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First Team USA
- Beth Wald, Russ Clune, and Todd Skinner, a group of American climbers, traveled to the USSR in 1986 for a speed climbing competition.
- Wald discovered the competition while researching climbing opportunities in Russia.
AAC Sanction
- The team needed official recognition from the American Alpine Club (AAC) to participate.
- Many AAC members opposed the idea due to Cold War tensions and a general disapproval of competitive climbing.
Travel to Russia
- Getting to Russia during the Cold War involved visa challenges and logistical hurdles.
- Despite a last-minute change in competition dates and visa delays, the team managed to secure their visas and travel to Europe.