Hey, Climbers!

What Makes Climbing Awesome

Climbing isn't like other sports. There's no ball, no team uniform, and no one telling you exactly what to do. YOU figure out the puzzle. Every route is a problem to solve, and every climber solves it differently based on their body, their style, and their creativity.

Here's what makes climbing unlike anything else:

• It's a puzzle AND a workout. Your brain and your body work together to figure out the best way up the wall.
• Everyone cheers for everyone. At the climbing gym, you'll hear people cheering for climbers they've never met. That's just how climbing is.
• You compete against yourself. Your biggest rival is the route, not another person. Getting better means beating YOUR last attempt.
• It takes you to amazing places. From gym walls to real rocks in national parks, climbing can take you on incredible adventures.

Types of Climbing

There are different ways to climb, and each one is awesome in its own way:

• Bouldering: Short, powerful climbs on walls about 10 to 15 feet tall. No ropes needed because you land on thick, soft crash pads. This is where most kids start.
• Top-Rope: A rope runs from you, up through an anchor at the top of the wall, and back down to your belayer (the person keeping you safe). You can climb tall walls without worrying about falling far.
• Lead Climbing: You clip the rope into protection as you climb higher and higher. This is what the pros do in competition. Most kids start learning lead around age 13 to 15.
• Speed Climbing: Race up a standard 15-meter wall as fast as possible. The world record is under 5 seconds!

Fun Climbing Facts

• There are more than 600 climbing gyms in the United States.
• The tallest indoor climbing wall in the world is over 160 feet tall.
• Climbing uses over 100 different muscles in your body.
• Professional climbers can hang from a fingertip-sized edge for over a minute.
• The 2028 LA Olympics will have THREE separate climbing events: Bouldering, Lead, and Speed.

Your First Competition: What to Expect

Thinking about entering your first youth climbing comp? Here's the honest truth: it's way more fun than you think.

When you arrive, you'll check in and get a scorecard. For bouldering comps, you get a set time to try a bunch of problems. Everyone's cheering for each other. It's not like other sports where the other team wants you to mess up. You climb at your own pace, try your hardest, and that's it.

Nervous? Good. Every single climber at Nationals felt nervous at their first comp too. That butterfly feeling means you care, and caring makes you climb better.

6 Cool Climbing Moves Every Kid Should Learn

1. The Heel Hook: Put your heel on top of a hold and pull with your leg. It's like having a third hand! Use it when you need to reach something far away.
2. The Drop Knee: Turn your hip into the wall and drop your knee down. This gives you crazy reach and keeps you balanced on steep walls.
3. The Flag: Stick one leg out to the side (without stepping on anything) to balance your body. It looks cool and works amazing on slabs.
4. The Deadpoint: A controlled dynamic move where you grab the next hold at the exact moment you're weightless. Timing is everything.
5. The Gaston: Push a hold outward instead of pulling it. Like you're opening an elevator door. Super useful on wide boulder problems.
6. The Mantle: Press down on a hold and push yourself up, like getting out of a swimming pool. You need this for the top of every boulder problem.

Watch and Learn

Meet Young Climbers Changing the Sport

The Path to Olympic Gold

Did you know that almost every Olympic climbing medalist started climbing as a kid, just like you? Here's the journey from your local gym to the Olympic podium:

1. Join a youth climbing team at your gym and start competing in local events.
2. Compete at Regional and Divisional championships through USA Climbing. The best climbers advance each round.
3. Qualify for Youth Nationals, where the top climbers in the country battle for the national championship.
4. Get selected for the USA Youth Team and compete at the IFSC Youth World Championships against kids from all over the world.
5. Transition to senior competition and climb on the World Cup circuit.
6. Qualify for the Olympics through World Championships and Olympic Qualifier events.

Real athletes who did exactly this:

Inspiration Videos

Scared of Falling?

Here's a secret: every great climber has been scared of falling. Even the pros who compete at World Cups still work on their fear of falling. It's completely normal.

The trick isn't to not be scared. It's to climb despite the fear. Here's what helps:

• Practice falling. With your coach, take small, controlled falls. Start low, work up. The more you fall safely, the less scary it becomes.
• Breathe. Before a scary move, take three deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth. This actually calms your brain down.
• Trust your gear. Ropes, harnesses, and crash pads are designed to catch you. That's literally their one job.
• Remember: Falling off a climb doesn't mean you failed. It means you tried something hard. That's how you get better.