Indoor Climbing Competitions
Rock Climbing competitions began in Europe in the 1970s. Speed climbing was the first rock climbing competition event, and it was done on a real rock. A few years after, the first rock climbing walls appeared. Rock climbing walls were made from wooden chips and blocks crudely glued or nailed to cement walls. Currently there are about 4,000 indoor rock climbing walls in the world that hold around 500 competitions annually.
One competition organization, the Union Internationale Des Associations D'Alpinasme (UIAA), located in Bern, Switzerland, oversees international indoor rock climbing competitions as well as ice, sport and ski mountaineering events. The Climbing World Cup, Climbing World Championship, European Continental Championships and youth competition climbing events are just some of the international competitions the UIAA facilitates.
Bouldering, red point, on-sight, and speed climbing are just some of the many types of indoor climbing competitions that have emerged through the years.
Bouldering is characterized by short routes and high strength moves in climbing without the use of
Climbing Ropes. It is relatively easier to organize since one only needs a 12 ft. wall. During outdoor bouldering, however, bouldering routes may exceed this height. This type of competition has a bigger spectator appeal.
Red Point provides various climbing routes with different levels of difficulty, in which points are gained after every successful completion of each route. The most common strategy for this type of competition is a warm up on easy climb routes because endurance and strength easily diminish in this game.
On sight is a form of climbing, where competitors are allowed a preview and an attempt on the route. It is used by National and World Cup difficulty climbing events. The point system is simple: the height the climber achieves will correspond to the points he will garner. Despite the seemingly lax nature of this sport, there are rules forbidding climbers to talk or discuss among themselves on which routes to use at the onset of the event.
Speed Climbing is one of the most marketable and enjoying spectator sport to see. This is a race between and among climbers on who will climb the wall first.
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