule of needs:

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7-10 PM: hold stripping and washing. RSVP not needed; just attend.

Thursday, Nov. 3, all day: hold washing. RSVP with jeffho@spireclimbingcenter.com.

Thursday, Nov. 3, 7-10 PM: Hold Stripping and washing. RSVP not needed; just attend.

Friday, Nov. 4, all day: Hold washing. RSVP-we'll probably have enough help here.

Saturday, Nov. 5, 9:30 AM-1 PM. Judges; no experience necessary! Will train!

Saturday, Nov. 5, 11 AM. Pizza picker-upper; no experience necessary! Valid license and insurance needed. Will train!

Saturday, Nov. 5, all day. Baked goods donations; in the same style as the ongoing program at Spire, but for this day only!

...and perhaps some other shifts of miscellany.

This is the largest fundraiser of the year for TTS. Thank you for your support!

FiveTen demos coming

FiveTen demo shoes will available to try out at FGD 11 and during BCT practice sessions to follow. This is the best opportunity for BCT athletes to determine the appropriate size and model.

FGD 11

The one and only Full Gravity Day returns to Spire on November 5. Get ready for some new stuff, as well as all of the classic madness. A silent auction will be held to benefit Touch The Sky's youth scholarship programs. More info and registration at www.spireclimbingcenter.com.

ABS schedule 2011-2012

November 5, 2011 Full Gravity Day at Spire Climbing Center in Bozeman, MT.
registration and details

November 19, 2011 Disco Rock Jam at Steepworld in Billings, MT.
registration and details

December 10, 2011 Northwest (formerly Big Sky) Region Finals, The Front Boise, Boise, ID.
details

January 14-15, 2012 Division 1 Finals, Seattle Bouldering Project, Seattle, WA.
details

ABS Nationals, TBD