There is a pitter patter of feet, a thump of heels hitting the floor, and an occasional guttural yell coming from a climbing gym in Ballard. Hands wrap around small holds, clenching desperately to hang on for a few more seconds. Color-coded routes dot the wall, like a rainbow of possibilities begging to be climbed. That is exactly what rock climbers from around the city are here to do every day of the year at local climbing gyms, and specifically for glory (more likely bragging rights) at the growing number of climbing competitions in the area. 

Vertical World, established in 1987, was America’s first climbing gym. It has held a public climbing competition 20 times. Seattle boasts 11 climbing gyms, and most hold a climbing competition at least once a year. Different types of competitions include bouldering (climbing without ropes), which tends to be most popular. Rope climbing takes more technical expertise. 

Climbing officially became an Olympic sport in the 2020 Olympic Games, bringing global attention to what was once a very niche activity. Like yoga, climbing is now very accessible to most everyone, and is often a place as much for social interaction as it is for fitness. Many climbing gyms have their own youth climbing teams, which compete in sanctioned climbing competitions throughout the country. Vertical World’s climbing team, which was established more than 20 years ago, has won six national championships. 

A collegiate climbing event featuring several universities across the state has also been held since 2006. Now called the Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit, the includes the University of Washington, Central Washington University, and Western Washington University. The goal is to “have fun, to push ourselves and others, and to build awareness of our culture.”

Climbing is competitive but not an overly serious endeavor, and many events often feature quirky showcases competitors who climb in the dark, with UV lights and blacklight tape lighting up the holds. At the Seattle Bouldering Project, Boulderfest is an opportunity to not just compete but interact with local sponsors and climbing brands, win raffle prizes, and dance to live music. In other words, many climbing competitions are a full-on party. 

All the competitions have sparked a completely new style of climbing as well. Competition-style bouldering routes tend to be very gymnastic, athletic, and often improbable looking. In the past, climbing was often more static, based purely on strength rather than jumping ability or flexibility as it often is now. Many routes take climbers horizontally across a wall, rather than strictly up, and competitors look more like flying lemurs than firefighters climbing a ladder. 

You don’t have to compete in climbing competitions to get a feel for what these events are all about. Spectators are always welcome. Some come to win, but most compete to test themselves and to have a good time.