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Ari Barak

@abarak22

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Some highlight memories from last season. Couldn’t be more excited about this season!

Go Birds

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How can you focus on winning when you’re too focused on not losing?

I don’t really remember the last time that I’ve had this much fun competing in general. Ever since Finland, it felt like I had sort of lost myself. It felt like I was competing for the sake of competing, and that I was no longer having fun in my sport. This sort of mental pressure that I placed upon myself to perform and chase the high (P4 in Guiyang) followed me throughout multiple subsequent competitions, which in turn ended up with similar results. Fast forward to the Vail NACS, I found myself entering with immense pressure on myself. This, combined with the challenges of a slick and unfamiliar wall, led to me having perhaps the roughest comp performance that I’ve had thus far. It was this failure that, however, that ironically led me to finding myself again. I realized that I had been focusing too much on not losing, rather than focusing on winning and doing the best I could. Instead of worrying about how other competitors would perform, I tried to only worry about myself. And it was as if I had an epiphany. At Vail, I would go from a 7.21 qualifying time and losing my first race at the NACS, to entering finals with a 5.54 and 5.5 average throughout finals to take P3 at the Yeti Speed climbing Showdown. This mentality would then stick with me throughout Nationals, as well as Worlds.

Although my performance maybe wasn’t the best compared to previous years, I still feel that I’ve taken away more from this year’s competition compared to any of the prior years.

P13

Since this is more of an end of the year post, I kind of forgot everyone that I need to tag 🥲. This post includes photos going back as far as Team Trials and Yeti Open Nationals, so if I miss some credits, please don’t hesitate to let me know

Thank you to all who have supported me throughout the year

@worldclimbing @usaclimbing

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Congratulations to our podium finishers and National Team members following this year’s Youth Nationals! 👏

🥇 Jojo Chi — P1 | Boulder
🥈 James Burt — P2 | Boulder
🥉 Francesca Hain — P3 | Boulder • P4 | Lead
🇺🇸 Rebecca Wainhause — P4 | Boulder
🇺🇸 Ari Barak — P5 | Speed

We’re incredibly proud of these athletes and the work they’ve put in all season.

Next up: Youth Worlds in Arco, Italy 🇮🇹

Join us in cheering on our U19 athletes as they compete with the world’s best! U19 Boulder qualifications begin July 22. Follow the competition through @worldclimbing for schedules, results, and livestreams.

📸 Photo Credits
1. @gajdaphotography
2. @thesketchybeta

Creative support:
Enrique Gomez

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Another Nationals is in the books, and what an incredible way to wrap up the 2026 season!

🥉 3rd Place Boulder National Team Champion
15 Athletes
2 Regions
1 Team

From the first climb to the final round, our athletes represented our team with resilience, determination, and heart. We’re incredibly proud of every climber who took the stage at one of the biggest competitions in the country. Their hard work throughout the season led to a top-three national team finish in Boulder, and we couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplished together.

Achievements like this are only possible because of the people behind the scenes.

Thank you to our athletes, families, sponsors, coaches, routesetters, and staff for the time, effort, and support you’ve given throughout the season. Every practice, every competition, and every hour invested has helped build a community that we’re proud to be part of.

Thank you as well to the organizers, routesetters, belayers, judges, and volunteers who made this championship possible. We appreciate everything you do to create a memorable experience for athletes from across the country.

Congratulations to all of our athletes on an amazing season. We can’t wait to see what comes next.

📸 Photo Credits
1. @gajdaphotography
2. @thesketchybeta

Creative Support:
Enrique Gomez

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Youth nats 2026

Well that’s the end of my very short youth career

Even though I’ve only been climbing and been around this community for 3 years now it has completely transformed my life and climbing and competing with my friends means the absolute world to me, genuinely couldn’t ask for better company, everyone has always treated me so well, thank you to everyone🫶

And thank you @merritt_ernsberger for always keeping me on track and keeping me focused, you are the best coach I could have asked for.

Thank you @ttx_foundation and everyone around it for being so supportive

I love all my friends and I hope everyone stays healthy and gets faster cause I won’t be stopping anytime soon.

Time for bigger things😁

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@usaclimbing Youth Nationals 2026 🥈
Arco Youth Worlds w/ @khoifish801 and @zaden_rogers 🔜
#michater005
Comp Photos by @gajdaphotography
PR Photos by @thesketchybeta

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cute lil post nationals pr 👀

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8.766 unknown rxn
📸 @anabelle_supratman 🫶

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Summer kickoff at Vail.

So much fun with new friends and old!

See yall soon sometime ❤️

Sorry not sorry for the unlucky ones who got clipped lol

Thanks to Mr. Tran for some of the nice photos

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❤️ A huge thank you to the incredible coaches, setters, and staff who helped make PNTC and SCTC 2026 such a success.

Our camps would not be possible without the time, energy, expertise, and passion these individuals brought to every session. From setting world-class climbs and designing challenging training sessions to coaching, capturing memories, and creating an environment where athletes could learn and grow, their impact was felt throughout every block of camp.

Thank you for helping our athletes challenge themselves, build confidence, develop new skills, and prepare for the season ahead.

Please join us in thanking:

Jacky Godoffe
Leonie Lochner
Sean Faulkner
Matea Mijatovic
Danyil Boldyrev
Kody Alsadi
Yaroslav Hontaryk
Niko Romero
David Woo
Noah Hendrigsman
Mike Pavel
Jake Howell
Owen Woodman
Kate Flach

We are incredibly grateful for everything you contributed to make this summer’s camps such a memorable experience for our athletes and families.

📸 @jenns.captures and @owenwoodmanphoto

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PNTC Final Speed Recap

The final block of PNTC gave athletes the opportunity to put weeks of hard work into practice.

Athletes kicked things off with a mock competition, showcasing the consistency, focus, and technical improvements they had developed throughout camp. Training continued with target-zone work, precision-based drills, and exercises designed to improve body awareness, adaptability, and execution.

We wrapped up camp with speed relays, friendly competitions, games, and a reaction-time tournament, creating a fun finish to two weeks of hard work and growth.

The coaching staff has been incredibly impressed by the professionalism, dedication, and positive attitude shown by athletes throughout the entire camp. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.

📸 @jenns.captures

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PNTC Block 3

Speed Recap

Speed athletes focused on consistency, execution, and quality movement throughout Block 3.

Training included opportunities to push for personal records while also emphasizing clean runs, weighted laps, target zone training, speed endurance, and supplemental strength work designed to support long-term performance.

Athletes continue to demonstrate outstanding professionalism, focus, and commitment as they work to refine every aspect of their climbing.

📸 @jenns.captures

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