Competition Guide
USA Climbing Youth Competitions
The complete parent's guide to the youth competition pathway, from local qualifying events to the Olympic stage.
Youth climbing competition is one of the fastest-growing segments of the sport. Whether your child is curious about their first local event or aiming for the USA Youth National Team, understanding the system helps you support them every step of the way.
The Competition Pathway
USA Climbing, the sport's national governing body, organizes youth competitions through a progressive advancement system. Here's how it works:
Held at member gyms across 18 regions. Minimum 2 QE placements required. Top 26 per category advance.
One per region (18 total). Top 12 to 13 per category advance to Divisionals.
One per division (9 total). Top 6 per category advance to Nationals.
Annual single-location event. Top 4 = USA Youth National Team. 2025: Portland Rock Gym, Beaverton, OR. June 27 to July 2.
U17 and U19 eligible. 2025: Helsinki, Finland. 2026: Arco, Italy.
LA 2028: 3 standalone medal events (Boulder, Lead, Speed). Min age 18.
Youth Age Categories (2025 to 2026 Season)
| Category | Age Range | Birth Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| U11 | 10 & under | 2016 or later | NEW category. Mixed gender. QEs and Regionals only. |
| U13 | 11 to 12 | 2014 to 2015 | Divisionals added for 2025-26 season. |
| U15 | 13 to 14 | 2012 to 2013 | Top rope only for rope events. |
| U17 | 15 to 16 | 2010 to 2011 | Eligible for Youth World Championships. |
| U19 | 17 to 18 | 2008 to 2009 | Eligible for Youth World Championships. |
| U20 | 18 to 19 | 2006 to 2007 | Skips Regionals; QEs to Divisionals directly. |
Competition Costs
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| USA Climbing Competitor Membership | $110/year |
| Local QE Entry Fee | $40 to $100 |
| Regional Championship Entry | $100 to $150 |
| Divisional Championship Entry | $100 to $150 |
| Youth Nationals Entry | ~$200 + $50/event |
Youth Nationals Results
2025 Youth Nationals, Portland, OR
Bouldering
| Category | Gold |
|---|---|
| Female Youth A (U17) | Lucy Duncan |
| Male Youth A (U17) | Jackson Dendy |
Lead
| Category | Gold |
|---|---|
| Female Youth A (U17) | Khadija Magali Suleman |
| Male Youth A (U17) | Landers Gaydosh |
Speed
| Category | Gold |
|---|---|
| Female Youth A (U17) | Evie Albrecht |
| Male Youth A (U17) | Khoi Tran |
Team Rankings: 1. Team Texas | 2. Rock City Climbing | 3. Team Momentum
2024 Youth Nationals, Salt Lake City, UT
Bouldering
| Category | Gold |
|---|---|
| Female Junior | Kelly Ng |
| Male Junior | Adam Shahar |
| Female Youth A | Jojo Chi |
| Male Youth A | Declan Osgood |
Lead
| Category | Gold |
|---|---|
| Female Junior | Ava Kovtunovich |
| Male Junior | Nathan Sato |
Speed
| Category | Gold |
|---|---|
| Female Junior | Katie Bone |
| Male Junior | Skyler Mengerink |
2023 Youth Nationals, Salt Lake City, UT
Lead
| Category | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female Junior | Norah Chi | Ava Kovtunovich | Olivia Ma |
| Male Junior | Sergey Lakhno |
Speed
| Category | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female Junior | Isis Rothfork | Callie Close | Sonia Gutierrez |
| Male Junior | Ben Jennings | Micah Feller | Silas Chang |
| Female Youth A | Lily Nguyen | Liberty Runnels | Sophia Curcio |
| Male Youth A | Michael Hom | Skyler Mengerink | Zachary Hammer |
| Female Youth B | Victoria DSouza | Emiko Takeuchi | Jojo Chi |
| Male Youth B | Logan Schlecht | Zaden Rogers | Declan Calfy |
| Female Youth C | Evie Albrecht | Zoe Chi | Kaitlyn Weaver |
| Male Youth C | Noah Kim | Austin Bock | Logan Zhang |
Competition Videos
Notable Young Climbers
Brooke Raboutou
Boulder, CO • Paris 2024 Silver Medalist
Started competing internationally at age 7. First woman to climb 5.15c (Excalibur, Clark Mountain, 2025). 2-time Olympian. Both parents are world champion climbers.
Colin Duffy
Boulder, CO • 2x Olympic Finalist
Youngest US qualifier for the 2020 Olympics. Multiple Youth World Championship podiums. Grew up through the USA Climbing youth system.
Ashima Shiraishi
New York City, NY • Pioneer
Started climbing at age 6 in Central Park. First female to climb V15 at age 14. 6x Youth World Champion. UCLA neuroscience graduate. Author of How To Solve A Problem.
Annie Sanders
Utah • Rising Star
2 Bouldering World Cup golds and 1 Lead World Cup gold in 2025. 2022 Youth National Champion (boulder + lead double gold). One of the most dominant youth-to-elite transitions in US climbing.
Natalia Grossman
Santa Cruz, CA • 4x World Cup Overall Champion
4 consecutive IFSC Bouldering World Cup Overall titles (2021 to 2024). 2021 IFSC World Champion. First Latina to represent the US in Olympic sport climbing. Started climbing at age 6.
Jesse Grupper
NJ / Salt Lake City, UT • Paris 2024 Olympian
Started climbing at age 9 (introduced by his sister). Mechanical engineering graduate from Tufts. Open advocate for climbing with chronic illness. Co-founded USA Climbing DEI Committee.
Competition Season Never Ends
From local qualifiers to the world stage, youth climbing competition is growing faster than ever.