BMC Youth Climbing Festival
The BMC Youth Climbing Festival will incorporate strategic route selection while ensuring fair and engaging scoring. It also features an individual ranking system and an optional team component to encourage wider participation. The BMC Youth Climbing Festival offers the opportunity to enter as either an individual or a team.
Where is it taking place?
3rd and 4th July 2027 at Beacon Climbing Centre, North Wales
Cost
Cost £50 for both days, £25 for one day.
Low income tickets are reserved for participants on a limited income who cannot otherwise afford to attend the BMC Youth Climbing Festival. Tickets cost £15 for one event or £30 for both.
About the BMC Youth Climbing Festival
TBC
The BMC Youth Climbing Festival is a two-day competition designed to test climbers across both bouldering and roped climbing, incorporating strategic climb selection and difficulty-based scoring. Categories are as follow: U17, U15, U13, U11 male and female. The events include individual and team rankings to encourage the participation by climbers of a wide range of abilities and experience. All categories can choose to either lead or top-rope their chosen routes.
Team Format
- Teams consist of 3-6 athletes
- Minimum 3 team members must contribute scores
- If competing as a team, you will need to bring a belayer
Team Scoring
- Best 3 individual scores from each discipline contribute to the team total
Competition Format
- The competition takes place over two days:
- Day 1: Bouldering – 20 problems available, climbers select 8 only to attempt
- Day 2: Roped climbing – 6 routes available, climbers select 4 only to attempt
Bouldering Format
- 20 problems available, categorised into Soft, Medium and Hard
- Climbers choose 8 problems to attempt from the 20 available
- Scoring is based on problem difficulty and successful tops/zones
- Attempts are counted (fewer attempts = better ranking)
- A time limit will be set for bouldering attempts (e.g. 3-4 hours)
Roped Climbing Format
- 6 routes available, categorised into Soft, Medium, and Hard
- Climbers choose 4 routes to attempt
- Scoring is based on the value of the highest controlled hold (harder routes = more points)
- Time limit per attempt (6 minutes)
- Encourages strategic route selection - athletes choose risk vs. reward
- Levels the playing field for boulderers vs. roped climbers
- Rewards versatility while keeping the format fair
By registering for this event you are acknowledging the BMC Participation Statement:
Climbing, hill walking and mountaineering can provide life-long physical, social and mental health benefits through exercise and adventure in amazing environments. The BMC recognises these activities involve a risk of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
About Beacon Climbing Centre
Beacon Climbing Centre is located in Caernarfon, just outside Eryri National Park, and offers some of the best indoor climbing in the UK.
BECOME A COMPETITION VOLUNTEER
There are a number of essential volunteer roles needed to help run this competition. Check out what each role is and find out more about how you can apply.