Peking University Mountain Eagle SocietySEA TO SUMMIT & CAMELBAKCup 9th National College Outdoor Skills Competition was a resounding success
2015Year4Month4to5, the Peking University Mountain Eagle SocietySEA TO SUMMIT &
CAMELBAKCup 9th National College Outdoor Skills Competition was successfully held.The competition attracted24college teams from regions including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Sichuan, Anhui, Hubei, Fujian, and Xinjiang. Competition events included orienteering and outdoor skills, rope technique relay, and rock climbing bouldering. During the event, aNational College Outdoor Forum was also held. This competitionwas not just an intercollegiate outdoor sports event but also a microcosm of the vigorous development of college students' mountaineering, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities in China.
Flags of various university clubs
“It is such a delight to have friends coming from afar. Just as the Qingming Festival brought no rain, we gathered together for this grand event.”
4On the morning of4, at8o’clock, the opening ceremony was held at Peking University’s Yiti Climbing Wall. Guests in attendance included Mr. Li Ning, Director of the Physical Education Teaching and Research Section at Peking University; Ms. Shi Changyi, Head of the Student Organizations Department of the Peking University Youth League Committee; Coach Luo Shen, Director of the Mountaineering Exploration Department of the China Mountaineering Association; Mr. Fang Xiang, Coach of the China Mountaineering Association; and Mr. Sun Bin, Principal of Peak Outdoor School and a renowned Chinese mountaineer.
Guests at the opening ceremony
The opening ceremony commenced with a south wall climbing performance by two members of the Mountain Eagle Society. “When the eagle soars, we look back — the mountain is high, yet man reaches its peak; striving with spring, we speak of the future — the road ahead is long, yet we walk it together.” Banners hanging on both sides of the wall were striking and uplifting, drawing cheers from the entire audience.
South wall climbing performance at the opening ceremony
Subsequently, Pi Yudan, current president of the Peking University Mountain Eagle Society, delivered a speech. Mr. Li Ning also spoke enthusiastically, affirming the achievements of the Mountain Eagle Society over the past26years. Coach Luo Shen acknowledged the vigorous development of mountaineering, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities among university clubs and offered valuable suggestions for the competition from the perspective of safety awareness. The attending guests welcomed the college participants who had come from afar and wished the competition great success. Later, the chief judge and athlete representatives took solemn oaths to ensure fair officiating and competition. Finally, the host, on behalf of the organizers, expressed gratitude to sponsors includingSea to Summit, CamelBak,Smartwool,Jetboil,Fenix, and Uni-President Iced Tea for their support of the competition. The opening ceremony was then declared concluded, and the competition officially began.Rock climbing bouldering and rope technique relay events commenced simultaneously, and the atmosphere instantly became electric.
Ballet on the cliffs
This bouldering climbing event consists of men's and women's difficulty competitions and a men's bouldering competition.
The difficulty competition demands not only climbing ability but also mental prowess, requiring a perfect combination of strength and intelligence. Contestants choose different routes and movements based on their individual characteristics—whether front-footing, side-footing, knee-twisting, or dynamic moves; the movements may be expansive, nimble, bold, or decisive. Every time climbers overcome a difficult move, they earn cheers from the audience, and even when they fall off in regret, they receive encouragement.
The men’s bouldering competition features six routes of varying difficulty, where the strongest compete in a thrilling display of skill. Athletes from all teams showcase impressive strength and indomitable spirit. Every dynamic grab resembles an eagle soaring through the sky or a leopard leaping across the plains, leaving the audience holding their breath in awe and erupting in applause. After a thunderous shout, a hold is secured—bonusa hold is taken, and a route is conquered in the final seconds. This is the passion of mountaineers, this is the fighting spirit of climbers.
Men's Bouldering Competition
Because it’s a team effort, it’s a relay.
The rope technique relay competition is divided into three parts: double rope descent, equipment collection, and single rope ascent, to be completed in relay fashion by three team members.
Rope Technique Relay – Equipment Collection
On the field, team members communicate with each other, performing clean and efficient movements, striving to save precious time for their team. Smooth descents, precise equipment collection, and swift ascents all earn rounds of applause. The seamless cooperation among teammates and the encouragement offered after mistakes clearly demonstrate the meaning of this competition.
Rope Technique Relay – Single Rope Ascent
During the competition break, enthusiastic participants and spectators continue to have fun on the slacklines, laughing and exchanging moves.
In the afternoon17:00, the first day of the competition concludes. Contestants from all teams remain eager to keep going, exchanging techniques and experiences while building friendship through the sport.
Run, young champions
The orienteering and outdoor skills competition took place4on the morning of5at8:00Beijing Xishan Forest Park. Teams had to rely solely on their maps and compasses to locate checkpoints and work together to complete outdoor skill challenges such as tent pitching, knot tying, and terrain recognition. During the event, the three team members studied the maps together, encouraged one another, and their determined figures racing through the bright spring scenery caught the attention of visitors. When teams passed each other, they spontaneously cheered and signaled support, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The orienteering competition ended around noon, marking the successful conclusion of the two-day event.
Orienteering
All good things must come to an end, but promises of reunion remain.
At the closing ceremony, Zhang Mohan, president of Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Club, delivered the closing speech. This was followed by the awards ceremony, where winning teams receivedSea to Summit, CamelBak, Smartwool, Jetboil, Fenixgenerously sponsored prizes and the applause of the entire audience. After a contestant representative shared their thoughts, chief judge Zhou Zechen gave a summary speech. Finally, after a popular raffle session, teams posed for group photos with their club flags, making plans to meet again next year. The area beneath the climbing wall erupted into a jubilant sea of celebration.
Closing Ceremony Group Photo
Those who share our path
As the saying goes, “If you have a confidant, distance cannot keep you apart.” Through this competition, college outdoor clubs from across the country transcended geographical barriers—not only finding like-minded companions, but also gaining a platform to exchange experiences, help and learn from one another. Together, they strive forward, shoulder to shoulder, taking on the responsibility that college students should shoulder for the development of mountaineering in China, and promoting the better growth of outdoor sports at universities.
4On the evening of4, at 7 PM, Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Club celebrated its26anniversary with the “National College Outdoor Forum” held at Peking University’s Science Teaching Building, attended by members from24college outdoor clubs across the country.
National College Outdoor Forum – Main Forum
This forum also invited Li Shuping, a high-altitude medicine expert from the Chinese Mountaineering Association, an outdoor risk management expert, and former director of the Outdoor Department of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Luo Shen, director of the High-Altitude Exploration Department of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Fang Xiang, a coach from the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Cao Jun, vice president of the Shenzhen Mountaineering & Outdoor Sports Association; and Sun Bin, principal of Peak Outdoor Sports School and a renowned domestic mountaineer.
The forum consisted of a main forum and four sub-forums. The main forum focused on “An Analysis of the Current Situation of Domestic University Mountaineering and the Responsibilities Universities Should Undertake.” Representatives from various university clubs delivered excellent keynote speeches based on their own club development experiences, and Mr. Cao Jun and Director Luo Shen also responded with enthusiasm and insightful feedback.
Each sub-forum featured a “roundtable discussion” composed of club leaders, delving into related topics. These discussions not only continued themes from the main forum but also addressed pressing realities faced by student clubs, such as “the cultivation and selection of club talent.”“Securing sponsorship and maintaining long-term partnerships.”There was also sharing of experience on related topics, and in addition, all clubs engaged in detailed discussions about establishing an information exchange platform among universities.
Sub-forum Three:Cultivation of Club Talentand Selection
Sub-forum Four: Joint Development of Outdoor Clubs
It is the responsibility and care that contemporary university students ought to have—to think, discuss issues, seek solutions, innovate, and explore within the realm of possibility. This forum is precisely the starting point of our journey. Subsequently, we will summarize and compile the experiences and reflections of each club, ultimately providing feedback to university clubs and all stakeholders who care about us in the form of a results publication.
Once again, congratulations to Peking University’s Mountain Eagle ClubSEA TO SUMMIT & CAMELBAKon the success of the 9th National University Outdoor Skills Competition and the “National University Outdoor Forum,” part of the Mountain Eagle Club’s anniversary celebration series!26The "National Universities Outdoor Forum," part of the anniversary celebration series, was a great success!
List of Award Winners: (Thank youSea to Summit, CamelBak, Smartwool, Jetboil, Fenixfor providing prizes for the competition)
[Top Five in Overall Scores]:
Peking University Mountain Eagle Club
Zhejiang Ocean University Island Wilderness Survival Team
Xiamen University Xiamen University Mountaineering Association
Chengdu University of Technology Science and Engineering Expedition Outdoor Club
Renmin University of China Free Spirits Association
[Rock Climbing and Bouldering Competition Award Winners]: China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) Shan Ming Zhi Outdoor Sports Club
[Rope Technology Relay Race Winning Award]: Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Mountaineering Association
[Orienteering and Outdoor Skills Competition Winning Award]: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Wilderness Survival Association
[Ethics and Sportsmanship Award]: Hefei University of Technology
Sky Trace Society
[Outdoor Spirit Award]: Southwest Jiao Tong University
Panshi Society
[Striving Spirit Award]: Beijing Forestry University
Shannuo Club
[Rookie Team Award]: Wuhan University
Trekker’s Association
[Best Team Award]: Chongqing University
Bird Flying Mountaineering Association