Rockman Sezs: Quick on the Draw-Wrap-Up

Quick on the Draw has been over for a little more than a week and so begins the sad, dark days of winter. Until Adventure Rock came up with the whole Anniversary Week thing, there was nothing to look forward to until the temps warmed up enough to chip ice out of Rockman's alley. It has taken the crew at Arock the better part of the week to recover both physically and mentally from the comp. The gym is starting to fill up with lots of fun routes and there is little evidence the competition even happened. It is totally bittersweet. Rockman is glad it is over and can't wait until next year. What will we change? What will the shirts look like? What can we do to shake things up for finals? Should we make the routes harder? Were the routes too hard? Rockman will let you in on a little secret. He usually has a plan for next year before this year's comp is over. Here are a couple of the highlight from this year's comp:

Melissa Nimmer continued a fine family tradition of doing well at Q on the D and secured herself a place in finals and a strong 5th place finish.
Three of Adventure Rock's moms earned themselves a place on the podium-Robin Paquette (4th place Women's Recreational), Julie Reuss (2nd place Woman's Intermediate) and Cory Busch (4th place Women's Intermediate)
Gina Suckow volunteering to bump herself out of her division.
Rockman's old climbing buddy Josh Knapp climbing in his first ever Q on the D and making final's for Men's Advanced.
The Local-Joe Miller breaking the habit of fourth place to stand on the top of the podium this year.
The Stalag-tight. Rockman's dream was finally realized. The problem now is that the sky is the limit for what Arock can build. Scary.
The Volumes. How cool are those things? The route that goes onto the brick wall is so much fun.
Adventure Rock's Route Setters. The routes this year were great. Rockman has spent all the previous Q on the D's setting until his arms throbbed. This year, Rockman was given a couple courtesy routes to set, but all of the Arock setters got it done. Hats off to you guys (and girl).
The Volunteers. Adventure Rock almost had more volunteers than competitors. Rockman does not quite get why all of these people come out to help him and Arock out each year, but he is grateful. Everything goes like clockwork. It is amazing. All day belaying and not climbing n does not sound like fun, but people keep helping. Thank You, Thank you, Thank you.
Rockman know this is super lame, but here it is: The Sponsers-LaSportiva, Five Ten, Mad Rock, Evolv, Sterling Rope, Marty's Pizza, REI Brookfield, Laacke & Joys, Skram Media, Metolius, Panera Bread, Clifbar, and The North Face. Seriously, these guys help keep the price of the comp low, provide goodies for registration bags, pay for the awards, pizza and shirts and give some schwag for the volunteers. Rockman really needs to give them props.

This year really was a great year for the comp. There were a few lowlights, like lower attendance. Also some of the hard-men that usually make it had bigger, but probably not better, things to do. These were not really buzz killers though because everyone who was here seemed to have a great time. Here are a few photos:

Melissa Nimmer in finals!

Gina Suckow making this route look so easy.

Josh Knapp styling Men's Advanced Final.

The Local-Joe Miller, good stuff.

Colin Kennedy on the Stalag-Tight!

The Volumes on the slab! Go get it, Papa Bloedel!

Rockman would put up a picture of the routesetters, but no one wants to see that.

One of Rockman's favorite volunteers, Steph Dybul

All in all one of the best Q on the D's in our short history putting on comps. If you competed this year, Thank you. If you helped this year, Thank you. If you didn't do either- What's up with that? Next year don't make it any harder than we have to. Just sign up, cause its fun, cause it's a good deal, cause you don't have anything better to do. Now Rockman can take a little rest until Anniversary Week.

In The Spirit Of Adventure,