BY: Weber Way to Wellness Reporter
If rope climbing was still an Olympic sport, Alicia Weber (multiple Rope Climbing World Record Holder) would be hauling in gold medals for Team USA!!
Rope climbing was contended in the Olympics first in the late 1800’s with the event that is Alicia’s specialty – L position arms only rope climbing. However, given the level of difficulty and too few competitors, the event was changed to arms only rope climbing with legs dangling in 1904 and remained that way thru the 1932 Olympics and then rope climbing was removed all together starting in the 1936 Olympics.
Alicia Weber is one of the few competitors still tackling rope climbing where she has amassed a dozen world records between the Record Books (Book of Alternative Records and RecordSetter World Records).
I ask Alicia what is her motivation to keep rope climbing. Alicia says, “It is very challenging and I like challenges. I get bored with the same old athletic events and rope climbing offers a twist to sports and builds great physical fitness.”
Alicia broke her L-Position Arms Only 12ft Rope Climb record by nearly a full second during the London Olympics. Alicia says, “I got excited watching the Olympics and thought about what it would be like if I was around in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s and could go for Olympic gold – that motivated me to blow away the world record!”
Alicia re-set the 12ft L-Position Rope Climb record that starts in seated position in a time of 3.96 seconds on July 31, 2012. In comparison, female gymnasts take an Elite Physical Fitness Abilities Test and their best in a similar L position climb has been 4.99 seconds and Alicia’s former record for the event was 4.8 seconds.
In Alicia describing her excitement of the physical fitness challenges rope climbing offers, she attempted a totally new type of record combining running with arms only speed rope climbing for the Ultimate Cardio/Strength Workout!
On August 3, 2012, in the Florida 90 degree heat, Alicia attempted the first ever 1500m run with 96ft Arms Only Rope Climb. Alicia climbs 12ft arms only after every other 100m and starts in a seated position and does this for a total of 8 climbs during her 1500m run. She completed the effort in a new benchmark of 7 minutes and 18 seconds.
Alicia Completes 1500m Run with 96ft Arms Only Rope Climb for new record.
With the many physical fitness challenges Alicia tests with rope climbing and her re-setting of world records in speed rope climbing, Alicia is keeping the sport of rope climbing ALIVE and well!
Alicia Weber is an advocate on Physical Fitness and is an exercise instructor and can be reached at Awinningway@gmail.com
END OF REPORT