Why You Should Enter a Climbing Competition: 9 Reasons to Go for It

Climbing competitions are special. The atmosphere has a unique thrill. But we know they can also be a bit scary for some people.

In this blog we’ll show you why competitions are for everyone. We'll give you nine awesome reasons to get involved, celebrating the Tour De Hangar's nine climbing centres, and help you climb with confidence and have a great time.

If you’ve had doubts about climbing competitions, then read on. Forget the nerves, let's talk about the incredible rewards of getting involved: community, growth, and self-discovery.

Maybe you've watched comps before and thought, 'That’s not for me'. But what if it could be? What if it wasn’t about winning but about challenging yourself, meeting new people, and having the most fun you've ever had climbing?

Let’s go straight into our nine awesome reasons to enter a climbing competition.

9 Reasons to Enter a Climbing Competition

1.     Crowd support/trying harder under pressure: The unique and special atmosphere of a competition can be inspiring and motivating. Something incredible happens when you’ve got the crowd behind you. You climb harder, push further, and surprise yourself.
2.     Making new climbing friends: Although it’s a competition there’s really no losers. Climbers are the most supportive community in the world, and everyone will be cheering you on. We’re one big team! You might even make new climbing friends for your regular weekly sessions.
3.     Something to train and work towards: The build-up to a competition will light a fire under you and inspire you to train harder, smarter and better than ever before.
4.     Self-discovery and pushing your limits: When you’re faced with competition-level climbs you have to bring your A-game. From super-fun entry level blocs to big, bold, dynamic boulders, climbing comps bring a whole range of exciting problems. You can try every one to find out where you’re truly at on your climbing journey. You’ll learn what you need to work on, and you could surprise yourself at what you’re capable of when you’re pushed.
5.     Fun and buzz: The atmosphere in the climbing centre during a comp is like no other. There’s just something different in the air and it’s electric to be a part of.
6.     Learning from better climbers: Climbing comps bring a mixture of climbers of all levels of ability. You’ll get to see how stronger or more experienced climbers read routes and tackle problems. It could unlock the next level for your own skills.
7.     Unique competition problems: If you’ve climbed before then you’ll have noticed the sparkly new competition climbs reserved only for competitors. Well, that could be you! Now’s your chance to try the bold, exciting climbs usually reserved for comps. From tense, technical problems, to shiny, gnarly elite blocs, and all of the silly, cool, fun stuff in between.
8.     Sharpening your beta reading skills: Competitions push you to quickly figure out new climbs under pressure. You'll learn to spot the best moves and work out tricky problems faster than ever. It's like a workout for your climbing brain, making you a smarter climber all around.
9.     Winning prizes: Let’s not forget, climbing competitions offer rewards and prizes after all. The Climbing Hangar’s Tour De Hangar offers £2,000 of cash prizes available at every site, not to mention there’s heaps of cool giveaways. Oh, and every entrant gets an exclusive Tour De Hangar t-shirt, too!

Worried About Comps? Let’s Clear Things Up

If you’ve ever hesitated to enter a climbing competition, you’re not alone. Many climbers share the same doubts:

"Competitions are only for pros."

"I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of a crowd."

"Comp climbs are way harder than what I usually do."

"I’m new to climbing—there’s no way I’m ready for this."

Sound familiar? You’re not the only one feeling this way. But hopefully, the list above will help you learn that these thoughts are just myths about competitions. They shouldn’t get in the way of you having fun, pushing yourself for the thrill of the challenge, and making new climbing friends.

How do competitions work?

Still not sure what to expect? No need to stress, there are no hidden rules or insider tricks. Here’s what a typical comp looks like...

Climbers are given a scorecard which relates to the specific competition problems. You get points for finishing the climbs, flashing the climbs, or just making progress through the different stages of the climbs.

After you’ve attempted each of the boulders your scores are added up which determines how you did overall.

Here’s what the brand-new Tour De Hangar comp will look like.

Friendly, challenging and above all, fun!

Imagine the roar of the crowd as you top out, the adrenaline surge, the feeling of pushing beyond your limits. Ready for that? We know competition nerves exist, but focus on the incredible: accomplishment, community, and growth.

It's more than climbing; it's self-discovery.

This is your moment—challenge yourself, join the fun, and experience the magic of comp climbing. Sign up for the Tour De Hangar today!