On a sunny May 1st, the global Ticket to Rockstars (T2R) event series we run for adidas, stopped at the DAV climbing and bouldering center Munich North. A total of 369 climbers participated in the inaugural event in the Bavarian capital, including almost 100 children between the ages of 10 and 13, and them, together with their parents, friends and colleagues made the Freimann gym buzz throughout the day. Exciting competitions and powerful moments, crafty routes, fun side competitions, and an all-embracing sense of community, made the adidas Five Ten event presented by GORE-TEX one of its kind.
The community greatly enjoyed the overall hospitality at the DAV climbing and bouldering center, but the competitive aspect was not forgotten. After an exhausting 4 hours Open Jam (ages 14+), Rupal Starzer took the win in the male category with 28 flashes out of his 30 tops, and Luisa Thomas won the female one with 19 flashes out of 24 tops. Starzer was mostly surprised – up to the T2R Munich, he had never competed before: “I am incredibly happy about my win, it came as a huge surprise: even though I have been bouldering for almost 8 years, this was my very first competition.”
Rupert Starzer, wo has never participated in a bouldering competition before, collects his Ticket for the T2R Finals 2019. Image by Oli Filipzik.
Luisa Thomas, although not as surprised, was no less happy about her results: ”I am so happy about my win here in Munich. First on the backs of my parents and later on my own, I have basically been climbing since I was a baby and to be able to go to the finals in Stuttgart is a dream come true.”
When the two radiant victors were presented with their prizes, and their tickets to the T2R Final presented by GORE-TEX at adidas ROCKSTARS, both pointed out the significance of grassroot events like Ticket to Rockstars, both for them personally and for the bouldering community.
„I think events like this one are incredibly important because they really reach the people at the base. It is because it is so uncomplicated to participate. You just walk into the gym and sign up and that’s it.”, Thomas summarized her experience with T2R.
Louisa Thomas (middle) is presented with her ticket to the T2R Finals 2019. Image by Oli Filipzik.
Her fellow champion Starzer stated: “The event here in Munich was great and we had a lot of fun. Also, I love meeting new people who share my passion for bouldering. And as we saw, events like this are also always good for surprises!”
Similarly, also in the Minis, Kids and Youth categories, the jams were thrilling and the audience was witness to some impressive bouldering by the young participants. In events like Ticket to Rockstars, youngsters who train hard and strive for climbing right up to the top of their sport get their chance to compete in a professional setting. And sometimes, with competitions like these, there are only winners. At the Ticket to Rockstars Munich, in the boys´ category between 10-11 years, three happy participants shared the glory of 1st place.
One of them was Jan Štipek who, together with his family, came all the way from the Czech Republic to participate in the Ticket to Rockstars Munich. “I want to become a professional boulderer one day. Today was good practice: the boulders were really interesting, and there was a lot of good competition. I wish we had more events like this in Czechia, but on the other hand, the setting here at the DAV climbing and bouldering center was amazing.”
Jan Štipek (CZE), winner of the 10-11 years boys´ category wishes for more events like the T2R Munich presented by GORE-TEX. His full focus is on becoming a professional boulderer one day. Image by Oli Filipzik.
But events like the Ticket to Rockstars don’t just live from the exciting competitive atmosphere. They also thrive off the exchange and fun that the side competitions provide, tying participants, their friends and fellow athletes, together. The T2R event in Munich also included a Campus Board Speed Challenge, a Slack Board Competition and a hand force measurement leaderboard.
Additional to adidas Five Ten, event partner GORE-TEX also showcased their latest products and provided an outdoor chill lounge that offered a sunny place for regeneration before, during and after the competitions. And, true to our mission to support the exchange and togetherness of the bouldering community, avid boulderer, climber and route setter specialist for the DAV (German Alpine Association), Peter Zeidlhack, held a route setter workshop before the Open Jam.
He summarized the purpose that grassroot events such as T2R have for him: “Events like this are very important for the community, everybody should have the opportunity to get to know a competitive surrounding while having a great time. And that’s exactly what happened here at the Ticket to Rockstars Munich today.”
Route setting specialist Peter Zeidlhack is introducing the participants of the T2R Munich presented by GORE-TEX to the basics of route setting, a prime example of the community building spirit of the T2R event series. Image by Oli Filipzik.
~ Clara Reimitz