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A new youth climbing team, The Never Summer Senders, is planning an open house from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch climbing wall for any interested children and parents.
Team practices start Sept. 30, and the new climbing team will practice twice a week, rotating between the Fraser Rec Center and the Snow Mountain Ranch climbing walls.
“Climbing is exploding in popularity across the country, and at this point even my mom knows who Alex Honnold is,” said Chris Michalowski, who’s helping organize the team.
He added that Grand County isn’t alone in that it has a growing number of children who climb, and team organizers want to help foster that growth by starting a youth climbing team here.
“Our mission is to inspire youth through climbing by building technique, endurance, strength, respect for natural resources and compassion towards others,” Michalowski said.
During the fall, children will have the option to compete in youth competitions hosted by USA Climbing, though it is not a requirement of being on the team. Additionally, they will receive instruction from Michalowski, who is a registered USA Climbing Level 1 Coach and has been climbing for more than 20 years.
“It’s been a big part of my life and has taken me to some amazing places, and I hope with this program I can pass that on to the next generation of climbers,” he said.
For more, email Michalowski at chris_michalowski@yahoo.com.