Athletics
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with climbing gear stepping up to the base of a rock climb, but the truth is all the latest gear is only to keep us safe at height. Once we start climbing we are all on our own, with only our ability to climb with our hands and feet on the rock or climbing wall. With MAC’s new bouldering area on the way, members will be given increased access to practice the primal art of climbing. Bouldering is unique as it focuses on lower heights that don’t require a rope or harness for protection, but rely on a thickly padded floor to protect the climber from falls. Many climbers consider bouldering the most minimal and primitive aspect of the sport. All bouldering requires is some thin-soled climbing shoes and a little chalk to keep your hands dry. Climbing provides a true full body workout and engages your mind and body to achieve the task of getting higher on the wall. While a climber is on the wall she must process her body positions and movements to make upward progress toward the hand holds. This requires pressure and tension through the legs extending all the way to the big toe, while constantly engaging the entire core to keep one’s feet on the wall. As the climbing terrain gets steeper and has more of an overhang, all of these muscles must engage more and more as the climber relies on the combined effort of pulling with their arms and pushing down with their legs, engaging their entire lower body to gain progress on the route. For many who have always wanted to do a pull-up, climbing is one of the best steps toward being capable of doing bodyweight pull-ups without assistance. Climbing also has the added benefit of challenging our problem-solving skills as we examine routes and movements on the ground and test different body positions and movements to unlock the sequence of moves required to climb the route on the climbing wall. In fact, bouldering refers to routes as “boulder problems” further illustrating the challenging nature of figuring out the sequence of moves. The next time you are looking for an excellent workout, consider the primitive sport of climbing and the challenges it affords you in cognitive brain function, strength, flexibility, and choreography. Whether we are trying to escape a crib as a baby, climb a tree to get a coconut for food, or escaping the grizzly claws of a bear, we were born to climb. Thankfully MAC offers this opportunity in a safe environment with highly qualified instructors and no one has to be naked and afraid like our primitive ancestors.
Squash
Juniors Continue to Play in Offseason Summer usually signals the slow time in the squash season, but at MAC squash is always going strong, as junior programs continue to run through the summer, and open play Thursday evenings continue as players come out and test their skills in a social round robin format.
MAC’s junior sqaush players remained busy over the summer months. The end of season signals time for club championships. The adults completed their version earlier in the year, but the juniors were still to be contested. In the U13 division Brennan Roy played a tough five-game semifinal to reach the championship round, but Hayden Burr managed to run through the draw and take the title in a three-game set. In the U15 division, Gordon Lam went undefeated in the five-person round robin, edging out second place finisher Alec Spiro in an exciting five-game match. In the U19 draw, Spencer Burt won his semifinal over Matthew Bernstein in three tough games, while Atticus Jones beat Caleb Spiro in three to meet Spencer in the final. Unfortunately the final was delayed by injury. Stay tuned for results in an upcoming edition. Congrats to all the MAC junior players for a great season. MAC squash is also involved in an exciting new youth outreach endeavor. Bernstein has created a youth program called SWEAT (Squash Weights Education and Training), which partners with Portland Parks & Recreation to offer squash through the city’s summer programs, offering a wide variety of Portland’s youth the opportunity to play Continued on page 68 September 2013
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