Scalatabel Climbing Festival France - Steve McClure 8b flash

On 16 and 17 June the third and final Scalatabel Festival took place at the Grotte des Demoiselles, le Thaurac, France. Although the festival is mainly aimed at children, a host of top climbers were invited, including the likes of Chris Sharma, Lynn Hill, Dave Graham, Daniel Dulac and Steve McClure. The latter who even managed to night-illuminated 8b flash - check his report below and video from the event.


Steve McClure Scalatabel Festival 2007
"The Scalatabel Festival was a great trip, another awesome event. The festival has been running for a few years now and is a kids  competition, the routes are only open for a few days of the year just for that event, this was to be the last year ever!! There were some routes that were too hard for the comp and had not been climbed, enter Petzl to bring over a bunch of stars to try and free the lines  at the 11th hour!

Things were tough though, hot, humid and rainy weather did not help, and climbing was only allowed at night, with the wall lit up with  strange coloured lights making all the holds disappear! And the holds were small too, tiny crimps and slopers.

The event wasn't really a competition, it was as usual in the true  spirit of climbing - being out there, testing yourself to the limit and having fun with your friends. There were routes to be climbed and  some top climbers to free them. I got lucky and manged to redpoint an 8c and then flash an 8b - though flash is a vague description, it was worse than on-sight, hardly being able to see the holds! But what a buzz, climbing such an awesome route at night with crazy music in the background and a roaring crowd! There were no winners, but I certainly felt like one."