Meagan Martin

There were surprises, drama and dynos aplenty at this year's Nationals, staged by USA Climbing in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Well, I use my feet a lot better than you do,” my friend Ben said. Well, he was right. This conversation occurred years ago in France, when I was first experiencing sport climbing. Ben was not simply putting his shoes on the rock carefully, but adding an active element: “You can grab with your feet and pull yourself in,” he said. It’s a lesson I’ve passed to many since then, and is crucial on steep ground.