High Point Climbing hosts National Cup Series event

Published 2:04 pm Monday, January 8, 2018

By Stephen Dawkins

HOOVER – The growing popularity of climbing was on display as High Point Climbing and Fitness off U.S. 280 hosted the Southern Grit National Cup Series event Jan. 5-6.

Ben Lowe of High Point Climbing said many more spectators attended this year’s competition.

“It was much bigger than last year,” Lowe said. “We had about double the amount of spectators. People were excited about seeing the pros, but it’s also because the climbing community in Alabama is growing.”

Climbing’s popularity continues to grow across the country, fueled in part by climbing being recognized as an Olympic sport for the first time, for the 2020 Olympic Games.

“Climbing is shifting more into the mainstream,” Lowe said.

The National Cup Series event included the professional competition and also a citizens’ competition, which was open to recreational climbers, and dozens of people participated.

Winners of the pro competition were Nathaniel Coleman in the men’s division and Alex Puccio in the women’s division.

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