USA Climbing today announced a significant calendar update: the YETI National Championships will move from October 2025 to February 2026. The new timing, set just ahead of the 2026 National Team Trials Presented by YETI in March, is aimed at better serving athlete performance and national team selection. The YETI National Championships will crown six national champions across the Boulder, Lead, and Speed disciplines and serve as one of two elite team selection events (the other being the National Team Trials Presented by YETI). The changes comes in response to feedback provided by the USA Climbing Athletes’ Commission and in coordination with USA Climbing’s partners. Holding the two selection events closer together and nearer the start of the IFSC World Cup season could result in more consistent performance from athletes and provide them with a meaningful off-season following the World Cup circuit. “This change is an important step in supporting the long-term success of our athletes,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “By acting on athlete feedback, we hope to improve the team selection process and performance of our competitors.” Further details on the exact dates and location of the YETI National Championships will be announced later this year.
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.
The 2024 YETI National Championships kick off this weekend at the USA Climbing National Training Center in Salt Lake City, Utah! More than 200 registered athletes will be battling for national titles, points towards 2025 national team selection, and $20,000 worth of prizes. How To Watch If you’re in Utah, you can spectate in-person at USA Climbing’s National Training Center. The semi-final and final rounds will also stream live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on Outside Watch. Schedule and Results Saturday, October 12 9:00 a.m. MDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT | Women’s Lead Qualification 3:30 p.m. MDT / 5:30 p.m. EDT | Men’s & Women’s Speed Practice 5:10 p.m. MDT / 7:10 p.m. EDT | Men & Women’s Speed Qualifications Sunday, October 13 9:00 a.m. MDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT | Men’s Lead Qualification 5:00 p.m. MDT / 7:00 p.m. EDT | Men & Women’s Speed Finals – LIVE on Outside Watch Monday, October 14 10:00 a.m. MDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT | Men & Women’s Lead Semi-Finals– LIVE on Outside Watch 6:00 p.m. MDT / 8:00 p.m. EDT | Men & Women’s Lead Finals– LIVE on Outside Watch Tuesday, October 15 9:00 a.m. MDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT | Women’s Boulder Qualification 3:00 p.m. MDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT Men’s Boulder Qualification | 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 16 10:00 a.m. MDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT | Men & Women’s Boulder Semi-Finals– LIVE on Outside Watch 6:00 p.m. MDT / 8:00 p.m. EDT | Men & Women’s Boulder Finals– LIVE on Outside Watch Full results, once available, will be posted here. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 YETI National Championships! The tickets, which are available through USA Climbing’s Eventbrite, include access to all climbing events for their specified date. Some dates include multiple climbing disciplines, as well as a mix of Qualification, Semi-Final, and Final events. Tickets also include access to on-site dining options, the vendor village, and the USA Climbing Store. The championships will be hosted at USA Climbing’s very own National Training Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 12-16. Athletes will be competing for national titles, points towards 2025 national team selection, and $20,000 worth of prizes! Athlete registration, as well as other event resources, can be found on the YETI National Championships landing page.
The YETI National Championships return for 2024 and will be hosted at USA Climbing’s very own National Training Center in Salt Lake City, UT, October 12-16. Six national champions will be crowned across the Boulder, Lead, and Speed disciplines, as the country’s best climbers also begin to earn points towards national team selection in the spring. “We’re excited to host the YETI National Championships at our own National Training Center, which is a key resource for our national team,” said John Muse, VP of Sport at USA Climbing. “Every year, the event attracts a bigger crowd and Salt Lake City will be ready to welcome the biggest yet.” Athlete registration, the preliminary schedule, and spectator tickets will all become available on Wednesday, August 28. The latest resources can be found on the YETI National Championships landing page.