Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- The World Cup climbing competition in Salt Lake City attracted sold-out crowds.
- Olympian Kyra Condie noted climbing's growth since 2009, especially in Utah.
- Local support and community are crucial for Team USA's success, say athletes.
SALT LAKE CITY — There are probably louder places in Utah this Memorial Day weekend, but if you were inside USA Climbing's headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, you could feel the energy pulsing through the building.
The World Cup climbing competition drew a sold-out and loud crowd, and for Team USA athletes, it was a chance to not only show how far the sport has come, but also how strong the local support really is.
"I mean, it's been totally crazy to see the change that climbing has gone through since 2009 when I really started competing," said Kyra Condie, an Olympian from the 2020 Tokyo Games.
These days, Condie jokes that she's one of the "older" athletes on the team.
"I feel like I'm still pretty young. I'm 28, about to be 29," she said with a laugh.
Still, with her experience, and having moved to Salt Lake City to train with the National Team, she has seen firsthand how popular climbing has become — especially in Utah.
Salt Lake City is home to the U.S. National Team, and the growing community of elite climbers here is a big reason athletes from across the country are moving in.
"It's unreal. The support is, like, huge here," said Ben Hanna, a member of the national team.
Hanna came to Salt Lake City just to train for a few weeks, but never left.
"I came to visit to just train for a little bit. I was like, 'Hey mom, I'm going to go to Salt Lake for three weeks and sleep on my friend's couch and just do a little training here.' And after the first week, I called her up and was like, 'I'm not coming home, mom!'" he said. "I don't think I'd be where I am without having decided to move to Salt Lake City."
For climbers like Hanna and Condie, Utah's climbing community and local fans provide the kind of momentum that makes a difference at competitions like this one.
They have helped to build a strong foundation for the next generation of climbers.
"Support is, like, one of the biggest parts of it," said Vail Everett, another member of Team USA who moved to Salt Lake City and is studying engineering at the University of Utah. "This whole culture just supports me and the rest of Team USA. A lot."
Most of the World Cup climbing events are held in Europe and Asia. So having one in the U.S. is a big deal, especially for those climbers based in Salt Lake City.
"Like, yeah, just really nice for the brain," Condie said with a laugh. "You get to come back and chill for a bit and not worry about being on the road so much. You get your friends here, you get your family, you get to stay at home and get your normal eating schedule which you don't get when you're on the road."
