USA Climbing is excited to announce its 2026 National Championships schedule, including five events across the Elite, Para Climbing, Collegiate, and Youth Series. Within each of those series, the country’s top climbers will battle for the title of National Champion and inclusion on the 2026 National Teams. National Team athletes receive critical funding and support to represent the United States internationally, including at IFSC World Cups and World Championships. “We’re looking forward to sharing our biggest season yet with athletes and fans,” said Marc Norman, President & CEO of USA Climbing. “We’re grateful for the incredible support of our gym partners, who will host championship events across the country before we wrap up the season at USA Climbing’s own National Training Center in Salt Lake City.” 2026 Dates and Locations February 11–15 | YETI Climbing National Championships High Point Climbing and Fitness | Orlando, FL Event Resources February 28–March 1 | Para Climbing National Championships Momentum Climbing | Katy, TX Event Resources March 4–8 | National Team Trials Presented by The North Face Portland Rock Gym Beaverton | Portland, OR Event Resources May 21–24 | Collegiate National Championships Central Rock Gym | Kennesaw, GA Event Resources June 26–July 3 | Youth National Championships USA Climbing National Training Center | Salt Lake City, UT Event Resources Quotes John Wiygul, President of High Point Climbing and Fitness “We’re honored to host USA Climbing’s YETI Nationals at our brand-new facility in Orlando. This event will be an incredible opportunity to showcase our flagship gym on the national stage and put Florida on the map for competitive climbing.” Rees Williams, General Manager of Momentum Katy “The Para Climbing National Championships bring together the nation’s most inspiring and elite adaptive athletes to test their skill, strength, and determination on the wall. We’re honored to welcome competitors, routesetters, coaches, and fans from across the country for an unforgettable weekend of competition, community, and celebration of what’s possible in climbing. Join us as we cheer on these incredible athletes and showcase the spirit of inclusion, grit, and adventure that defines our sport!” Gary Rall, Owner & Founder, and Brendan Rall, Vice President, Sales of Portland Rock Gym “Portland Rock Gym is thrilled to partner with USA Climbing to bring National Team Trials to the Pacific Northwest. After hosting back-to-back Regional, Divisional, and National Youth Championships, we are proud of our proven ability to provide athletes and teams a world-class experience at our 65,000sqft Beaverton facility.” Alex Peacher, Chief Marketing Officer of Central Rock Gym “Central Rock Gym is thrilled to host the Collegiate National Championships! We are incredibly excited to welcome climbers from across the nation to CRG Kennesaw, and we look forward to a spectacular competition showcasing the talent and spirit of collegiate climbing. It’s going to be a fantastic event, and we can’t wait to share this experience with everyone.” Additional information, including spectator tickets and streaming schedules will be available closer to each event.
The 2025 National Team Trials concluded last night at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX. Of the more than 60 Boulder athletes registered at the start of the week, only 16 joined Finals last night to fight for the podium and accrue points towards National Team selection. Of course, the 2025 National Team will go on to represent the USA at International World Cups and World Championships. Costanza Dominates in Semi-Finals and Finals with 12 Tops Renewing her spot on the 2025 Boulder National Team, Melina Costanza stayed in the lead during the Qualification, Semi-Final and Final rounds. With a score of 99.8, including four tops in the Semi-Final and three flashes in the Finals, Costanza undoubtedly took Gold as the only Boulder athlete to top every climb in both Final rounds. Already qualified for the 2025 Lead National Team, her Boulder performance showcased how versatile she is. When asked what her favorite Finals climb was, Costanza replied with the slab, which she topped. “I’ve been working really hard on slab. I love working on my weaknesses, I’m proud of the growth I’ve had in that area,” Costanza said. Adriene Akiko Clark kept the crowd’s attention whenever she finished a climb. In the Semi-Finals, Clark topped her last climb with only two seconds remaining. In the Finals, she executed a high hand-foot match on a sloper, followed by a side lunge to a small finishing crimp on her next climb. Among many others, these split-second decisions earned her Silver with a score of 84.8 Finally, Nekaia Sanders took Bronze with a score of 84.6, bumping out Helen Gillett, who scored 84.4, by attempts. Sanders had repeated falls close to or on the finishing holds in the Semi-Finals, before making a comeback with three tops in finals. Melina Costanza and Adriene Akiko Clark earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Boulder National Team. Hanna Wins First Team Trials Benjamin Hanna’s stunning 360 campus spin from a two-finger pocket to the zone on his final climb earned him his first National Team Trials Gold. In an interview, Hanna revealed that he had no idea all he needed was the zone to win. Hanna is no stranger to the National Team Trials podium, having earned Bronze in both Lead and Boulder at the 2024 National Team Trials. However, this is Hanna’s first Gold performance, which was also his ticket onto the 2025 Boulder National Team. When asked about his future plans, Hanna replied, “A few outside projects and then lots of World Cups.” Notably, Hanna and Hugo Hoyer were the only athletes to make any zones on their third Finals climb. With just as many surprising moves during Finals was Joshua Gerhardt, who took Silver. Gerhardt flashed his first two Finals climbs with a score of 59.9, ahead of Vail Everett by attempts with a score of 59.8. In Bronze, Vail Everett, with his score of 59.8, held the crowd’s breath as he struggled to find a steady finishing position on his first climb. After flashing the first climb, Everett successfully pulled back into the finish of his second climb after a huge dyno. Vail Everett, Zander Waller, and Benjamin Hanna all earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Boulder National Team. 2025 Boulder National Team: Adriene Akiko Clark Melina Costanza Colin Duffy Vail Everett Natalia Grossman Jesse Grupper Benjamin Hanna Brooke Raboutou Annie Sanders Zander Waller Full results from the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside TV. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
USA Climbing’s 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI continued in Austin, TX yesterday with the Speed discipline, which welcomed 37 athletes. Athletes competed for both a spot on the National Team Trials podium and on the 2025 Speed National Team, which designates athletes to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). In Finals, lane A always features the fastest climber from the previous Qualification round, while lane B features the slowest. Having only to beat the competitor next to them, athletes prioritize head-to-head performance over their time. Hom Wins Every Race, Takes Gold Michael Hom reigned supreme from the Qualification to the Finals round, ultimately racing against Logan Schlecht. With a flawless run, Hom won Gold with a time of 5.11 seconds, against Schlecht, who had a crucial slipped at the bottom. This performance also earned Hom his spot on the 2025 Speed National Team. Commenting that he finally achieved a “sub-five-second” run during practice, Hom has high hopes for continued success on the IFSC World Cup circuit. When asked if competing is stressful for him, Hom replied, “I like to take it as just a really fun event, cause all of my friends are here and I just get to yell and scream and try my hardest,” Hom said. Schlecht still earned Silver and a spot on the 2025 Speed National Team after having explosive times up until his run against Hom. In the 1/2 Final, Merritt Ernsberger had two unexpected slip-ups while racing Hom before choosing to fall in order to save energy for the next round. This decision still allowed him to take Bronze with a time of 5.24 seconds against Thomas Lin, who finished with a time of 6.05 seconds. This won Ernsberger his spot on the 2025 Speed National Team alongside Zach Hammer, Michael Hom, Logan Schlecht, and Sam Watson. Patajo Wins Gold, Sets New Personal Record After placing fourth at the 2024 National Team Trials, Micaela Patajo was ready for a podium. Following a very successful Qualification round, Patajo achieved not only Gold, but a new personal competition record of 8.03 seconds. Patajo consistently bordered “sub-seven” territory with a finishing time of 8.07 seconds in Finals against Kayleigh Borek. With goals to continue climbing through college, Patajo also has Olympic dreams. “My sights are set for LA28, so I’m just gonna train for that and keep working hard,” Patajo said. Taking Silver was the young and excited Kayleigh Borek who had an especially impressive performance considering her experience. This was her first time at a Semi-Final and Final, having competed in her first National Championships in 2024. For both Patajo and Borek, this was their first time in the Big Final racing for Gold and Silver. Finally in Bronze was Isis Rothfork, who was the only podium athlete to join the 2025 Speed National Team alongside Sophia Curcio, Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly and Madi Walsh. Rothfork was the 2023 National Champion, making her podium finish unsurprising. 2025 Speed National Team: Sophia Curcio Merritt Ernsberger Zach Hammer Michael Hom Emma Hunt Piper Kelly Isis Rothfork Logan Schlecht Madi Walsh Sam Watson Full results from the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside TV. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
USA Climbing’s 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI kicked off in Austin, TX this week. Up first at Mesa Rim Climbing Center was the Lead discipline, which welcomed 51 athletes. The stakes were twofold: spots on the National Team Trials podium and on the 2025 Lead National Team, which designates athletes to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). Adriene Akiko Clark Wins Women’s Lead Adriene Akiko Clark is no stranger to Team Trials, winning bronze in Lead just one year ago. After nearly missing her last clip, Clark powered to the top of the Finals route. That was following a top in Semi-Finals and earned her a well-deserved spot on the podium, taking Gold in Women’s Lead. Her impressive combined performance also secured her spot on the 2025 Lead National Team. Clark reflected on her mindset during Finals, “I felt that if I was my happiest I would be my best.” Behind Clark in a close second for Silver was Ella Fisher. Reaching the finishing clip off a crimp, Fisher also topped the Finals route. Although Fisher is a repeating competitor, this was her first time on the podium at Team Trials. Finally, winning Bronze was Melina Costanza. Costanza is another seasoned competitor and was the 2024 national champion in both Boulder and Lead. In an impressive turn of events, Costanza also topped the Finals route. Those combined performances earned her a spot on the 2025 Lead National Team. Adriene Akiko Clark and Melina Costanza both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Lead National Team, alongside Natalia Grossman, Brooke Raboutou, and Annie Sanders. Sergey Lakhno Wins Men’s Lead Sergey Lakhno went from 3rd in Semi-Finals to Gold in Finals after climbing with his usual methodical style and positive attitude. Lakhno’s comeback is even more impressive taking into account that he placed 22nd at his last Team Trials. Now, following his Bronze placement in Lead at the 2024 YETI National Championships, Lakhno finds himself on the 2025 Lead National Team. Even though Lakhno abided by the routesetters run-and-jump on the Finals route and successfully started the first move, he commented that this was the hardest part of the whole route for him. “It felt pretty low-percentage, but I got it right,” Lakhno said. Behind him in Silver was Declan Osgood. Osgood chose the run-and-jump option on the Finals route before falling with a positive motion point at almost the same move as Ross Fulkerson. With a final score of 34+, Osgood bumped Fulkerson off the podium by only 1.5 points. This split second decision earned him his spot on the 2025 Lead National Team. Also climbing to the podium for the first time during the competition was Dillon Countryman, who ended with a Bronze medal. Although he fell earlier than expected during Semi-Finals, Countryman, nicknamed “Bob”, was the first to try the intended run-and-jump beta on the Finals route. Although not unusual, nobody in the Men’s category topped any routes on either day. Interestingly, all three athletes on the podium began the Finals route with the intended run-and-jump beta, rather than the popular yet risky alternative of jumping from the mat to the start hold. In the end, Lakhno, Osgood, and Cruz Padilla all earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Lead National Team, alongside Colin Duffy and Jesse Grupper. 2025 Lead National Team: Adriene Akiko Clark Melina Costanza Colin Duffy Natalia Grossman Jesse Grupper Sergey Lakhno Declan Osgood Cruz Padilla Brooke Raboutou Annie Sanders Full results from the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside TV. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI kick off this week at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX! 116 registered athletes will compete for spots on the Boulder, Lead, and Speed National Teams, with the opportunity to represent the USA at international World Cups. For those in Austin, limited spectator tickets are available. The Semi-Finals and Finals will also stream live on Outside TV, starting at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, March 13 with Lead Semi-Finals. In the booth providing commentary will be Meagan Martin, who competed at National-and-International-level events for nearly two decades. How To Watch (all times CDT) Thursday, March 13 10:00 a.m. | Lead Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside TV 6:00 p.m. | Lead Finals – LIVE on Outside TV Friday, March 14 6:00 p.m. | Speed Finals – LIVE on Outside TV Sunday, March 16 10:00 a.m. | Boulder Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside TV 6:00 p.m. | Boulder Finals – LIVE on Outside TV
The USA Climbing National Team Trials presented by YETI return for 2025 and will be hosted at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX, March 12-16. It’s the second and final National Team selection event for the Elite series, where the country’s top climbers will be competing for inclusion on the 2025 National Team. Those National Team athletes will join the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s World Cup circuit, representing the U.S. around the world in 2025. “We’re looking forward to being back in Austin,” said John Muse, VP of Sport at USA Climbing. “Mesa Rim was a fantastic host for this event in 2023. The upcoming National Team Trials are sure to welcome fierce competition and even bigger crowds.” “Mesa Rim is ecstatic to be teaming up with USA Climbing to bring the National Team Trials back to Austin,” said Aaron Kerkvliet, Site Manager at Mesa Rim Austin. “We are excited to showcase our world class competition walls and provide the stage for these athletes to compete at the highest level.” Boulder, Lead, and Speed will all be on display at the event, with each discipline offering its own National Team quota. Athlete registration will open on Wednesday, January 8. All event resources, including spectator tickets, will become available on the National Team Trials event page.