To: Climbing New Zealand Athletes and Supporters
From: Richard Waldin, Climbing New Zealand President
This is my first opportunity to formally share updates with you since my election to the President’s role in April 2020. There has been a lot to catch up on and plenty of challenges at present for all sports and sporting organisations. Thank you all for your continuing support for your Clubs, your Gyms and Climbing New Zealand.
I am pleased to announce new Management Committee members, Jacob Dodds, Secretary, Amanda Speed, Athlete’s Rep., and Lara Whiting, Auckland Sport Climbing Club representative. Full Management Committee list is on our website here.
David Sanders, outgoing President remains heavily involved in the sport, David along with Sarah Hay are our representatives on the IFSC Oceania Council and David continues to be our liaison with the IFSC. David is also engaged with our new competitions sub-committee preparing for our competitions in 2020.
We have also confirmed our Selection Panel for 2020. Rob Moore, Peter Lofthouse and Fabrizio Facchini are our selectors with Ian Hallam the Panel Convenor.
I am also pleased to confirm the return of our key competition sponsors Rab and The North Face for 2020. Please support these brands that support our Sport.
While we have already had to withdraw our involvement in the IFSC World Youth Climbing Championships (this event has now been formally cancelled) and our involvement in other international events this year is uncertain, I do want to recognise all the athletes who have been selected to New Zealand Teams in 2020. The team lists are all on our website under the NEW ZEALAND TEAM heading.
On the domestic front, we did manage to have a successful Speed Climbing Championship event in early March. Several speed records were set, and congratulations to our Open Champions Kade Allan and Amanda Speed. Full results are on PIKI here. All speed records are now listed on the website here.
With COVID-19 alert level at 2 and athletes back into the Gyms (and onto the Crags) we are now starting to consider what competitions we can organise in 2020. There is much to consider as we work through the issues. To assist us, we are surveying climbers and parents to gauge opinions. Please contact your local club if you have not seen the survey.
We have had good news with the confirmation of the Oceania Open Combined Championships (Olympic Qualification Event) now confirmed for the 19th and 20th of December 2020.
We welcome your feedback, thoughts and ideas – engage with your local club, contact any member of the Climbing New Zealand Management Committee or contact me directly.
Kind Regards
Richard
Richard Waldin
President
Climbing New Zealand
0274 972 677
www.climbing.nz
