LOWDOWN - Hueco Rock Rodeo

The Rock Rodeo marks the end of another season in Hueco Tanks. Aside from a few exceptions, this season had been marked by little news and even smaller crowds. The days leading up to the Rodeo were as quiet as ever, as the late season hold-outs wondered who would roll in with the tumbleweeds. Alas, tradition would have its way, and overnight the desert in El Paso, Texas, awoke.

I scurried out of bed and out the door (some of us have a job to do) in hopes to get on the mountain early enough to catch all the hard sends. The anticipation leading into the day was the women’s mutant category, in which Thomasina Pidgeon and Alex Puccio were both registered. Could local mama Thomasina, in her second consecutive season in Hueco, take down the visiting gym crusher? Her local experience and Puccio’s V12 power matched them up perfectly. The rest of the whispering was fueled by the Desperanza project which was worth the most points on the scorecard. This was clearly bait for Daniel Woods to both make Rodeo history but also, having come off the previous week’s send of Terremer (V15), to send an uncanny two V15s in the same day since he had fallen on the last move of Desperanza the previous week…twice. The stage was set.

Daniel Woods put his pad down and without stretching a single finger, hiked Power of Silence (V10) first try like it was a walk up a ladder. From there, Daniel stopped off at Loaded Direct (V12), and fired it first try. Not a bad start to the day, but as the rest of the mutants stayed to session his scraps, Daniel was anxious to attempt Desperanza. Before his fingers tired, before the temps got too warm, and before “people grease up the bone hold” he needed to lay it to rest. Woods headed off alone.

The key to success at The Rock Rodeo is to know exactly what your plan is and exactly how the sun moves. You must have the problems you plan on sending dialed and be able to repeat them all fast. You will be a testament to the power of confidence obtained by defeating previous challenges. This creates a unique quality in the rodeo. That is, mutants rack up a 10-hour scorecard that will make you want to quit bouldering. Climbing V15, V13, V12, V12, V12, and V12 in a day is pretty much unheard of except at the rodeo. It is also chance to measure yourself against previous rodeo winners, party with the Park Rangers, burn a ton of pallets, and drink a ton of beer.

Daniel took a burn on the project and fell off the ‘bone move.’ Angered and forced to take a five-minute break, Daniel continued to work the final hard moves of the problem. “Daniel,” I snarled, “Where’s the self discipline man? You got those moves dialed. Focus on the task at hand here. Rest dammit!” He looked at me as though I was about to have some words stuck in my teeth. So, I zipped it, picked up my camera, and fired off 100-odd photos of his send. Within another five minutes, Daniel slid around the corner and took down Tequila Sunrise (V12) first go, followed by Puccio, who by doing so secured her lead over Thomasina.

As the day progressed, the tired competitors bagged some easier boulders to assure they complete the allotted six problems. They turned in their cards and made their way back to the Rock Ranch. Following a party with green chili burgers, Avery Beer, Five Ten schwag, and dancing, the winners of each category were announced, Puccio and Woods taking top honors. After they accepted their awards, legendary Hueco Tanks ambassador and Rodeo MC, Rick Oliver, dismissed us in true Hueco Rock Rodeo fashion, “Congrats to all the winners, now get the f**k off the stage.”

RESULTS

Men’s

1. Daniel Woods

• Desperanza – V15
• Alma Blanca – V13
• Tequila Sunrise – V12
• Loaded Direct – V12
• Barefoot on Sacred Ground – V12
• Diaphanous Sea – V12

2. Sam Davis
3. Garret Gregor

Women’s

1. Alex Puccio

• Tequila Sunrise – V12
• Free Willy – V10
• PFOS – V9
• Mcbain – V8
• Adjust your Attitude – V8
• Daily Dick Dose – V7

2. Thomasina Pidgeon
3. Audrey Gawrych

Last year’s winner, Paul Robinson’s card:

• Terre De Sienne –V14
• Algerita – V13
• Diabolique – V13
• Alma Blanca – V13
• Diaphanous Sea – V12
• Loaded Direct – V12