Youth Rock Climbing Nationals Continue In Arlington Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Throughout the weekend, 400 competitors from across the United States and their families will be part of the USA Climbing Youth National Championships, being held at the new First Ascent facility in Arlington Heights. The competition, which encompasses three climbing disciplines — bouldering, lead and speed — will crown 24 champions that will join Team USA for the World Championships in August.

"You can expect to see some of these athletes representing the United States at the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024," Dan Bartz, co-founder and marketing director of First Ascent, told Patch.

First Ascent Arlington Heights, located at 3400 W. Stonegate Blvd., officially opens to the public with a grand opening celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6.

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The company, founded in 2013, also has locations in Chicago, Peoria and Pittsburgh. First Ascent Arlington Heights is the company's largest location, with 45,000 square feet of climbing, yoga, fitness, and social hang out spaces. The facility is an adaptive reuse of the former CoCo Key Water Resort adjacent to the Arlington Downs residential and retail development.

"We invite the community to come climb on the same terrain that national-level athletes climbed to qualify for Team USA, and explore our full-service facility including commercial grade fitness equipment, dedicated yoga and fitness studios with a full schedule of classes each week, locker rooms with showers and key code locks, and plenty of space to hang out and connect with free WiFi," Bartz said.

But before the public tries out the facility, the national competition will be front and center. All three climbing events were part of the 2022 Tokyo Olympics:

• Speed Climbing – challenging competitors to climb a 15 meter (approximately 50 feet) wall as fast as possible.
• Rope Climbing - challenging competitors to climb long, difficult routes up to 55 feet high.
• Bouldering – challenging competitors to climb short, difficult routes up to 15 feet high.

“We are excited to bring our Youth National Championships and Youth Climbing Festival to Chicago,” said John Muse, vice president of sport for USA Climbing, said in a news release. “The central location, excellent gym and family-friendly activities will create a fantastic environment for young climbers and their families.”

To learn more about the event and First Ascent visit faclimbing.com/arlington-heights and faclimbing.com/arlington-heights/2022-usac-youth-national-championships.