The Most Traditional Competition: Boarding School at the BoulderCup

 

Once again this year, Steinmühle Boarding School sent a small group to compete in the DIV Schools’ BoulderCup. Christian Schäfer, a member of the teaching staff, provides a glimpse into how the competition unfolded:

This year, we met at the Lietz School in Bieberstein near Fulda for the BoulderCup. Bouldering is rope-free climbing at jumping height and a recreational form of climbing. The competition took place for the 16th consecutive year and is by far the most traditional and regularly held competition among the schools of the DIV (Die Internate Vereinigung e.V.). A total of 38 students, 7 alumni, and 6 teachers competed for a top finish.

In good seats

Although we had no chance of winning the overall trophy, we were still determined to secure as many individual victories as possible. And in the end, we didn’t do too badly at all. In addition to doing something meaningful as part of a community of many enthusiastic climbers, we had a lot of fun, met or reconnected with like-minded people, and took home many new climbing experiences.

We even have a few podium finishes to report: Johannes Tetzner took second place in the U13 boys’ division, Kris Gorges placed third in the highly competitive U16 girls’ division, and Christian Schäfer took first place in the Educators/Alumni category. Unfortunately, due to the strong competition, Velten and Jacques were unable to secure a spot in the top three. Landheim Ammersee once again won the overall trophy this year.

Here’s how it went

We set off on Saturday morning after breakfast and arrived in Bieberstein at noon after a peaceful drive. Since we were the first to arrive, we were able to pick the best spots to sleep in the gym and also got the best mats to sleep on. After lunch at 1:00 p.m. in the dining hall of the castle—an impressive building—the competition began at 2:00 p.m. following a few opening remarks by Mr. Lange, a teacher and climbing coach at Bieberstein, and a warm welcome from the boarding school director, Mr. Meister. Until 6:00 p.m., everyone bouldered to the best of their ability, trying to secure the win. After dinner, there were tiebreakers in the U13 girls’ and male educators’ categories. After that, the evening was free for everyone to enjoy as they wished; people could continue climbing—which many did—and later, the “Schopp,” Bieberstein’s student tavern, opened. Tired but in good spirits, the evening drew to a close late. It wasn’t until half past midnight that things finally began to quiet down in the gym, where everyone was sleeping.

Breakfast was served at nine on Sunday. On the way home, we stopped briefly to take a look at the rock face and thought wistfully about the “lost” day >Rock Climbing<. Unfortunately, it had snowed on Saturday morning and again overnight into Sunday, so our original plan to go rock climbing at the Steinwand near Poppenhausen couldn’t be carried out because the rock was wet. The drive home flew by, and we were back at the Steinmühle just in time for SchniPoSa.

 

It’s all about exchange and interaction with others

 

Beyond the actual bouldering, however, the competition is primarily about fostering exchange among students from different boarding schools—allowing them to learn about the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of their own schools, as well as other ways of life, meet new people, and interact with them. For educators as well, the gathering is invaluable for gaining insight into their own professional lives and receiving an outside perspective on their own approaches, and it offers many benefits. As a result, many strong friendships and connections have been formed across Germany in recent years.

We’ll keep training hard and compete next year to once again vie for the overall trophy in bouldering. Next year, Landheim Ammersee will host the competition.