The World Paraclimbing Championships 2016// Paris
Earlier this year I was asked by Dave Bowes, a Team GB Paraclimber, if I would be willing to travel with the team to the World Climbing & Paraclimbing Championships in Paris, and of course I said yes.
Living, eating, traveling with the team for the duration of the event was amazing, they’re an awesome group of people with more psyche for climbing than you can shake a stick at- and it was Esme, one of the Para team, who took the only Team GB medal at the whole event!
Sadly I don’t have pictures of Parisienne Boris Bike antics, pizza feasts, our bizarre accommodation or Martin demanding a lock-in from a French bar owner at 3a.m.
It was a hell of a crowd for a climbing comp!
The Dream Team. Left to right: Esme, Phil, Bella, Martin, Dave, John and coach Robin
John
Dave
Esme
Martin
Bella
Phil and Esme smashing it.
Team GB podium-ist Esme reading her final route
Martin pulling some shapes in his second qualifier
Fist bumps for power.
Route reading is a very different process when you're blind
"HELLO?! NO! I'M AT THE WORLD CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS! WHA-? NO! THE WORLD CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS!"
Technical difficulties with John's radios led to some improvisation and some funny looks from the stewards.
Lots of touching tributes to John Ellison throughout the week
Mike Langley - Head Route Setter at The Castle - on the mic
Seeing climbers treated like mainstream athletes is something I never get used to!
Team GB Paraclimber Dave Bowes shaking out
Czech yourself before you reck yourself.
In case you missed the punchline, John is 97% blind.
You don't get this sort of fun with the able-bodied team.
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