Escaped prisoners, nerds and hula girls were all part of the crowd that gathered Saturday at the Student Recreation Center rock
wall for the fifth annual Vertical Circus rock-climbing competition.
The five-hour competition included conventional events such as speed climbing and bouldering, as well as eccentric events such as blindfolded and one-armed climbing. A costume contest added to the Circus, with about 65 competitors dressed as everything from ’80s breakdancers and spandex-clad sport climbers to Chia Pets and lions.
The rock wall staff had been planning the competition since the beginning of winter term, volunteer coordinator Katie Sadowski said.
“I got introduced to the climbing community here through the Vertical Circus,” Sadowski said. “I realized what an awesome group of care-free, fun-loving people are here who are all about getting it started. Everyone is in costume and no one cares. Anything and everything.”
Junior Charlie Dorst, a regular at the rock wall, donated a trophy he made for the competition in his metal working class. Dorst spent approximately 40 hours on the trophy, which displayed miniature climbers complete with climbing gear.
“It shows how much people love this,” Sadowski said. “Nobody asked him to make it. He just showed up and said, ‘Hey, I made
a trophy.’”
The first part of the competition was devoted to the speed, blindfolded, one-arm and crack climbing. These were timed events where competitors climbed vertically up the wall.
The bouldering event took up the second part of the competition. Climbers attempted a series of routes, called problems, that are low to the ground and can be climbed without a rope. The climbers who finished the most problems moved on to the final problem, a long traverse across the wall.
“This was the most accessible Vertical Circus ever,” rock wall manager Dan Crowe said. “Everything went smoothly. The route setting was impeccable. It was a genuine good time with the costumes. It was the most fun I’ve had at a rock-climbing competition.”
Senior Cole Southworth said the atmosphere added to the climbing experience.
“I like everybody dressing up, their energy, and everybody being goofy,” Southworth said. “Where else do you get pirates, spandex, Chia Pets, and a cow outside of a pagan holiday?”

Aiimee Furber is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald