2002 X Games Return to Philadelphia

Related Resources • X Games VIII - Celebrating Freedom of Xpression • X Games VIII - Competition Schedule • X Games VIII - Frequently Asked Questions • X Games VIII - Glossary of Terms Sport Descriptions • Aggressive In-Line Sport Description • Bicycle Stunt Sport Description • Downhill BMX Sport Description • Moto X Sport Description • Skateboard Sport Description • Speed Climb Sport Description • Wakeboard Sport Description  Elsewhere on the Web • Philadelphia ESPN X Games Home page • EXPN - Summer X Games 2001

Sport Description:
Men’s & Women’s – Two climbers face off in a head-to-head competition to see who can tag the buzzer at the top of the wall first. Both competitors climb simultaneously on separate, but identical routes.

Scoring:
Men’s – In the preliminary round, a random draw places a competitor in a paired bracket. Only two athletes per race, and at the end of all the races, the climbers will be ranked in order 1-8 of their preliminary run times. The final round is a single elimination bracket, which means the winners stay alive to see another race and the losers go home.
Women’s – In the preliminary round, a random draw places a competitor in a paired bracket. Only two athletes per race, and at the end of all the races, the climbers will be ranked in order 1-8 of their preliminary run times. The final round is a single elimination bracket, which means the winners stay alive to see another race.

Equipment:
Anchor – At the top of the climbing wall, the rope is anchored to allow the belayer to safely pull the rope to advance on the wall.
Belay Device – A belayer holds the opposite end of the rope from the climber.

Harness – Thick webbing sewn together to form a waist belt and leg loops. Fall protection attached to the rope with belayer connected on the end.

Climbing Holds – T-Nuts are placed on the backside of the climbing wall so that the holds can be attached and remain secure.

Shoes – Most speed climbers wear a type of shoe with a sticky rubber sole, often called and approach shoe.

Who to Watch:
Meet 14-year-old Tori Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.), the youngest X Games competitor scheduled to compete in X Games VIII. While this is Tori’s first X Games (after winning the 2002 US Nationals) she is no stranger to climbing success; in September 2001, she set a world record as the youngest woman to summit The Nose,

El Capitan, Yosemite, Calif.
Hans Florine (LaFayette, Calif.) is a three-time X Games gold medallist in Speed Climb (95, 96, 97). In 2001, Hans came to

ESPN as on-air talent in his sport, but is returning to his forte this year. After winning the 2002 US National Championships, he is primed and ready to climb for another gold.

Host City Logo used with the permission of www.philadelphiaxgames.org.
Official Press Release of ESPN X Games VIII

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