Third Annual Red Rock Rendezvous Announces Clinic Guides

Las Vegas, NV – The third annual “Mountain Gear Presents: Red Rock Rendezvous” rock climbing festival has announced 17 world-class climbers that will act as clinic guides during the three day event. Clinic guides include Mike Alkaitis, Damien Benegas, Willie Benegas, Roxanna Brock, Scott Cory, Peter Croft, Jim Donini, Arno Ilgner, Joe Kinder, Chris Lindner, Jared Ogden, Beth Rodden, Mark Synnott, Sonnie Trotter, Abby Watkins, Don Welsh and Cedar Wright.

“The caliber of athletes that will be working with event participants is second to none,” said
Paul Fish, president of Mountain Gear. “We are excited to give climbers an opportunity to learn from these athletes that they have read about and seen pictures of in magazines and books.”

With Mountain Gear as presenting sponsor and The North Face as title sponsor, the Red Rock Rendezvous will return to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas on March 24-26, 2006, to benefit The Access Fund and other local and national non-profit organizations. Due to the growing popularity of the festival, this year’s event has expanded clinic areas to offer more traditional, sport and aid climbing sites and routes than the prior Red Rock festivals.

Also for the first time in the event’s history, the festival will offer a Friday “Intro to Climbing at the Red Rocks” clinic day for less experienced climbers and those who have never attempted the difficulty levels of the Red Rock Canyon. The goal of the “Intro” day is to introduce 50-100 people to the sport of rock climbing. The full-day clinics will teach climbing fundamentals to succeed at the Red Rocks and any other outdoor setting. The clinics will take place in an intimate clinic setting by guides from the American Alpine Institute who are also some of the world’s most accomplished climbers. “Intro” participants will then be able to enjoy two additional half-day clinics throughout the weekend. There will also be an optional gear package that will include harness, helmet, shoes, belay device, carabiner, chalk bag and a membership to the Access Fund. Participants can get the gear package, the Friday “Intro” day, two additional half-day clinics and event festivities for $299.

The festival will also offer clinics for advanced, intermediate and beginning climbers on Saturday and Sunday. Registration is $60 per person for the Saturday and Sunday events, and $159 per person for the Friday “Intro” day and Saturday and Sunday clinic combo. Registration includes the Friday night opening celebration, free climbing at Red Rock Canyon when not in formal clinics, a dinner buffet on Saturday night, demos, comps and mini-seminars by event sponsors, a blow-out party and slide show on Saturday night, pancake breakfast Sunday morning and service projects to assist in the environmental conservation of the Red Rock Canyon and Spring Mountain. For only $30, participants can receive access to all of the Spring Mountain festivities.

More than 400 climbers throughout the nation are anticipated to attend the 2006 event. The different crag areas identified for clinic sites feature a selection of some of the best climbing areas in Red Rock Canyon and will feature bolted sport climbing, multi-pitch traditional routes, big wall techniques and bouldering problems for all climbing levels.

“Red Rock Rendezvous has become an event that climbers of all levels have come to love and look forward to every year,” said Fish. “This event is an opportunity for our climbing community to enjoy world-class climbing in a beautiful location just minutes from Las Vegas, Nevada.”

The Access Fund, one of the beneficiaries for The Red Rock Rendezvous, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment. Other non-profits include the American Safe Climbing Association, the American Alpine Club, Friends of Red Rocks and the Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council.

All of the festival activities outside of the climbing clinics will take place at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park located approximately 10 minutes from the entrance to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

For more information and to register, call 800.829.2009 or visit www.mgear.com/rrr.

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