SRCFC Email Update - Volume 13,  Number 3 (Issue #220)         March 10, 2012

Announcing the 2012 National Conference

City of Rocks AreteCity of Rocks, Idaho

September 24-30

  

Solid Rock Members have an opportunity to gather at least once per year in a National Conference. These conferences allow a time to get to know Solid Rockers from across the country, receive teaching from the National Director and other guest speakers on evangelism, experience worship and devotionals, and hang out & climb together. In the odd years we meet twice, once on each coast; and in the even years, we meet once in the Rocky Mountain region.

 

 

 

This year we are meeting in conjunction with Idaho Mountain Festival. SRCFC will be a sponsor of this event. This the newest festival joining similar festivals, such as the International Climbers Festival, Red Rock Rendezvous, and New River Rendezvous, to offer a four-day event where climbers, as well as trail-runners, can gather to enjoy endless climbing, trail races, activities, giveaways, music, meals, and workshops. SRCFC sponsored athlete, Matt Fultz, will be doing bouldering clinic. 
 
 

 

Idaho Mountain Festival

 

 

 

Our outreach will include providing a meal (Sunday Breakfast) and having an outreach table at the trade fair, as well on mission climbing throughout the festival. See event's page for more information and to record your interest in being there.

 

Chandler Mountain Challenge Report

by Nate Moore

 

Buuurrrrrr! That's the best explanation for the 2012 Chandler Mountain Challenge held on February 11. The thermometer topped out in the 30s and the wind didn't stop all day. That didn't stop over 30 climbers from coming out and showing their support for Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up and Solid Rock Climbers for Christ. Although the weather was uncomfortable, it was perfect for friction on the infamous Horse Pens 40 slopers. It was a joy, watching locals dance up classic problems like Bum-Boy and Millipede on seemingly impossible slopey holds.

 

For every V-point climbed Solid Rock donated $1 to Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up. Over 1000 v-points were climbed despite the chilly temps! Four climbers broke 80 points and two broke 100. The dedication of Solid Rockers was epitomized in Jed Johnson who drove all the way from Ohio, climbed over 30 problems in the cold, and suffered frostbite in his toes due to wearing climbing shoes in the brutal cold.  

 

Hopefully the weather is better next year, but either way, I plan on attending again because it was a blast!

 

Nate and Sarah Moore are working towards being rock-climbing chaplains with Assemblies of God under the AOG Home Missions.  They will be partnering with SRCFC on a full-time basis and serve as our Outreach Directors. Please pray for them as they complete the training (March 17-24) and raise support as missionaries with AOG. SRCFC will be providing some of their support from your general fund giving. (Nate can be reached at [email protected].)
 

 
Character Shown at Championships

 

By Calvin Landrus

 

 

Although I don't agree with some of his observations, one of my favorite climbing writers is Andrew Bisharat with Rock and Ice. In January, he wrote a critique of a documentary, "The Wizard's Apprentice," about the young climbing phenom, Adam Ondra, (see ) .

 

Some of his comments centered on what happens when the young climber fails. Bisharat wrote, "If there was one thing in the documentary-style film that really stuck with me - and not necessarily in a good way - it was Adam Ondra's tantrums that he throws seemingly about 95 percent of the time he falls" and "What Ondra does when he falls goes beyond your standard sport-climbing wobble."

 

Now, I don't know if Ondra's tantrums are evidence of a lack of character but I do know that a lack of a tirade by Matt Fultz at the National Championships showed his character.

 

Matt, a SRCFC Sponsored Athlete, went into the ABS National Championships with thoughts of making the semifinals. In the qualifiers, the sixty-one athletes had 4 minutes to climb a problem, i.e. "get a top", and then four minutes rest before moving on to the next one of the five problems. As a judge for the event, I had a front row seat and had seen a huge number of really good climbers. Matt was one of the last climbers in the qualifiers and I knew he had to climb well to get into the semis.

 

He did well on the first two problems, getting to the top on both. Having seen Matt climb a bunch, I thought the third problem was within his ability but would not be easy. On his fourth attempt on the problem, he finally moved through the crux and was on easy holds, two from the top, when he was called off the wall because his four-minute time limit had expired. He climbed well on the last two problems but by only getting two "tops" he ended two places out of the semifinals and in 25th place overall.

 

His response to not making the semifinals by the slimmest of margins showed me that his identity is not based on his climbing performance but upon who he is as a Christ-follower. He showed the greatest level of Christian character. When asked about it, Matt said, "I was just excited to have the opportunity to go out, compete, and have fun. Yes it's disappointing to not perform your best, but there is a bigger picture, and I find great comfort in that."

 

A good passage to consider in your level of character is 2 Peter 1:5-7: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."

 

And being one not to wallow in his sorrows, the next day, Matt climbed in another gym in Colorado Springs and then attended the Championships cheering and being inspired by the climbers that finished ahead of him. Then the next day, we climbed in Clear Creek Canyon near Golden at The New River Wall. Along the river is a famous boulder that hosts Dark Waters (V12/13). We didn't have the bouldering pads necessary to attempt that problem but he did do a variation called Formula 50 (V11) in short order. Then after one discovery burn, he sent the wall's classic route called Sonic Youth (5.13a).

 

Please pray for Matt and any other Christian climber who has the ability to climb at a level where other climbers "take notice." Pray they will have the character to be the best ambassadors for Christ that they can be!

 

BONUS LINKS

Highlight reel from the ABS 13 Open Women's Finals 

Highlight reel from the ABS 13 Open Men's Finals 

In This Issue
Announcing National Conference
CMC Report
Dallas Kloke Memorial Event, Cuba: New Date & More Details
Featured Sponsor - Zao Massage
Help Bring the Good News to Climbers with Your Giving!
 
 

 

 March 30-April 1***

Red Rock Rendezvous

March 31***

Limetstoner, neat Austin, TX

April 13***

Dinner and a Movie with Beth Rodden, Bangor, ME

April 21

2nd Annual Dallas Kloke Memorial Work and Climb Day at Mt. Erie, WA

May 5***

The 20th Annual Spring Thing at Smith Rock

 

 

 Submit Event for Calendar 

*** Designates that SRCFC is participating as a Sponsor

 

   

2nd Annual Dallas Kloke Memorial Work and Climb Day at Mt. Erie, WA

Dallas Kloke was a husband, father, Christ-follower, friend, climber, runner, a SRCFC member since 1992, SRCFC Board of Director Member and SRCFC Western Washington Chapter Coordinator. To learn more of Dallas or the accident visit http://www.srcfc.org/Good-News/DallasKloke/. To honor his legacy, SRCFC will be holding a 2nd Annual Dallas Kloke Memorial Work and Climb Day at Mount Erie on April 21st.  Read More.

 

Outreach Climbing Trip to Cuba - New Date and More Details

SRCFC Cuban Chapter Coordinator, Maikel Gomez, has asked from time to time for Solid Rock to come to Cuba to climb and to give witness of Jesus as we come. It has been a matter of prayer for quite a while and now seems to be the right time to begin to make plans for a trip to Cuba. So, we are planning a trip to Cuba in February 2013.  Read More 

This section allows us to give extra news about our community and/or to give members the opportunity to spread the word about something that is not directly related to SRCFC's mission - items like things for sale, job announcements, etc. Please email [email protected] with your announcements.  Click here to learn more.

 

 

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Calvin Landrus
SRCFC Director
 
 
 
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Donation Information 
If you would like to support the mission of Solid Rock with your financial resources, please send your donation to: SRCFC National Office, PO BOX 9831, Bend, OR 97708-9831.  Visit Donate or Order
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WARNING!!!!!

Activities described and depicted within this update carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and all other outdoor activities are dangerous. Solid Rock/Climbers for Christ does not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless he or she understands the risks involved, is an expert, has qualified professional instruction, and is willing to personally assume all responsibility associated with those risks.