Courtesy of KMS
Sam Hayden
KILLINGTON — Killington Mountain School student-athlete Sam Hayden is a competitive rock climber who has had a fantastic start to his climbing competition season. Hayden, an 11th grade student who hails from Pittsfield, Vt., started the season by traveling to Puerto Rico with the KMS snowboard team and had the opportunity to go bouldering with some locals, where he cleaned and climbed some first ascents.
Hayden reported that the rock was fantastic and that climbing in the jungle with fire ants and interlaced vines was an amazing experience. Upon his return Hayden immediately started the USA Climbing ABS bouldering season.
On Saturday, Oct. 17 Hayden competed in an ABS bouldering comp at Evolution Rock & Fitness in Concord, N.H., and climbed to a second place finish against a very strong field. The following weekend he competed at Petra Cliffs in Burlington in the Open/Pro class. Against competitors from New York, Canada, and New England, Hayden won first place by completing his hardest climb with five minutes left in the competition.
Most recently, Sam competed in the ABS Bouldering competition at the White Mountain School in Bethlehem, N.H. He had a fantastic climb and tied for first place with a former U.S. National team member. Over the next few weeks Hayden will be focusing on building maximum strength as he heads to the ABS regional championships in Newburyport, Mass., on Dec. 12.
