Bolivia Rock Star Festival

On November 1st, 2008 at the Amor de Dios Neighborhood in the Aramjuez area of La Paz, the First Rock Star Festival took place.

This suggestive name leads you to expect the participation of famous climbers like Dani Andrada or Chris Sharma but can anyone imagine Axel Rose, Slash, Alice Cooper, Boy George or other rock stars participating in sport climbing, sprinting through the streets or crossing the river on a zip line? This was precisely what the Rock Star Festival was; Bolivian climbers disguised as rock stars having fun and celebrating the sport of climbing.

The Vertigo Climbing Club who organized this event, created a competition based on a triathlon theme where competitors would do a 4 kilometer run, a 60 meter zip line and climb ten routes. The idea of this event is based on the decision to start adventure races in Bolivia.

All the stars started from a place known as “Las Cholas” at 10:30 AM, having to run 4 kms up to the first climbing spot at “La Galleta”, where organizers established 6 top rope routes of varied difficulties, from 6a to 6c, then they had to descend and go to the Choqueyapu River and cross the 60 meter zip line. Apparently easy, but after running 4 kilometers and climbing 80 meters, the arms already showed fatigue and many found it more complex than expected.

The end would be defined at El Peñon, where they had to climb 4 more routes, 2 in top rope 6b and 6c and 2 in leader, 6a and 6b. Most of them tried the leader routes, but by their expressions we could all appreciate with the great effort they were making. This was confirmed after 3 hours and 5 minutes, when none of the teams could finish the established circuit, most leaving one route unfinished.

There were 10 teams of 2 climbers each and the level of competition was high, but with a great degree of friendship. The fight for first place was close but the “Guns & Roses Team”, comprised by Ariel Conitzer (Slash) and Silvana Lara (Axel Rose) were victorious.

After the comp a concert was held with two bands who provided the entertainment and the annual award that the Vertigo Club intends to carry our yearly.

This year's categories were:
1.  Best sports evolution
2.  Best team spirit
3.  Best Initiative in sports promotion 

Ariel Conitzer was honored with the Best Sports Evolution, Roberto Oño received the Best Team Spirit Award and the Vertigo Climbing Club took the Best Initiative in sports promotion.

The organizers would like to thank all participants and sponsors that made this event possible: TIGO, RED BULL, CONSULTORA PACTO.