Port Coquitlam climber Kyle Murdoch took his talents to the South Pacific last week, finishing 24th in the world at the International Federation of Sport Climbing Youth Championship.
Murdoch was one of 23 competitors from Canada to participate in the event, which took place in Noumea, New Caledonia, a French dependent near Australia.
After posting scores of 15+/22 and 34+/23 in his two lead climbing qualification rounds, Murdoch just missed going to the youth 'A' category finals with a 24+ in the semifinal round. He was one of only 11 Canadians to make it to the semifinals and no Canadian athletes has advanced to finals in more than a decade.
The athlete, who trains four days a week with coach Matt Johnson at the Hive Bouldering Gym in Vancouver, competed in the 16 to 17 year category.
Murdoch was not the only Tri-City resident to go to the world championship.
Coquitlam athlete Julia Massullo competed in the female youth B division, finishing the tournament ranked 21st overall.
Massullo scored a 17/23 and 23/22 in the first two qualification rounds, before earning a 16+ in the semifinals.
More than 1,000 athletes from 70 countries competed at the world championship.
