2008 Gravity Brawl

Stepping into the 2008 Gravity Brawl, held at the New Jersey Rock Gym, was like setting foot on another freaking planet. The place was an absolute madhouse.

Caption: Rob D'Anastasio on Men's Final Number 4 (Click to Enlarge)

After all these years as a competitor, I still look around utterly dumbfounded like a tourist strolling through Time Square for the first time. Ridiculously strong rock ninjas campus from one terrible sloping pinch to the next on heinously steep walls as if they were out for a gosh darn afternoon stroll. What the crap? Techno-rap beats rivet the inside of my rib cage while pink and blue shades of light dance off the plastic-pocadotted walls like nothing you have ever seen before. Should I take out my light stick and rave? Hundreds of climbers and enthusiasts alike, gathering like a cult hell-bent on getting their fix of electrifying adrenaline, flock from all corners of the country for the chance to rage into the wee hours of the night as freaks of the industry battle for the top spot. What in the blazers is going on here?

For one, there is no one else in the world right now putting on a climbing show the way NEC2 has and continues to do. People that don’t even know anything about climbing can come to these competitions and have fun screaming their blocks off like they would at any other sporting event. In fact, I literally woke up the next morning thinking that I might catch some clips of Matt Bosley, top male finisher, or Paige Classenn, top female finisher, tearing it up on an ESPN highlight reel. Can you imagine that? ESPN coverage. ABC live broadcasting.

Unbelievably, NEC2 is able to top itself each year, whether it be new, innovative climbing styles or just plain running format. These American-style comp climbing events are branding the way for the future of competitive climbing across the globe. Simply put: there is no telling where the Bouldering Championships will end up in the future.

Gravity Brawl 2015: Pro-climbers are flown out to a beach side venue in Honolulu, Hawaii. The comp is sponsored by Subaru, Coors Lite, and Visa. Coverage is made global on six different channels. Thousands of spectators attend and competitors are paid on par with other professional athletes.

A dream? Maybe so, but for the amount of effort, talent, and commitment these athletes and organizers expend each year, there is no reason why these fantasies should not come to fruition.

Please go to boulderingcomps.com to see pictures, video, and results. You will be amazed at what competition climbing has evolved into. Seriously. Check it out.