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Bouldering

"Heart of Steel" Bouldering Competition, January 2009

Held at the Boston Rock Gym, Woburn MA.
Photos from the final round in the "Open" category.
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Or, View as Slide Show
you should see an image here The "problems" were kept hidden until the start of the final round.
you should see an image here The audience gathers.
you should see an image here The competitors get their first look at the first set of problems.
you should see an image here Photographers get the best seats.
you should see an image here First, a word from the sponsors.
you should see an image here Marah Bragdon gets onto the wall.
you should see an image here Bragdon moving up.
you should see an image here Things get a little more challenging higher up the wall.
you should see an image here Bragdon makes a move.
you should see an image here At this event, competitors grab their prize money off the wall (see upper left).
you should see an image here Bragdon looking for footholds.
you should see an image here Bragdon reaching for chalk before trying that leftward reach again.
you should see an image here Next up: Olivia Metcalf.
you should see an image here Olivia Metcalf grabbing some prize money.
you should see an image here Olivia finding footholds.
you should see an image here Olivia Metcalf about to reach for a $50 bill.
you should see an image here Francesca Metcalf (Olivia's sister, I presume) tackles her first problem.
you should see an image here David Wetmore, first of the men to compete.
you should see an image here Wetmore moving up.
you should see an image here Wetmore reaching for the first $20.
you should see an image here Wetmore approaching the next prize.
you should see an image here Wetmore thinking about his next move.
you should see an image here Falling.
you should see an image here Jon Glassberg grabbing some cash.
you should see an image here Glassberg moving on.
you should see an image here Trying to move left...
you should see an image here Going for it!
you should see an image here Vasya Volotnikov takes his turn on the first wall.
you should see an image here Vasya committing to that same move (no feet!)
you should see an image here Vasya Volotnikov heading toward the $100 bill.
you should see an image here Vasya waving his prize money.
you should see an image here Mara Bragdon starts the women's cave problem.
you should see an image here Heart of Steel gets multimedia coverage thanks to Taylor De Lench.
you should see an image here Olivia Metcalf in the cave.
you should see an image here Olivia Metcalf.
you should see an image here Boston Rock Gym staff attaching new prize money.
you should see an image here Francesca Metcalf in the cave.
you should see an image here Francesca looking for handholds (those big holes are out of bounds).
you should see an image here Francesca Metcalf.
you should see an image here David Wetmore, reversing his hands in preparation for a "vampire hang."
you should see an image here Wetmore confronting a truly nasty move later on this route.
you should see an image here Jon Glassberg entering the cave.
you should see an image here Step 2 in the "vampire hang": hook your toes.
you should see an image here Glassberg preparing for a very hard leap to viewer's left.
you should see an image here Going for it!
you should see an image here Glassberg trying to move past a horrible overhung pinch grip.
you should see an image here Vasya Volotnikov resting before moving up the wall.
you should see an image here Vasya making this "mantle" move look easy.
you should see an image here Vasya looking for handholds while performing the "vampire hang."
you should see an image here Vasta Volotnikov moving past that tricky corner.
you should see an image here Vasya going for that pinch grip near the top of the cave.
you should see an image here Vasya getting ready to grab the final $100.
you should see an image here He's got it!