Resources for finding local climbing events and competitions

This is my attempt at creating a list of resources that beginners and experts alike can use to find local, regional, and national events and competitions for rock climbing, bouldering, indoor climbing, and any other climbing related activity.

This info is in other places on the web, including r/climbing on reddit. I wanted to reach out to this community as well, as it seems active and will be able to provide feedback and other resources that are out there.

While I think this is a decent start, I know it doesn't cover everything. Some more international additions would be nice to have.

If you know of any resources that aren't listed here, please reply and let me know and I will add it to the list!

1. USA Climbing
USAC is the home base of organized climbing events all across the US. They sanction and host local, regional, and national competitions across all skill levels. They also have sub-categories for each type of climbing, and an advanced search bar to sift through the large database of events. This is the place to go if you are serious about competing in the US. Obviously, if you live outside the US, this resource will be of limited use to you.

Pros:

• In-depth list of competitions
• Advanced search capabilities
• Links to gyms and competitions registration
• Lots of other climbing resources as well

Cons:

• Only US locations
• Almost all events are competitive in nature

2. Leaderboards
Leaderboards.com is a sporting event search site that has a database for all kinds sports, which includes rock climbing. Unlike USAC, this site has both competitions and events, so you can find official sanctioned competitions as well as more casual, local climbing events. Adding an event seems extremely easy too, so you could potentially create your own local event if none are in your area. While the site has a lot of events, it may not have every event, especially as you go outside the US. The search functionality is also missing some advanced options.

Pros:

• Easy to find local competitions
• Very easy to add your own event
• Links to competition/event landing page
• Worldwide locations

Cons:

• May not have every event or competition outside the US
• More advanced search features would be nice

3. REI Co-op
The REI an outdoor equipment company. On their site, they have a tool for finding local climbing events and classes. Most of these are in the US, but it is definitely an option if you are a beginner and trying to figure out where to start. Beyond classes and some more casual events, there are not a ton of competitions on the site.

Pros:

• Great place for beginners to find classes
• Search functionality based on location and date

Cons:

• Very few competitions
• Limited database

4. International Federation of Sport Climbing
The iFSC is the international governing body for the sport of competitive climbing, and as such, has a database of climbing competitions from all over the world. These competitions have various skill levels, with some amatuer level competitions as well as high profile competitions like the World Championships. This site might not have the event you are looking for if you live in the US or if you a complete beginner.

Pros:

• Large database of internationally sanctioned events
• More internationally focused
• Many high profile, elite competitions

Cons:

• Limited search options
• Only competitions

5. Meetups
Using Meetups is a great way to find local groups and climbers with similar interests. These groups can be found worldwide, making this a great international option. The utility of this site is very dependent on where you live and how many groups are active near you. You will also probably have to try out several different groups before you find one that is active enough for your schedule. If all else fails, you can always start your own group too!

Pros:

• Extremely internationally friendly
• Can find a group that best fits your interests and schedule
• Can start your own group

Cons:

• Finding a group is very dependent on location
• Some groups are inactive, meaning increased search time

6. Local Rock Climbing Facilities
Going to local rock climbing facilities is one of the best ways to find local events. Many facilities host their own individual competitions and public events, usually for a small fee. They usually have some sort of bulletin board as well where local events/competitions are posted. Of course, finding more official competitions may be a little harder at these locations, as well as finding a variety of events. Each location may only have a handful of events or competition, so you will have to do a little shopping around.

Pros:

• Best place to find local events
• Meet local climbers and staff

Cons:

• Few events per location
• Limited by individual location/travel