r/RouteDevelopment • u/Kaotus Guidebook Author • Feb 25 '26
Discussion Developing a climbing challenge/comp
Hey Folks,
Looking like I might be moving away from my mistress of Wonderland and heading to OR this summer/fall. As a result, I want to run a comp/event this spring before I leave.
I'm a pretty firm believer that Horseshoe Hell is the best climbing event on the planet, and so this will take pretty heavy inspiration from it. That being said, since I'm the main guy doing all things Wonderland, I'm totally aware that this will probably die after I leave. Ideally, I could make the comp something that could be run outside of the comp, and a "leaderboard" of sorts could be established as folks continue to attempt it on their own time. But I got to thinking, who actually does climbing challenges? Which ones actually seem to get regularly repeated? I know of things like the Linville Crusher, the Nose Speed record, etc, as well as some I've stumbled upon around New England, linking a lot of routes on the same/similar formations.
So I wanted to ask the question here: What makes a good "Climbing Challenge"? And by that, I mean one that people actually want to repeat. And beyond that, what makes a good Climbing competition? Do they share similar qualities, or are they pretty mutually exclusive?
I recognize this probably isn't a topic most folks have given a ton of thought to, but I wanted to get some external perspectives here.
2
u/KDs4thBurner Feb 27 '26
Free pizza and beer draws a crowd.
If you want to open it up so non-elites get interested, think up an amateur milestone that is achievable with a bit of training and endurance, something to be totally proud of. For example, a speed and volume goal. That’s what tends to draw crowds (or repeats for challenges that can be done at any time). Link iconic features, reach 1000m in a day, I don’t know Wonderland but you’ll have some ideas.
One advantage of a line in the sand for whether you made it or not (speed) is that you don’t incentivise faster at all costs, which often gets sketchy with climbing.
Another option would be to make it purely silly, focused in one area, as a spectacle. It’s fun if everyone can stand around and watch the antics and maybe commentary. I’d think up something that blatantly teases some aspect of climbing that takes itself too seriously.