Night before the comp!

Everyone knows the feeling: it's the night before the competition. The routes are set and all that needs to be done is to wait until dawn to see them unveiled to the competitors and watch as they pantomime the moves in their minds and through hand gestures hoping to unlock the sequences created. I think the nerves for the routesetter are as present as they are for the competitors. We're constantly thinking, "does that move go how I envisioned it?" "will they do it differently?" "is that route really 5.12 or will they think it's easier?" There's so many variables that go into crafting a worthwhile competition climb and it really comes down to the climbers' performances on the line to finally determine whether the routesetter's efforts were worthy or not.

For me, I'm less nervous and more relieved that the hardest part of my work is done. Now all that has to be done is sit back, watch, and enjoy.