Movement Blog

Have you ever wanted to learn how to fly up a 15-meter (49 ft wall)? Maybe you want to push yourself in an area of climbing you’ve never thought about exploring before? If so, this is the blog for you. In honor of the Speed World Cup coming to Denver this summer, let’s take a deep dive into speed climbing.

Andrew first got into climbing after hearing about a local adaptive meetup—and was instantly all in. What began as weekly sessions quickly turned into a passion, leading to his first-place finish at Paraclimbing Nationals this past March. In this Q&A, he talks about finding community through the sport and where he hopes climbing will take him next.

Climbing holds are an integral part of modern indoor climbing, but they haven’t always existed in the form we know today. The evolution of climbing holds has shaped the sport in ways we often take for granted. The types of holds that were created dictate the style of movement possible, influence how climbers train, and even precipitated the development of indoor climbing as its own distinct sport. Without these innovations, indoor climbing would look vastly different than it does today.

Climbing has a way of drawing people in, whether through the thrill of movement, the challenge of the sport, or the community it fosters. For Isabel, it was a chance introduction in 2021 that quickly turned into a passion—and soon after, a competitive pursuit. Just this past March, she won 1st place in her category at Paraclimbing Nationals, a testament to her dedication and hard work. In this Q&A, she shares her journey from first-time climber to national champion, her approach to training and mental preparation, and her aspirations for the future of paraclimbing, including the sport’s Paralympic debut in LA28.

Hosted at Movement Plano this past weekend, 21 of the country’s top Speed Climbers assembled for USA Climbing’s Speed Training Camp. Offering our Climbers premium lessons to aid in keeping their excellent performance this season. (photo by: Phuc Nguyen) Head Coach of the Team CRG Atlanta, Olexiy Shulga, led the wonderful climbing program. Utilizing her extensive expertise working with some of the county’s highest performing Speed Climbers. Various officials from the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee also made the journey to support our athletes, like Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach, Amanda Fleece, and Senior Psychological Services Provider, Sean McCann. (photo by: Phuc Nguyen) Beyond just tuning their skills in a more collaborative space, this camp gave the opportunity to bring together athletes from around the country to make bonds, compare programming, and share techniques. A chance some only get during competitions.

Inside the World of Competitive Lead Climbing

We hope you're taking on our July Member Challenge to climb a classic! We are celebrating the 7-year anniversary of Alex Honnold free soloing the classic, Freerider on El Capitan. Here are our tips to get you on the leaderboard (or at least how to finish climbing all 3,300 feet!)

In climbing, as in life, there's something thrilling about the prospect of a race. Two competitors, a clearly defined finish, and the drive to be the quickest. You may have seen a unique wall in your local gym marked by uniform red holds. Here, climbers tap into this excitement as they face off in a vertical sprint to the top. Blink, and you might miss it. This is speed climbing.

Bouldering is an exhilarating and accessible form of climbing that many of us have tried, or at least seen, at our local gyms. We highly recommend it if you haven't given it a go yet! Bouldering walls are typically shorter, ranging from 10 to 18 feet, with a thick mat underneath to catch you when you fall. No ropes are involved, so when you fall, you simply get back up and try again from the ground.