Sport Climbing’s three disciplines – Boulder, Lead, and Speed – will each get standalone medals for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. Earlier today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced an increase in both medals and athlete quota for Sport Climbing, alongside the full event program for the Games. “The IOC Executive Board has approved six events for men’s and women’s Lead, Speed, and Boulder climbing, with a total quota of 76 athletes (38 women and 38 men),” said a communication from the IOC. “The specific allocation of these quota places across the events will be finalized in the Olympic Qualification System, including the potential for athletes to compete in multiple events.” At Tokyo 2020, Sport Climbing’s Olympic debut, athletes competed in one combined format offering one set of medals per gender. At Paris 2024, athletes competed in a Speed event and a combined Boulder & Lead event, doubling the number of medals from Tokyo. The Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 will be the first to offer three sets of medals per gender, allowing athletes to specialize in each of the three disciplines. “We are thrilled to see Boulder, Lead, and Speed all as medal events on the biggest stage in sport,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “more medals means specialists will have an opportunity to compete in their preferred discipline, which continues to raise the level of performance that fans see at the Olympic Games. We can’t wait to see the continued growth of the sport beyond LA28!” In an update from the International Federation of Sport Climbing, President Marco Scolaris said, “From the very beginning of our Olympic journey we have always had the target of three sets of medals for our athletes. Each of our disciplines has its own unique strengths, and now everyone will see these at LA28.” The Olympic Games LA28 will take place July 14-30, 2028. The news follows the addition of Para Climbing to the Paralympic Games, August 15-27, 2028. USA Climbing looks forward to the announcement of the full event program for the Paralympic Games soon. The latest information and updates about the Games can be found at LA28.org.
The 2025 North American Cup Series (NACS) kicked off this past weekend in Greenville, South Carolina. NACS allows for athletes from the Americas to compete at an elite level outside of the World Cup circuit. Nearly 150 athletes traveled to BlocHaven for the series opener, which featured the Boulder discipline. It was also the first time that athletes under 17 were able to compete in their own U17 category at a North American Cup. Costanza Finishes 1st in Every Round Melina Costanza had an impressive Gold performance with three tops during the Qualification round, four during Semi-Finals, and two more during her Finals round. From one dynamic coordination move to a paddle dyno, Costanza was the first and only athlete to stick the zone move of W4 as well as being the only athlete to top it. When interviewed, Costanza said the next generation of climbing is already here, giving some encouraging words to the athletes in the U17 category, “The opportunities are endless, the sport is growing, and the community is really cool,” Costanza said. Taking Silver, Jojo Chi topped W3 with 40 seconds left, almost parallel to Waller’s performance in the Men’s category. Overall, Chi had one top, with Costanza being the only athlete to top more than one climb. Finally, Evangelina Briggs had no tops, but still took Bronze with two zones. Women’s Boulder Podium (Adult): Melina Costanza (USA) Jojo Chi (USA) Evangelina Briggs (CAN) Countryman Finishes 1st in Every Round Dillon Countryman also had an impressive Gold performance with four tops during the Qualification round, three during Semi-Finals, and three more during Finals. To encourage young climbers stepping onto the competition scene, Countryman said, “Have fun, stay psyched, and never stop climbing!” In Silver, Matthew Rodriguez had the quickest ascent of M3 in only 40 seconds, and was also the only athlete to top M1. In Bronze, Zander Waller finished with two close calls, including a top on M3 with 40 seconds left and a top on M4 with 4 seconds left. On M1, Waller fell on the last hold after attempting to finish with an inverted toe hook. Men’s Boulder Podium (Adult): Dillon Countryman (USA) Matthew Rodriguez (CAN) Zander Waller (USA) Haddad Takes Gold at first U17 North American Cup Finals Maika Ruiz Haddad, Kailyn Leong, Lauren Williams and Abigail Schlotterback all flashed W1 in Finals. However, Haddad secured Gold, pushing Charley Planegger into Silver by one attempt. Notably, Haddad topped W3 with 3 seconds left on the clock. Other than W1, Planegger had the exact same score as Haddad. Another comeback from the Qualification round, Planegger originally barely made Finals in 8th place, proving herself in Finals. In Bronze, Kailyn Leong was the only athlete to top W2. Women’s Boulder Podium (U17): Maika Ruiz Haddad (USA) Charley Planegger (USA) Kailyn Leong (USA) Cobbs Takes Gold as the Only Men’s U17 Athlete to Top Kai Cobbs was the only male athlete to both flash and top any of the U17 Finals climbs. Cobbs also made a surprising comeback from the Qualification round after originally placing fifth. The Men’s U17 Finals climbs were particularly difficult for every athlete to make progress on, especially climbs M1 and M3, which no athletes were able to zone or top. Impressively, Owen Pham won Silver with a zone on M2. Finally, Vincent Schmidt won Bronze with his zone on M4, which no other athlete was able to accomplish. Men’s Boulder Podium (U17): Kai Cobbs (USA) Owen Pham (USA) Vincent Schmidt (USA) You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds of the 2025 NACS Greenville at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. The next NACS competition will be hosted by Climb-Murfreesboro from April 12-13 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Salt Lake City is hosting two IFSC World Cups in May, the Para Climbing World Cup from May 20-21 and the Boulder World Cup from May 23-25! The events will welcome the world’s best competition climbers, including current and hopeful Olympians. Tickets are now on sale for the two World Cups, which have sold out in years past. IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 The Para Climbing World Cup will be hosted at Momentum Indoor Climbing Fort Union from May 20-21. It will be the first competition of the IFSC Para Climbing season 2025, which also kicks off the four-year cycle leading up to the Paralympic Games LA28. Salt Lake City has hosted the last three US stops of the IFSC Para Climbing World Cups and, during that time, the number of registered athletes has grown by 157%. “The Salt Lake City World Cup is an opportunity for athletes to redefine their style and set a good pace for how they will perform the rest of the season,” said Ben Mayforth, a Salt Lake City local who took home a silver medal in the Men’s RP2 category at last year’s World Cup. “For spectators, it’s an opportunity to see how huge of a lifestyle sport climbing is and how both para climbers and able-bodied climbers are pushing themselves!” Tickets can be found on the USA Climbing Eventbrite. The IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 will also stream live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube Channel. IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 The Boulder World Cup will return to USA Climbing’s own National Training Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The Boulder discipline is notorious for showcasing some of the most creative, dynamic, and challenging movements in the sport and this year’s event is sure to deliver. In 2024, 191 athletes from around the world competed in Salt Lake City, where Salt Lake City local Natalia Grossman won gold in the Women’s Boulder Final, backed by the cheers of a sold out venue. “I always love the World Cup in Salt Lake City,” said Grossman following that win. “The crowd hypes us up!” Tickets can be found on the USA Climbing Eventbrite. The IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 will also stream live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
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
This past weekend, 140 athletes competed in the 2025 Para Climbing National Championships at Pacific Pipe in Oakland, California. Athletes were aiming for national titles across 27 categories, plus the opportunity to join the 2025 National Team, representing the USA at IFSC Para Climbing World Cups. The competition welcomed repeat National Champions, as well as first-time competitors, many of whom shared excitement for Para Climbing’s growth as a recently-announced Paralympic sport. Full results from the 2025 Para Climbing National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Finals on Outside TV. WB1: Lakrout Takes First in Qualification and Finals After topping her first climb in Qualification, Emeline Lakrout stayed consistent with a first place finish in Finals. Gina Applebee and Leah Grosjean followed closely behind her with a silver and bronze medal respectively. All athletes were one move away from each other with Lakrout at 19 points, Applebee at 18, and Grosjean at 17. WB2: Biendarra Takes Center Stage for the WB2 Category The only competitor in WB2 this year, Seneida Biendarra, climbed impressively in Qualification with a top for her first climb, and a fall close to the finish on her second. During Finals, Biendarra fell a bit higher than halfway with a score of 26+. WB3: Poston Earns both a High Point for WB3 and a Gold Medal Linn Poston, who fell off the top with only 11 seconds to spare in Finals, was the only climber to top both Qualification climbs. Being on the wall for nearly six minutes, Poston commented, “This was definitely the longest I’ve stayed on a climb at any competition.” Following behind Poston was Phoebe Barkan, who won silver, then Amy Mullins, who won bronze. WAL1: Cook Claims First Place With Two Close Runner-Ups Carlie Cook climbed calmly to a finishing score of 22+. Andrea Wilson and Brittany Chadbourne originally tied in Qualification with an overall score of 2.24. In Finals, however, Wilson earned the silver medal, separated from Chadbourne by only 37 seconds on the wall. WRP3: Vorel Earns both a High Point for WRP3 and a Gold Medal Nat Vorel was the first of their category to make it past what soon proved to be the separating move. Even more impressive about Vorel’s performance was their fight through an apparent shoulder injury, which they suspect held them back. “I was just there thinking ‘How do I do this?” Vorel said when asked about the crux of the WRP3 Finals problem. Laura Heaton won silver, followed by Lindsay Purcell, who took bronze. WRP1: Ruiz Adds Another Gold Medal to her Winning Streak Melissa Ruiz, a returning National Champion, fell on the top hold of her Finals route, claiming the gold medal. After analyzing what she could have done differently in Finals, Ruiz accepted her performance, although she told us she wishes she didn’t fall on the last move. Hannah Zook earned silver with a score of 24+, with Jackie Stewart earning bronze with a score of 21+. WAL2: National Team Athlete Wins First in Qualification and Finals Morgan Loomis won gold in Finals, renewing her spot on the 2025 Para Climbing National Team. In Finals, the three medalists placed in the same order as in Qualification, with Hannah McFadden taking silver and Daliya Hansen taking bronze. MRP2: Repeat National Champion Connors Returns for Another Win Dennis Connors, another returning National Champion, fell just one move from the top, while Ben Mayforth fell only another move below that. Mayforth’s close call earned him silver, with Brayden Butler following suit in third with a score of 32+. In Qualification, Butler actually placed first ahead of Connors after topping his second climb, which proved to be an impressive turnaround for Connors. MAU2: Zarzuela Sole Athlete to Top in his Category Brian Zarzuela was the first and only athlete in his category to top the MAU2 Finals climb, securing the gold medal. “(The route) was a lot more delicate than powerful. The footwork was the most important part,” Zarzuela said when asked about the crux section of the Finals route. In a close second for silver was Trevor Smith. “Our category specifically requires so much more footwork to get the reach we need, and I feel they catered to that really well,” Smith said about the routesetting. Matthew Lynch followed Smith, winning the bronze medal. MAU3: Keough Wins Gold at First Para Climbing Competition Although this was Mason Keough’s first-ever Para Climbing competition, he took first in both the Qualification and Finals rounds with a score of 20. When asked about how he enjoyed the routes, Keough commented on his advantages, “I definitely have the best ability crimp-wise with the anatomy of my hand compared to everyone else. This is my first Para Climbing comp. I like meeting new people and everyone’s super nice!” Following close behind for silver was Braden Shoop, who is also new to competing. Shamus Boulianne won bronze. MB1: Rahimi Takes Gold Ahmad Seyar Rahimi climbed to gold, while Eris Skenderi took silver and Terry Hoddinott took bronze, separated by just one move. MB2: Chao Wins Gold, Bozzone Wins Silver at First Nationals Kevin Chao had his best performance to date, winning gold. Chao was also the first to top in his Qualification round. Meanwhile, John Bozzone, took silver at his first National Championships. MB3: Martinez Wins Gold at Second Competition Andrew Martinez won his first gold medal in the MB3 category. Meanwhile, Gordon Fralick saw a strong start to his career as a Para Climber, wining silver and qualifying for the 2025 Para Climbing National Team after his first National Championships. Diego Kusnir followed with bronze. WOPEN1: All Three Medalists Finish Just Moves Apart Norah Schwartz, who has been climbing for over thirty years and has been a life-long advocate for individuals with disabilities, achieved Gold with a score of 22. Meanwhile, Ellie Kneer followed with 21 and Grace Anderson took third with a score of 20. After competing, Schwartz commented on how far Para Climbing has come since she began. “There used to be 40 of us, now there’s 140 people who competed this weekend,” Schwartz said. All three athletes had similar performances in the Qualification round, making Finals unpredictable (and especially exciting) for who would take the lead. WRP2: Seelenfreund and Gleason Fight for Gold Emily Seelenfreund, who has a collection of gold medals under her belt, found herself on top again. In Qualification, Megan Gleason held the lead with a score of 1.73 compared to Seelenfreund’s score of 2.24, but ultimately took silver in Finals. Caroline Winstel held a consistent bronze placement in both Qualification and Finals. WAU3: Pritchard Represents Her Category Ashley Pritchard was the only competitor in her category this year, finishing with a score of 24+. WAU2: Benvenuti Makes Comeback in Finals After falling a few moves from the top in the Qualification round, Isabel Benvenuti took gold in Finals. “It was a really fun climb, it was really technical and it really challenged your ability to read a route and move well,” Benvenuti said when asked how she felt about her performance in Finals. Meanwhile, Eleanor Rubin won silver and Elise Morley won bronze. MAL2: Long Climbs from Fourth in Qualification to Gold in Finals Kyle Long went from fourth place in the Qualification round, behind Ethan Zilz, Lee Shaffer and Corey Ramos, to first in Finals. Long jumped to gold by only one positive motion point in front of Zilz. Winning silver, Zilz climbed one place from third in the Qualification round to second in Finals, with Scott McKinney making a surprising bronze placement after the Qualification round left him in fifth place. MYouth: Two Podium Athletes Top Finals Climb Both Teddy Westrick and Nathan McKinley topped their Finals routes, only separated by a cleaner finish by Westrick which earned him the gold medal. In Qualification, Westrick and McKinley were also neck and neck for first with the same exact score of 54+(1). Taiten Wakefield held a consistent placement in third in both Qualification and Finals. WYouth: Two 2024 National Team Athletes Renew Their Spots Both Mei Krause and Audrey Chen were part of the 2024 Para Climbing US National Team, with Krause leading the way in both Qualification and Finals with 22 points. Chen’s final score was 11+. NBOPEN: Nguyen Earns Gold in Both Qualification and Finals Elliot Nguyen stayed at the top for both Qualification and Finals. Meanwhile, silver medalist Eliana Wallack and bronze medalist Max Gayford originally tied for second in the Qualification round with a shared score of 2.45. Wallack eventually pushed through in Finals, beating Gayford by one point. WOPEN 2: Finals Podium Stays Consistent from Qualification All three athletes on the podium ended with the same placements in Finals as they had in their Qualification round. Willow Wilcox won gold with her consistent performance with Michelle Patten just behind her for silver, and Carissa Dahlia winning bronze. MOPEN2: Lin Wins First Gold Wayne Lin, who took the lead in both Qualification and Finals, won his first gold this weekend. He and Killian Rooney have competed together before, with both of them also standing on the podium at the 2024 Para Climbing National Championships. Rooney took silver from Drew Coutts by only a positive motion point, making the call extremely close for the podium. Coutts took bronze with a score of 34, with Rooney at 34+. MAL1: Cislaw Takes First in Both Qualification and Finals Tanner Cislaw, who has an extensive podium career in IFSC Para Climbing World Cups and IFSC Para Climbing World Championships dating back to 2019, took first in both Qualification and Finals. Jake Frank, who is newer to the competition scene, took silver, while Jacob Rosenquist took bronze. Rosenquist had an overall score of 19+ compared to Frank’s 20+, making the silver placement extremely close. MRP1: Martin Takes First-Time Gold Paul Martin crept ahead of seasoned competitor Sunny Yang to win gold. Martin and Yang tied in Qualification with an overall score of 1.41 before Martin proved himself in Finals with a 36+ compared to Yang’s score of 25. Winning bronze was Joshua Unterman who kept his place consistently from Qualification ending with a score of 24+, just one point shy of Yang. MRP3: Gleason Earns Gold in Both Qualification and Finals Ian Gleason stayed consistent with his first place finish in both Qualification and Finals. Although Gleason fell close to the top in Qualification, the Finals route proved to be more difficult for the entire category. Mark Jourdian and Ryan Juguan stayed consistent with their placements as well, with Jourdian and Juguan both falling with a positive motion point. Jourdian ended the finals round with a silver medal, with Juguan just behind him in bronze. MOPEN1: Daniels Takes Gold after Topping Finals Route Kai Daniels was the only competitor in his category to top the Finals route. When asked if this would encourage him to keep competing, he responded excitedly, commenting on how positive the community has been. The fight for silver was much closer, with Asher Conneally and Chris Connelly only one positive motion point away. Conneally ended up taking silver with a score of 20+, with Connelly just shy with a score of 20. The top 3 US citizens from each National Team Qualifying Category, plus any Para Climbing Team Pre-Selected athletes, will join the 2025 National Team, representing the USA this year at IFSC Para Climbing World Cups. Full results from the 2025 Para Climbing National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Finals on Outside TV. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The 2025 USA Climbing Para Climbing National Championships kick off this weekend at Pacific Pipe in Oakland, CA! 145 registered athletes will compete for National Titles and spots on the Para Climbing National Team, with the opportunity to represent the USA at international World Cups. The Finals will stream live on Outside TV, starting at 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 2. In the booth providing commentary will be 10x Para Climbing National Champion Maureen “Mo” Beck, who has competed internationally with many of this event’s registered athletes for years. How To Watch (all times PST) Sunday, March 2 | Para Climbing National Championships 11:00 a.m. | Para Climbing Finals – LIVE on Outside TV
Salt Lake City, Utah (February 24, 2024) – To make education more accessible for athletes who are training for international competitions, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, USA Climbing and Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) have formed an agreement in which SLCC will become the official community college provider to USA Climbing. The agreement will waive tuition for USA Climbing National Team athletes for up to 12 consecutive semesters, running through at least the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028. USA Climbing athletes will have access to a variety of physiological performance assessments through faculty expertise and resources in the college’s Exercise Science program. This partnership mirrors a similar agreement SLCC has had with the US Speedskating team since 2018. “We are thrilled about the benefits that this partnership will provide to our athletes. In working directly with SLCC’s Exercise Science Department, our climbers will have access to state-of-the-art assessments and analyses to help them perform at the highest level,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “Additionally, SLCC’s scholarships will empower National Team athletes to more easily pursue academic journeys without sacrificing their athletic commitments.” In addition to the tuition assistance made possible by the partnership, many athletes find that SLCC’s flexible scheduling and extensive online offerings allow them time to train and compete. “As Utah ramps up to host the Olympics in 2034, Salt Lake Community College wants to do its part to support future Olympic athletes to make it possible for them to pursue an education while also training for the biggest competition of their lives,” said Greg Peterson, President of Salt Lake Community College. “We are incredibly proud to be able to play a role in supporting these elite athletes.” A number of Olympians have already attended and graduated from SLCC, including Erin Jackson, who earned a gold medal in speedskating at the 2022 Games. USA Climbing, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, oversaw Sport Climbing’s Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. It was at those Games that Nathaniel Coleman, a Salt Lake City native, became the first US Sport Climber to win a silver medal. In the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Colorado-based Brooke Raboutou took home a silver medal in Boulder and Lead, becoming the first US woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport. Sam Watson, another Salt Lake City local, also won a bronze medal and set a new world record in the Men’s Speed category. In 2028, Para Climbing will make its Paralympic debut at the Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028. USA climbing will draw more competitive sport climbing athletes to the area with plans to build a world-class national training center in Salt Lake City, where large-scale competitive climbing events will be held, and resources and elite training spaces will cultivate new potential Olympians and Paralympians as soon as the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. About USA Climbing USA Climbing is the national governing body for competitive climbing in the United States, supporting athletes, coaches, and events across the country. As a nonprofit organization, USA Climbing’s mission is to promote the growth and development of climbing while advocating for the sport’s values of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and environmental responsibility. About Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest two-year college, proudly educating the state’s most diverse student body in eight areas of study at eight locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. For more than 75 years, SLCC has been providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the state’s vibrant economy and high quality of life.
Spectator tickets are now on sale for the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI! This past weekend, 24 of the country’s top Boulder and Lead athletes came together for USA Climbing’s National Team Trials Training Camp, hosted at USA Climbing’s National Training Center, as well as Momentum Indoor Climbing and Petzl America in Salt Lake City, Utah. Athletes participated in mock competitions, following the format of national-and-international-level events with isolation zones, timed rounds, and competition movement from experienced routesetters. “It’s great to have so many strong climbers and all the coaches here and be able to learn from everybody,” said Dillon Countryman. “Getting on all the competition-style stuff is super valuable.” The camp was the latest stop on the road to National Team Trials, will be held at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX on March 12-16, 2025. It will be the second and final National Team selection event for the Elite series, awarding inclusion on the 2025 National Team.
USA Climbing is excited to announce that TRUBLUE will remain its Official Auto Belay Sponsor through 2028. The ongoing partnership will see the continued use of TRUBLUE Auto Belays in all USA Climbing training facilities and competitions. “Our athletes have counted on TRUBLUE for years, when fractions of a second make a difference,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “We look forward to building upon our existing relationship with TRUBLUE and having the very best technology at USA Climbing events.” The TRUBLUE Auto Belay has been the Official Auto Belay of USA Climbing since 2020. Unlike other auto belays, TRUBLUE is equipped with a patented magnetic braking system, which delivers the best performance in the climbing industry and has solidified TRUBLUE’s status as the global leader in auto belay technology. “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with USA Climbing,” said Lea Ann Zuellig, President and CEO of Head Rush Technologies, makers of the TRUBLUE Auto Belay. “Interest in climbing has never been higher and Team USA athletes are incredible role models for the new wave of climbers coming into the sport. We’re looking forward to giving USA Climbing our full support in the lead up to the 2028 Olympics.” In the rapidly growing sport of speed climbing, the specially-calibrated TRUBLUE Speed Auto Belay will be relied upon as the primary safety mechanism for Speed Climbing at USA Climbing competitions, including National Championships, National Team Trials, and the North American Cup Series. TRUBLUE is also the preferred training tool of US speed climbing record holder Emma Hunt and speed climbing world record holder Sam Watson. Both athletes represent USA Climbing as members of the elite speed climbing team.
USA Climbing, the National Governing Body for the sport of climbing, is thrilled to announce the addition of Brian McAndrews as an Independent Director on its Board of Directors. While new to climbing, McAndrews has a longstanding passion for sports. He competed as a varsity track and field athlete in college, enjoys playing tennis in his free time, and he and his wife are minority owners of the Seattle Sounders FC. McAndrews brings extensive leadership experience, currently serving on the boards of Xero and The Wine Group, as Lead Director of FrontDoor and The New York Times, and as a Senior Advisor to Spectrum Equity. McAndrews’ distinguished career includes serving as Chairman and CEO of Pandora Media and as a Managing Director with Madrona Venture Group. He was CEO of aQuantive, a leading digital marketing services and technology company acquired by Microsoft, where he became Senior Vice President of the Advertising business. Prior to aQuantive, McAndrews worked with Disney/ABC, holding executive positions at ABC Sports, ABC Entertainment, and ABC Television Network. “My most fulfilling experiences as an executive and board member have been rooted in contributing to something new, evolving, and full of potential,” McAndrews shared upon accepting the role. “USA Climbing’s remarkable growth makes serving on the Board especially exciting, as it offers the chance to help shape our future strategy, unlock tremendous opportunities, and be part of building what can be an extraordinary future for the organization.” “Independent board members play a vital role in bringing objective perspectives and diverse expertise to the table,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “Brian’s expertise and professional acumen will be invaluable in strengthening our Board’s efforts to promote and elevate the growth of climbing to new heights.” McAndrews holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard College, where he competed on the varsity track team, and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has also demonstrated a deep commitment to service in the community, serving for ten years on the board of United Way of King County, including as chairman, and currently volunteering as a CASA. McAndrews’ appointment coincides with the addition of Sophie Curcio and Nekaia Sanders, USA Climbing’s newly-elected Team USA Athlete Representative and Alternate, respectively, to the Board of Directors in 2025. With these appointments, all open seats on the USA Climbing Board of Directors are now filled. Click here to learn more about the USA Climbing Board of Directors.
Climbing Escalade Canada and USA Climbing are excited to announce that the North American Cup Series (NACS) is back for 2025! NACS features the three individual disciplines of climbing – Boulder, Lead, and Speed – and allows athletes from the Americas the opportunity to compete at an elite level and develop outside of the World Cup circuit. The 2025 NACS will kick off in Greenville, SC in April and will consist of at least six stops across the United States and Canada. 2025 Dates and Locations: April 5-6 Greenville, SC (Boulder) Hosted by USA Climbing In Partnership with BlocHaven April 12-13 Murfreesboro, TN (Lead) Hosted by USA Climbing In Partnership with Climb Murfreesboro May 3-4 Montreal, Canada (Boulder) Hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada June 5-8 Vail, CO (Boulder, Speed) Hosted by USA Climbing In Partnership with the GoPro Mountain Games June 21-22 Edmonton, Canada (Lead, Speed) Hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada August 23-24 Salt Lake City, UT (Lead, Speed) Hosted by USA Climbing Spectator tickets and streaming info for the events will be published to the Climbing Escalade Canada and USA Climbing websites throughout the season. Participants in the Series must be licensed with and register through their respective National Federations. Detailed information sheets for each event including registration, training availability, time schedules, etc. will be provided a minimum of 30 days prior to each event. Rules for the events will be published to the Climbing Escalade Canada and USA Climbing websites.
This past weekend, 21 of the country’s top Speed Climbing athletes came together for USA Climbing’s Speed Training Camp, hosted at Movement Plano. The camp offered valuable lessons, both on and off the 15-meter speed wall, to help refine athletes’ performance this season. (Photo: Phuc Nguyen) Olexiy Shulga, Head Coach of Team CRG Atlanta, led the climbing programming, having extensive experience working with some of the highest-performing Speed Climbers in the country. Multiple officials from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee also traveled to support athletes, including Amanda Fleece, Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach, and Sean McCann, Senior Psychological Services Provider. (Photo: Phuc Nguyen) Of course, another goal of the camp was simply to bring athletes together from around the country. Many only have that opportunity during competition, but training camps allow top athletes to compare programming and techniques, as well as refine their skills in a more collaborative space. The camp was the latest stop on the road to National Team Trials, will be held at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX on March 12-16, 2025. It will be the second and final National Team selection event for the Elite series, awarding inclusion on the 2025 National Team.
In December 2023, USA Climbing paused its Transgender Athlete Participation (TAP) Policy to allow the Board of Directors to engage in discussion with members of the trans, nonbinary, and/or intersex community. In addition, USA Climbing launched a survey soliciting member feedback on transgender participation, hosted listening sessions, and formed a policy revision group. The Board of Directors weighed multiple perspectives extensively over a year of community engagement, culminating in a meeting on January 8 to discuss and vote on transgender athlete participation. The Board was polled anonymously to establish consensus for the various components of the policy and direction on applicability to participation. This direction has been provided to the TAP policy revision group now tasked with writing a draft policy that will be brought to the Board for feedback and approval. The final policy is expected to be announced this spring, with implementation for the 2025-2026 competition season. There will be no impact on the 2024-2025 competition season. The Board voted for the following as it relates to transgender athlete participation: Please note that athletes who are not eligible to compete for the United States in IFSC-sanctioned competitions will be referred to below as “National Team Ineligible”. This includes transgender athletes who do not comply with the current IFSC policy found here. Youth Series All athletes will be allowed to participate in all categories of the Youth Series and at all levels of competition, in addition to the Youth Recreational Series. For Youth categories U17 and above: Where National Team Ineligible athletes are within the range of advancement for rounds, competitions, or the US National and Development Teams, additional eligible athletes will be advanced. National Team Ineligible athletes are not eligible for the US National and Development Teams, however, they can qualify for other Team benefits. Collegiate Series All athletes will be allowed to participate in the Intermediate category. Transgender athletes who are not in compliance with IFSC policy will not be allowed to participate in the Advanced category. Elite Series National Team Ineligible athletes will not be allowed to participate in the Elite Series National Championships and National Team Trials. National Team Ineligible athlete participation in North American Cup Series events is pending further review by participating federations. Paraclimbing Series All athletes will be allowed to participate in non-qualifying and non-selection events in the Paraclimbing Series. National Team Ineligible athletes will not be allowed to participate in Paraclimbing National Championships or other events that qualify for National Championships. The Board will continue to monitor IFSC, Federal, and State regulations while consulting with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee in considering future measures. The current status of the TAP policy, as well as policy resources, can be found on the Transgender Athlete Participation page of the USA Climbing website.
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.
USA Climbing is proud to announce the election results for the Team USA Athletes’ Commission. Sophia Curcio will serve as USA Climbing’s Team USA AC Representative, while Nekaia Sanders will serve as the Alternate Representative, following voting from fellow athletes. “I decided to run for election because I wanted to give back to a sport that has given me so much,” said Curcio after accepting her new role. “I want to be able to contribute to Sport Climbing so that the future generations of athletes can know that our national governing body has their best interest in mind when making decisions.” Sophia Curcio meets with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, during his 2024 visit to the University of Utah. (Photo: Rick Egan, The Salt Lake Tribune) Curcio and Sanders will also serve on the USA Climbing Athletes’ Commission and the USA Climbing Board of Directors, further contributing the unique perspective of athletes to the strategic direction of USA Climbing. “My goal is to amplify athletes’ voices by serving as both a liaison and an advocate,” said Sanders. “It is an honor and privilege to take on this role as an alternate, and I hope to make a meaningful contribution to our community’s future.” Nekaia Sanders competes at the IFSC World Cup Keqiao 2024. (Photo: Kazushige Nakajima, IFSC) “We’re thankful to have such engaged athletes serving as a link between USA Climbing and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “We’ve enjoyed following Sophia and Nekaia’s competitive successes and can’t wait to welcome them to our Board of Directors in 2025.” Both Curcio and Sanders represented the U.S. during the 2024 IFSC World Cup season and are expected to compete at the 2025 USA Climbing National Team Trials, in hopes of returning to the National Team. All members of the USA Climbing Board of Directors and their bios can be found here.
Congratulations to athletes Sophia Curcio and Nekaia Sanders, USA Climbing’s two candidates running for election to serve on the Team USA Athletes’ Commission. The candidate with the highest vote total will be elected as USA Climbing’s Team USA AC Representative, and the other will serve as the Alternate Representative. The Team USA AC Representative serves an important role as the liaison between USA Climbing athletes and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Both the Representative and Alternate will also serve on the USA Climbing Athletes’ Commission and the USA Climbing Board of Directors. Eligible athletes are voting now and results will be announced by the end of the year. Good luck, Sophia and Nekaia!
USA Climbing invites eligible athletes to run for election as a Team USA Athletes’ Commission Representative. The Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC) is calling for self-nominations to serve as the Team USA AC Representative for USA Climbing for the 2025-2028 Quad. Following self-nominations from eligible athletes, USA Climbing will distribute voting instructions, with election results being announced by December 31, 2024. In addition to being a member of the Team USA AC, the elected USA Climbing Representative to the Team USA AC will also serve as an Athlete Director on USA Climbing’s Board of Directors, and as a member of USA Climbing’s Athletes’ Commission. Interested athletes can learn more about eligibility and how to apply here. Self-nominations are due by Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. MT.
This past week, 20 climbers represented Team USA in Santiago, Chile for the IFSC Pan American Championships. For 15 athletes, this was their first time ever competing at this specific event, although five athletes have been to Pan American Youth Championships in the past. The Pan American Championships is a multi-day event exclusively for athletes from the Americas to compete on a continental stage. Similar to other competitions, athletes have the opportunity to compete in all three disciplines: Boulder, Lead, and Speed. November 20th marked the start of the competition with the men’s Lead qualification and the women’s Boulder qualification rounds. The women’s and men’s Boulder finals concluded the event on November 24th, with an award ceremony that followed revealing extremely promising results for the US. The US national team won more medals than any other team at the championships. Sato Takes Gold in Lead US athlete Nathan Sato from Colorado took gold in Lead, which marked Sato’s best performance at any IFSC competition he’s been in so far, with his experience in the IFSC circuit going back to 2022 when he was still competing in the youth circuit. After placing eighth in Lead at his first Youth World Championship in 2022, Sato has climbed in one more Youth World Championship and four more IFSC World Cups before making it to the Pan American Championships. Also earning a spot on the podium in the men’s Lead final was Declan Osgood who won bronze, with a surprising comeback after initially tying for seventh during qualifiers. Also representing the US in the men’s Lead discipline were Hugo Hoyer and Cruz Padilla. Men’s Lead podium. (Photo: Dmitry Arsentyev) Olivia Ma and Kyra Condie Place Back to Back in the Women’s Lead Final US athlete Olivia Ma from New Jersey took silver in Lead with a score of 38+, with Kyra Condie from Utah following closely behind in third with a score of 37. Interestingly, Ma also got silver at the 2019 IFSC Youth Championships in Boulder. Being 9 years older than Ma, Condie has an extensive list of IFSC competition experience going back to 2012, with a consistent spot on the Olympic team since 2020. Also representing the US in the women’s Lead discipline was Adriene Akiko Clark. Women’s Lead podium. (Photo: Dmitry Arsentyev) Lin and Jennings Podium Seconds Apart US athlete Thomas Lin from California took silver in Speed, with Lin falling behind Ecuador’s Carlos Felipe Granja Lopez by only 0.28 seconds in the final. Lin has the least IFSC competition experience out of his teammates, but in 2024 alone he’s already competed in five IFSC events. Ben Jennings from Indiana took bronze, with Speed being the only discipline he’s competed in during any IFSC competition. His time of 5.98 seconds earned Jennings a spot at third. Lin achieved a slightly shorter time at 5.79 seconds. Also representing the US in the men’s Speed discipline were Noah Bratschi and Aidan Goddard. Men’s Speed podium. (Photo: Phuc Nguyen) Runnels Takes Bronze in Speed US athlete Liberty Runnels from Texas took bronze in Speed, only three-hundredths of a second in front of Sophia Curcio from Georgia. Runnels began competing in IFSC competitions in 2022 exclusively in Speed climbing, with this performance being her best at 8.74 seconds in her final round. Also representing the US in the women’s Speed discipline were Lily Nguyen and Micaela Patajo. Women’s Speed podium. (Photo: Phuc Nguyen) Clark Wins Gold in Boulder US athlete Adriene Akiko Clark from Colorado took gold in Boulder, marking Clark’s best performance at any IFSC competition she’s been in so far. Since 2022 at the IFSC World Cup Seoul, Clark has competed in 12 IFSC events, however, her placement in Santiago reigns as her greatest performance so far. Also representing the US in the women’s Boulder discipline were Kyra Condie, Kylie Cullen, and Nekaia Sanders. Women’s Boulder podium. (Photo: Daria Arsenteva) Hugo Hoyer Places Second in Boulder US athlete Hugo Hoyer from Tennessee placed second in Boulder, with an active career in IFSC competitions since his participation in the Youth World Championships back in 2021. Hoyer made a consistent impression on the youth circuit, with his most notable performance being when he became the 2022 Youth World Champion in Boulder. Also representing the US in the men’s Boulder discipline were Charles Barron, Simon Hibbeler, and Adam Shahar. Simon Hibbeler and Hugo Hoyer hug after the men’s Boulder final. (Photo: Daria Arsenteva) Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Pan America’s best climbers are headed to Santiago, Chile this week for the IFSC’s Continental Championships. All three (3) disciplines are on display and 20 athletes will be representing Team USA. It will be the first time competing at the Pan American Championships for most of the US athletes, like Cruz Padilla, who recently became this year’s Lead National Champion. “I’m excited, very happy, and grateful to be in this position and have this blessed opportunity,” said Padilla. “I’m stoked to try my hardest with some awesome teammates and coaches.” Men’s Boulder Athletes Charles Barron | Santiago will be Barron’s second appearance at the Pan American Championships. Simon Hibbeler | Santiago will be Hibbeler’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Hugo Hoyer | Santiago will be Hoyer’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Adam Shahar | Santiago will be Shahar’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Women’s Boulder Athletes Kyra Condie | Santiago will be Condie’s second appearance at the Pan American Championships, plus she’s competed at two Pan American Youth Championships. Kylie Cullen | Santiago will be Cullen’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Nekaia Sanders | Santiago will be Sanders’ first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although she competed at the Pan American Youth Championships in 2017. Adriene Akiko Clark | Santiago will be Clark’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Men’s Lead Athletes Hugo Hoyer | Santiago will be Hoyer’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Declan Osgood | Santiago will be Osgood’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Cruz Padilla | Santiago will be Padilla’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Nathan Sato | Santiago will be Sato’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Women’s Lead Athletes Kyra Condie | Santiago will be Condie’s second appearance at the Pan American Championships, plus she’s competed at two Pan American Youth Championships. Adriene Akiko Clark | Santiago will be Clark’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Olivia Ma | Santiago will be Ma’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although she competed at the Pan American Youth Championships in 2019. Men’s Speed Athletes Noah Bratschi | Santiago will be Bratschi’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although he competed at the Pan American Games in 2023, plus two Pan American Youth Championships. Aidan Goddard | Santiago will be Goddard’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Ben Jennings | Santiago will be Jennings’ first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Thomas Lin | Santiago will be Lin’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Women’s Speed Athletes Sophia Curcio | Santiago will be Curcio’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although she competed at the Pan American Games in 2023. Lily Nguyen | Santiago will be Nguyen’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Micaela Patajo | Santiago will be Patajo’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Liberty Runnels | Santiago will be Runnels’ first appearance at the Pan American Championships. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The Para Climbing National Championships return for 2025 and will be hosted at Touchstone Pacific Pipe in Oakland, CA, March 1-2. The top three (3) ranked athletes per gender in each category will go on to represent the U.S. as a part of the Para Climbing National Team, with the chance to compete in IFSC Para Climbing World Cups. “We’re over the moon about hosting Para Climbing Nationals at our flagship facility, Pacific Pipe, in Oakland,” said Ryan Moon, Events Coordinator + Programs Director of Touchstone Climbing. “We’re so thankful for the optimistic and refreshing energy the Para Climbing community brings to our gyms throughout the year so it’s extra special to have the opportunity to host such a monumental event on our home turf.” This will be the first Para Climbing National Championships since the International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board approved the addition of Para Climbing to the Paralympic Sport Program for the LA28 Games, and is sure to bring fierce competition as the sport embraces its first-ever Paralympic cycle. Athlete registration will open on Monday, November 18. All event resources will become available on the Para Climbing National Championships landing page.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 1, 2024 — On Sunday, the USA Climbing Board of Directors voted unanimously to pursue a partnership with Momentum to operate its National Training Center (NTC). As the two organizations work towards a final partnership agreement, the operating model will prioritize evaluating revenue sources beyond traditional membership models with a commitment to community access. Through this partnership, USA Climbing and Momentum are eager to support the health of the local climbing gym industry and the growth of climbing nationwide. The NTC will be a world-class facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, housing the headquarters for USA Climbing; hosting large-scale events; and providing a variety of fully-accessible training spaces, climbing terrain, and other resources to strengthen the development of competitive climbers (Youth, Collegiate, Paraclimbing, and Elite) from across the country. “We are excited to partner with Momentum to advance this historic project,” said Marc Norman, President & CEO of USA Climbing. “Throughout our discussions, Momentum continually demonstrated their close alignment with our mission and support of our goals for the NTC. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated team, and we appreciate their longstanding support and advocacy of USA Climbing and the industry.” “Momentum is honored to join USA Climbing in its goal of creating an exceptional National Training Center,” said Jeff Pedersen, CEO of Momentum. “We look forward to collaborating with Marc Norman and the USA Climbing team as we unite to elevate competitive climbing, and share its benefits with the greater climbing community.” The decision comes after months of dialogue between USA Climbing and the gym community, including discussions led by USA Climbing’s Gym Partner Task Force; the addition of a gym operator on the USA Climbing Board of Directors; the inclusion of gym partners in strategic planning; and the establishment of a joint Climbing Wall Association/USA Climbing committee, which continues to meet regularly to advance shared priorities. USA Climbing issued its Request for Interest (RFI) to gym operators in April, spurring five thoughtful submissions from across the United States. Two finalists, Momentum and Touchstone, were recommended to the Board by an Evaluation Committee comprised of USA Climbing staff, Board members, and external individuals—including those with diverse gym construction and management expertise. The decision to advance Momentum came after extensive discussions, site visits, and modeling with the two finalists. “We extend our deep appreciation to Touchstone for challenging our perspective of what a National Training Center could be,” said Norman. “The Touchstone team has created an amazing climbing community in California. We gained valuable insights firsthand and look forward to continuing to build the relationship between our two organizations.” USA Climbing is thankful to all the gym operators who participated in discussions about the NTC project and will continue to engage stakeholders as the project progresses. For more information, visit USAClimbing.org/National-Training-Center. About USA Climbing USA Climbing is the national governing body for competitive climbing in the United States, supporting athletes, coaches, and events across the country. As a nonprofit organization, USA Climbing’s mission is to promote the growth and development of climbing while advocating for the sport’s values of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and environmental responsibility. About Momentum Momentum was created to inspire and empower climbers to their full potential. Diverse people of all abilities forge friendships and learn new skills with our experienced staff. The Momentum community builds better climbers, from day one to the elite level. We look forward to seeing you at the gym.
Of the more than 100 Boulder athletes who competed throughout the 2024 YETI National Championships, just six men and six women advanced to Finals in Salt Lake City last night. Melina Costanza defended both of her titles from last year, becoming the 2024 Boulder National Champion just two days after becoming the 2024 Lead National Champion. Meanwhile, Vail Everett advanced to Finals for the first (Lead) and second (Boulder) times at the National Championships, then became the 2024 Boulder National Champion. Melina Costanza Wins Gold in Women’s Boulder Women’s Boulder Podium: Melina Costanza Cloe Coscoy Jojo Chi “I feel so happy and grateful to be here,” said Costanza after the competition. “This has been a really fun week.” Vail Everett Wins Gold in Men’s Boulder Men’s Boulder Podium: Vail Everett Zander Waller Brenden Beauchamp “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid… since I started climbing,” said Everett after the competition. “I kind of visualized winning in ISO and, when I saw the boulders, I saw that it could really happen.” Full results from the 2024 YETI National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside Watch. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Monday night brought the second podium of the 2024 YETI National Championships, this time in the Lead discipline. It was a star-studded cast of finalists, including both of the 2023 Lead National Champions, Melina Costanza and Hugo Hoyer, plus two other members of the 2024 National Team and a handful of up-and-comers. Melina Costanza Wins Gold in Women’s Lead Women’s Lead Podium: Melina Costanza Analise Van Hoang Quinn Mason “That was the hardest route I have ever had in a Final. It took pretty much everything I had,” said Costanza. “I think my mindset was the biggest thing and it felt good to see the training has been paying off.” Cruz Padilla Wins Gold in Men’s Lead Men’s Lead Podium: Cruz Padilla Hugo Hoyer Sergey Lakhno “This is like a dream come true for me,” said Padilla. “The lights, the crowd… it was a very vibrant experience.” Full results from the 2024 YETI National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside Watch. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
As the sun set over Salt Lake City last night, 32 of the country’s fastest speed climbers stepped up to the plate for finals. Up-and-comers like Taede Mai, who won gold in the Male Youth A category of this year’s Youth National Championships, joined speed icons like Emma Hunt, who’s still fresh off her first Olympic performance in Paris. Merritt Ernsberger Wins Gold in Men’s Speed Men’s Speed Podium: Merritt Ernsberger Logan Miner Taede Mai “I feel amazing,” said Ernsberger, who’s celebrating his first-ever National Title. “I just wanted to come out and let my body do what it knows how to do, and I’m really happy about the result.” Emma Hunt Wins Gold in Women’s Speed Women’s Speed Podium: Emma Hunt Sophia Curcio Isis Rothfork “There was a lot of nerves. I was just trying to knock the rust off, and I’m very happy with how it all went,” said Hunt, who’s no stranger to winning competitions hosted at the National Training Center. “Salt Lake City is kind of like my second home at this point.” Full results from the 2024 YETI National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside Watch. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
This past weekend, Team USA and President Biden invited US Olympians and Paralympians to Washington DC to celebrate their success at the Paris Games. Representing Sport Climbing were Jesse Grupper (Men’s Boulder & Lead), Zach Hammer (Men’s Speed), Emma Hunt (Women’s Speed), Piper Kelly (Women’s Speed), and Sam Watson (Men’s Speed). The trip offered helpful programming for athletes, with workshops covering professional development, communication, and mental health, led by seasoned athletes and US Olympic & Paralympic Committee staff alike. On Monday, athletes traveled to the White House, where they received a tour of the grounds, heard remarks from Joe Biden, and met with the nation’s leadership. “Whether this was your first time at the Games or the peak of a distinguished career, your legacy is one of discipline, success, joy, and loyalty to one another,” said Biden, addressing Team USA’s athletes on the South Lawn. “And that legacy is part of something bigger than yourselves: It’s about your country, the greatest sports nation in the history of the world.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team USA (@teamusa) Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.