BOLDER 26 is done and dusted, and we're still taking it all in.
On Saturday 27 June, 320 competitors filled Beyond Bouldering Thebarton for our biggest BOLDER competition yet. Bringing together climbers from across South Australia and competitors who travelled interstate, BOLDER 26 was a celebration of the climbing community coming together to reconnect, push limits, and be part of something much bigger than just a competition.
With more than 200 spectators joining us for finals, alongside a huge crowd throughout the qualification rounds, the energy inside Thebarton was incredible. Combined with more than 1,500 people tuning into the livestream during finals, BOLDER 26 became our largest and most watched event to date.
While we're proud of how much BOLDER has grown, what makes it special is the community behind it. From competitors cheering on strangers and friendships forming between attempts, to volunteers giving their time, routesetters creating incredible climbs, and spectators bringing the energy, every person plays a part in making BOLDER what it is.
When we started BOLDER, we wanted to create a competition that reflected the culture of climbing in South Australia: challenging, welcoming and community-driven. Seeing that vision come to life year after year is something we're incredibly proud of.
This year we introduced the Griptonite app for scoring, creating a smoother experience for competitors. Our routesetting team once again delivered a challenging and memorable set of boulders, while DJ Luke Henry, MCs Josh Payne and Justin Taylor, and livestream commentators Roderick Vincent and Dan Millar helped bring the event to life both in the gym and online.
Whether you competed, volunteered, watched online, or cheered from the crowd, you helped shape what BOLDER has become.
Thank you for being part of it.
🏆 Winners
Thank You To Our Sponsors
BOLDER 26 would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and event partners.
A massive thank you to the businesses who continue to support climbing in South Australia and help us create experiences that go well beyond a single competition day.
We encourage our community to support the businesses that support our sport.
Thank You To Our Team Behind The Scenes
Events like BOLDER are only possible because of the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
To our setters, judges, volunteers, photographers, videographers, livestream crew, staff, MCs, sponsors and supporters, thank you. The countless hours spent planning, preparing, setting, testing, coordinating and packing down are what allow competition day to run the way it does.
A special thank you to the key people who helped bring BOLDER 26 to life:
From the first ideas and planning meetings through to the final pack down, every person involved played a part in creating an event that continues to grow year after year.
Photos
A huge thank you to all of our photographers for capturing the moments that made BOLDER 26 special.
Did you take photos on the day? We'd love to add them to our gallery. Send us a DM on Instagram or email us here to share your photos with the community. If you're sharing photos of BOLDER online, we'd love for you to tag us at @beyondbouldering so we can celebrate and share your shots too.
Livestream
Missed the finals or want to relive the action? Watch the BOLDER 26 Open B and Open A finals below.
Watch LivestreamLooking Ahead
Every year we walk away from BOLDER feeling proud of what we've built together.
This year feels particularly special, not just because it was our biggest BOLDER yet, but because it was another reminder of the strength of the community behind it.
To everyone who competed, volunteered, spectated, sponsored, watched online or supported the event in any way, thank you.
You are the reason BOLDER continues to grow.
We can't wait to see where it goes next.
Go Forth. Boulder.
