Some of the biggest names in climbing head to the Mesa Rim Climbing Academy to compete for a spot in the USA Climbing National Cup.
After a 1-year hiatus, the USA Climbing-sanctioned Pro-Am returns to Mesa Rim and we couldn’t be more thrilled. As one of only four Bouldering National Cup qualifiers of the year, this event that will feature some of the country’s top professional athletes like Alex Puccio, Nathanial Coleman, Margo Hayes, Kai Lightner, Michaela Kiersch, Brooke Raboutou, Matt Fultz, Meagan Martin, and more.
According to the USA Climbing website, “The Bouldering Season for adult competitors includes the National Cups and the Bouldering Open National Championship. Open Competitors will receive points from their results at each ‘National Cup’ competition, as well as at the Bouldering Open National Championship, resulting in a regularly updated National Ranking. A prize purse will be awarded to the top ranked competitors at the conclusion of the season.”
You can learn more about the National Cup here.
Over the past week, Mesa Rim’s setters have been working diligently and putting in long hours to prepare and set boulder problems that will be both challenging for the athletes and fascinating to watch. Competition boulders are different than what you typically find in gyms as they tend to focus on powerful, dynamic movements that give competitors an opportunity to show off their strength and technical ability.
And if this year’s Pro-Am is anything like the one held at the Climbing Academy in 2016 (check out a recap video here), it’s a competition that shouldn’t be missed.
“We’re honored to host one of the year’s only Bouldering National Cup competitions at the Mesa Rim Climbing Academy,” says Mesa Rim co-founder and president Ian McIntosh. “It’s one of the most exciting climbing events of the year because some of the country’s best competitors will be there to push their limits in hopes of becoming a national champion. And with climbing making its debut at the 2020 Olympic Games, there’s sure to be plenty of buzz and energy surrounding this event as many of the competitors have their sights set on Tokyo.”
The qualifying round kicks off today at 6pm and those who make it through to the finals will vie for a spot on the podium–and a spot in the National Cup championships, held at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds Expo Center in Bend, Oregon, in February 2019–starting at 7pm on October 13.
The finals event will also include a food truck, beer garden, vendor fair, a live DJ, and more. Spectators will be allowed entrance into the Climbing Academy on a first-come, first-served basis. The competition will be live streamed outside on the Climbing Academy walls. The qualifiers and finals will also be live streamed on the Mesa Rim YouTube channel.
In conjunction with the USAC Pro-Am, we will also hold a Citizens Comp for climbers of all abilities. It will include several categories, plus an adaptive category, and gives entrants ages 16+ a chance to try out competition-style boulders.
The second qualifying round for the Grom Cup happens this weekend as well. The Grom Cup is a competition series for youth climbers comprised of four redpoint qualifying rounds and one onsight final round. The third qualifier takes place November 3 and then the top five ranked athletes in each of the four categories will be invited to compete at the finals, to be held December 1.
For a full rundown of all the events taking place this weekend, click here.
Click here for more information and to sign up for the competitions.
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