Kai Lightner, Paxton Mann and Cameron Mann, three members of the Junior Climbing Team at Triangle Rock Club (TRC), traveled to Ibarra, Ecuador in Novem- ber to compete in the International Federation of Sport Climbing's Inaugural Pan American Youth Championships... and did very well! They represented the United States in the three disciplines of competition - Bouldering, Speed Climbing and Sport Climbing.

"Despite all of the obstacles that seemed to be thrown at the climbers - rain, extreme temperatures and weather changes - they still managed to overcome and out-perform the competition," says Coach Shane Messer who traveled with them. This was Team TRC's first international competition and to be invited, climbers had to place in the top four during the National Championships in one of the ten climbing categories in their age group.

Kai Lightner, 11, became the first ever 11U Pan American Champion in both Bouldering and Sport Climbing and won the All-Around category making him the 11U All-Around Pan American Champion! Kai has been climbing since he was 7 and holds numerous titles from other competitions as well. "I love to climb. Getting to compete and doing well is kind of like icing on the cake," he says.

Cameron Mann, 11, didn't see a real challenge until the last race where he climbed against the best speed climber in Ecuador. Cameron earned Second Place in the 11U Speed Climbing competition - that's second place in the Western hemisphere! "I enjoyed climbing, meeting new people, visiting new places and trying new foods," he tells Active Alex. "But my favorite thing was haggling and bargaining at the street market."

Paxton Mann, 13, competed in the 13U category but despite a very promising start, finished just out of the finals. He was pleased with his performance, though, and the trip overall. "I'm looking forward to going to other countries in future competitions," says Paxton.

Coach Messer discovered rock climbing at age 19 after his kidneys stopped working. "I had to find something to get back in shape and once I started climbing, I never looked back!" Messer coaches the TRC Youth Climbing Team and sets routes for major competitions. "TRC has the only competition climbing team in North Carolina," he tells Active Alex. In fact, Kai, who lives in Fayetteville and trains at a gym there, comes to TRC once a week to train with Messer and the Junior Climbing Team. "Most climbers, young and old, climb to get better. Like our Youth Climbing Crew - they don't compete but have fun and play climbing games," says Messer. "But, when an individual is ready, it's nice to have the option to compete as well."

The Climbing Team is back at it already with regular training and their eyes on the upcoming ABS (bouldering) Na- tional Championship in February in Boulder, CO. They all agree that one of the greatest things about Ecuador was the food. But would they recommend the Ecuadorian delicacy they dined on while they were there? "It came on a plate - teeth and all," says Kai. "I named him Thomas... and felt bad for him afterwards." The Paxton boys say "when in Rome, but not at home." Give TRC a call to find out what that delicacy was...

Congratulations Kai, Paxton and Cameron!

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