ARLINGTON – Sidney Trinidad would love to be in the Olympics some day. Unfortunately, what she excels at isn’t an Olympic sport yet. She’s a champion climber.
Sidney, 15, recently placed second in the world in speed climbing at a competition in New Caledonia. Last year at the world championships in Victoria, B.C., she was fifth in her age group.
One can see why at the Everett Vertical World Gym. While others, even older competitors, work out on easier climbs, Sidney does the most-difficult one almost with ease. And she does it numerous times, almost without stopping. About half of the route is on the ceiling 50-feet high, where she’s upside down.
Sidney started climbing when she was 8 “for something to do.” She likes the sport because “not many do it,” making her feel unique.
She does turn out for more traditional sports at Arlington High School. She went to state last year in the long jump as a freshman, but she also is a sprinter, pole vaulter, hurdler and cross country runner.
“Those sports help me here” in climbing, she said.
Sidney explained the three types of climbing competitions.
Boulder: No rope. Closest to top or top wins in best time.
Speed: Back to course. Turn, all same route. Fastest time wins.
Spot: Higher you go the most points with a rope.
Sidney said she likes the Speed and Spot events best.
“They’re more showy for the crowd,” she said, with routes where they have to go upside down and make leaps.
In those events competitors are isolated in a room before being called out, backs to the course. When they turn around the clock starts. They survey the best route for them and take off.
Sidney admitted she isn’t as dedicated as climbers who practice six days a week. She has taken as long as three months off of training if she feels burned out.
“It works for her,” said her dad, Chris. “She’s a good natural athlete. When there’s a competition she puts in the extra work.”
Sidney said it’s hard to practice because she has more homework now that she is in high school. It’s also a hassle because she has to ride a bus into Everett to work out.
Sidney said she has no interest in climbing all the time.
“I don’t want to get bulky,” the lean, 130-pounder said. “I don’t want to carry more (weight) up because I can go for a longer time.”
Despite the demands of climbing, Sidney said she doesn’t get injured doing it. She said she gets more injuries from running in the form of blisters on her feet.
Sidney has won prize money in climbing — a total of about $3,000. And she does have a sponsor, evolv, which makes climbing shoes and gear.
Trinidad said they could get more sponsors, “but it’s not what we like to do,” so the Boeing employee pays for most of the expenses.
What Sidney does want to do is attend the University of Washington on a track scholarship.
Until then, Trinidad said climbing has totally changed their family’s life. He is the regional coordinator for the sport, even though he doesn’t climb himself.
Despite her success, Sidney doesn’t see much of a future in climbing. Colleges don’t offer it, and professional climbers make little money.
“I don’t like to climb outside that much,” she said of doing something like rock climbing.
Sidney does hope the sport becomes an Olympic event. It was on the short list for 2020, but didn’t make it.
“Even if I’m too old to compete, I’d still like to see” it make the Olympics, she said.
Even though Sidney would only be 25 if it makes the 2024 Olympics, her dad said that might be too old. He said the sport used to be dominated by those in their mid-20s, but now it’s younger, ages 16-20.
At the most-recent world competition, Sidney lost out to a Russian, who climbed a 15-meter (almost 50-foot) wall in 9.52 seconds. Her time was 10.07. She was pleased that she was one of only three of the 40 on the U.S. team to place.
Her next big competition is the Pan American games in Mexico City. Her goal is to win there so she can get an automatic bid to world’s the next two years and “not worry about messing up.”
