Climber Dynos into Guinness Book of World

The competition, called "Cliffhanger" is the United Kingdom's largest outdoor outdoor-pursuits festival, attracting . It took place on the weekend of July 14, 2007 in Sheffield, U.K. Skyler Weekes was the only American in the field of all Europeans.

Skyler has been climbing for about 6 years, and dynoing for about 3. Dynoing, derived from dynamic movement, is a technique, commonly used in rock climbing, to use the arms and legs to gain height and distance in a quick, fast, maneuver. Weekes hurled himself 8 feet 6 inches up the climbing wall in one move.

"I was invited to participate in this competition about 3 months ago and jumped at the opportunity! I've been training very hard with one of the top trainers in the country Darren Flagg, founder of Animal Strength in Boulder. He's really taught me how to accomplish physical feats I never thought were possible."

Skyler trained for the event at The Spot bouldering gym in Boulder, CO. "It's one of the best gyms in the country! They have a wall similar to the official Guinness wall and they let me come up there and train. Without this practice I don't think I could have achieved what I did.

Skyler has seen his fair share of accidents though. In June 2005 he took a head first fall in a dyno competition in Vail at the Teva Mountain Games. He suffered a fractured spine and shattered his left orbit (eye socket). He went through 4 major facial reconstruction surgeries as well as 2 follow up surgeries over the last two years.

"Getting over my fear of falling again has been a challenge. Every time I climb and dyno it's always on my mind, I just love the sport to much for it to stop me. I know my limits now and how close I can push them. The feeling of flying through the air to latch onto another hold is unexplainable! It really feels like I'm pushing the boundaries of the sport and I hope to continue to do so."

Skyler Weekes reaches for the World Record

Credit: Cliffhanger

Copyright: Cliffhanger