From April 4 to April 6, 2014, the 8th "Salewa Cup" National University Outdoor Skills Competition of Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Club was successfully held. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the club, the competition’s resounding success paid tribute to this milestone.
The first highlight of the competition was the opening ceremony performance. To the beat of rousing music, two members of the Mountain Eagle Club dashed from opposite sides toward the southern wall. Upon reaching the top, they unfurled a banner at the summit, which then slowly descended. Two powerful banners descended from the sky. The upper scroll read: “Mountain winds spur strong wings, forging ahead together — one heart for twenty-five years,” and the lower scroll: “Eagles’ cries herald great journeys, heroes advancing as one — passion from all directions unites in one hall.” This creatively delightful opening won thunderous applause from the audience.
After the wonderful performances, Zhang Mohan, President of Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Club and host of the event, delivered a speech. Subsequently, Li Ning, Director of the Physical Education Department at Peking University; Wang Yiming, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee at Peking University; and Ciluo, Deputy Director of the Mountaineering Exploration Department at the China Mountaineering Association, took the stage in succession. The opening ceremony also invited Ou Yangxu, an outstanding alumnus of Peking University, a founding member of the Mountain Eagle Club, President of the Tibet Outdoor Association, and Chairman of Tibet Tourism, who reviewed in detail the early days of the Mountain Eagle Club. The initial struggles and heartwarming moments were vividly presented. Over the past 25 years, despite many challenges, the spirit and character of every generation of Mountain Eagles have remained unchanged, along with their passion and longing for mountain climbing. Guests attending the opening ceremony also included Qian Yongjian, Deputy Secretary of the Physical Education Department at Peking University; Sun Bin, former member of the Mountain Eagle Club and Principal of Peak Outdoor Sports School; and Quentin, Marketing Manager of Salewa, representing the sponsor.
After the opening ceremony, the competitions were held in different zones. Four major events—rock climbing bouldering, survival escape, ladder climbing, and equipment skills—started simultaneously, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
【Bouldering Competition】The competition was intense. There were five fixed routes in the bouldering event, and participants chose routes based on their abilities, with the goal of completing as many as possible. The competition area often featured big dynamic moves—leaps where both hands and feet left the holds simultaneously in an attempt to grab higher holds. As the audience held their breath, sudden bursts of cheers erupted. In the speed event, male and female athletes raced against time, demonstrating agility. Commentary for the bouldering event was provided by Li Lan, a veteran member of the Mountain Eagle Club, which came as a pleasant surprise and encouragement to the participants.
【Survival Escape】This event simulated three participants trapped on a cliff edge, needing to climb to the top for survival. Competitors could only use a single piece of equipment—a rope approximately 30 meters long—to scale a nearly four-meter-high vertical wall. In these “moments of crisis,” participating teams showed boundless creativity and employed various ingenious strategies. Under the dual tests of teamwork and physical endurance, no team gave up easily, vowing not to surrender until the last minute, fully demonstrating the competitive spirit.
【Ladder Climbing】Required three athletes to climb a 12-meter-high ladder made of seven horizontal beams without using any tools. Team members cooperated ingeniously, utilizing steps, kicks, pushes, pulls, lifts, hooks, and hangs, resulting in non-stop excitement and continuous applause from the surrounding audience.
【Equipment Skills】Focused on assessing the survival capabilities of the participating teams in the field. From the folding of tent poles to the placement of sleeping pads, every detail was evaluated under strict rules. These weren’t meant to frustrate participants, but rather to emphasize that only through attention to detail can safety be ensured. The deeper intent of the competition was to promote outdoor-related standards and norms.
At 4 p.m., the first day of competition concluded. A subsequent buffet allowed participants to exchange experiences and build friendships.
【Orienteering Competition】kicked off at 9 a.m. on April 6 in Beigongshan Forest Park. Teams had to rely solely on maps and compasses to locate checkpoints, demanding strong map-reading and orientation skills. During the competition, three team members studied maps together, encouraged each other, and dashed forward, catching the attention of park visitors. When teams passed each other, they cheered and signaled support, contributing to an excellent competitive atmosphere. The orienteering event ended around noon, marking the successful completion of the two-day competition.
At the closing ceremony, Shi Hao, Chairman of the Council of Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Club, delivered the closing remarks. This was followed by the award ceremony, where teams posed for photos holding their flags and made plans to meet again next year. Beyond the competition, university outdoor clubs gained another platform to share experiences, forge ahead together, and promote the better development of outdoor activities on campus. Once again, congratulations to the 8th "Salewa Cup" National University Outdoor Skills Competition for its resounding success!
Winners List:(Competition prizes were provided by the event’s sponsor, Salewa)
【Top Five Overall】:
Peking University Mountain Eagle Club,
Tsinghua University Mountaineering Association,
Zhejiang Ocean University Island Wilderness Survival Team,
Beihang University Lingfeng Society,
Hefei College of Finance and Economics Rock Climbing Team.
【Sportsmanship Award】: China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) Shanmingzhi Outdoor Sports Club
【Outdoor Spirit Award】: Xinjiang University Chiji Society
【Determination Award】: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Wilderness Survival Association
【Rookie Team Award】: Wuhan University Baxianzhe Outdoor Sports Association
【Best Team Award】: Beijing Normal University Green Camp Outdoor Sports Association
【Bouldering Competition Single Award】: Southwest Jiaotong University Panshi
【High-altitude Skills Competition Single Award】: Xiamen University Mountaineering Association
【Equipment Skills Competition Single Award】: Nanjing University of Science and Technology Mountaineering Association
【Orienteering Competition Single Award】: Shenzhen University Mountaineering Association