Scaling boulders under the lights

What say you on the issue below?

IT WAS a different experience for rock climbing enthusiasts at The Curve recently.

At the Zenergy Boulder Craze, the competition featured night lighting effects and increasingly difficult paths along the 5.18m-high outdoor wall set up.

Two categories — men’s and women’s — each had 12 participants from around the region, including some of the best climbers from Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Winning the men’s category was Malaysian Hafzanizam Bukhary, who was head and shoulders above the rest of the field. With 10 years of climbing experience under his belt, the 29-year-old had massive crowd support and performed admirably as he navigated paths other contestants found impossible.

Holding on: One of the participants in action.

“It was a really great and unique event. There is no other climbing event like this in Malaysia, so it is a good development for the sport. The crowd’s support for me was fantastic and they really helped keep my energy high and gave me the motivation to win,” said Hafzanizam, who is a two-time Asian X-Games silver medallist and the chief route setter and climbing instructor for the Camp 5 climbing gym in 1Utama.

Second place in the men’s event went to 14-year-old Winai Ruangrit of Thailand while Singaporean Hakeem Kasban was third.

Meanwhile, the women’s event was won by 23-year-old Singaporean Xu Liting, who started climbing at the age of 14 but only began training hard at the sport since 2009.

The petite girl has won a number of climbing events in the last two years, including emerging as the Lead Climbing champion in the Putrajaya Challenge Park Extreme Games in December 2010 and taking first place in Bouldering during Climb On 2010 in Singapore.

Another Singaporean, Judith Sim Mingxin, took second place, while Malaysian favourite Salfarina Mohd Drus emerged third.

While the qualifying rounds took place in the afternoon, the atmosphere transformed at night, with exciting lighting effects that gave the wall a vibrant dimension. With lively music, the event area evolved into a party of sorts.

After the finals of the competition, the brightly-illuminated wall was opened to the public to try their hands in a special Dyno (dynamic movement) challenge.

“The event was a major success and the crowd throughout the day was great and supportive. We really hope to continue our work in bringing entertaining sports events in the region to a whole new level,” said Zenergy’s Lok Hon San.

A number of entertaining side activities also took place during the day.

Among them was a fashion walk that featured the latest in sportswear apparel by Columbia Sportswear.

There were also unique demonstrations, such as a capoeira combat demonstration by Bantus Capoeira Malaysia, which featured children as young as three years old displaying acrobatic prowess in the South American martial sport.

Spectators also witnessed incredible acrobatic feats of control and strength in an Acro-Yoga performance by Inspired Yoga Studio.

Hitz.fm celebrity gossip monger and fitness blogger Miss Fay Hokulani also stopped by to make a special appearance during the event.