BOULDERFEST FAQ
Boulderfest is an electric, all-day community celebration featuring a youth and adult climbing competition, entertainment, music, food trucks, raffles, open finals, and community connection. It’s open to everyone, and the competition is geared for climbers of all levels—from beginners to experts.
Friday:
Gym closes at 5pm Friday, September 20th for all non-competitors or volunteers!
- 5:00pm: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 5:30pm: Volunteer meeting
- 5:45pm: Competitor rules meeting
- 6:00pm: Round starts
- 9:00pm: Round ends
Saturday:
The gym is closed to anyone not competing, volunteering, or spectating! Yoga/Fitness areas are CLOSED all day.
Session 1:
- 8:30am: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 9:00am: Volunteer meeting
- 9:15am: Competitor rules meeting
- 9:30am: Round starts
- 12:30pm: Round ends
Session 2:
- 1:00pm: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 1:30pm: Volunteer meeting
- 1:45pm: Competitor rules meeting
- 2:00pm: Round starts
- 5:00pm: Round ends
Raffle:
- 5:30pm-6:00pm Raffle starts
Open Finals:
- 6:00pm: Competitor ISO starts
- 6:30pm: Spectator doors open
- 7:00pm: Finals start
- 8:30pm: Finals end
Saturday Festivities:
- All Day: Vendor Market
- 2:00pm: Puppy Yoga
- 3:00pm: Puppy Yoga
- 5:00pm: Free beer starts
- 6:00pm: Ping Pong Tournament
- 8:30pm: Ping Pong Tournament Finals
- 9:00pm: After Party starts
- 10:00pm: After Party ends
Participants may complete in only ONE of the following Sessions:
- Friday Night (Open Qualifiers): 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Saturday Morning (Community round & Open Qualifiers): 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Saturday Afternoon (Community round only): 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Open Qualifiers: Climbs will have individual scores and your ranking is based on the sum of your top 10 scored climbs. Finalists will be contacted Saturday evening before the Finals round.
Community Rounds: Competitors will earn one point for each climb completed within their category range and receive one raffle entry per point. The raffle will be hosted prior to the Finals round.
Final scores and results will be posted online after the event.
Community Categories:
- Recreational: Yellow, Red, Green
- Intermediate: Purple, Orange, Black
- Advanced: Black, Blue, Pink
Open Category: Blue, Pink, White
Competitors will self-select into their respective categories during the registration process. The idea is to challenge yourself!
When trying your absolute hardest, if you are able to top 10 boulders in the highest color available in that category in one climbing session, you should compete at the next level up.
See the example below:
Example: “I generally climb purples/oranges/blacks. I can flash most oranges.”
- When trying your hardest, are you able to complete 10 black boulders in one climbing session?
- If yes, we recommend the Advanced Category.
- If no, we recommend the Intermediate Category.
Open category competitors should be climbing predominantly whites and/or pinks. If a climber is able to climb white boulders, they more than likely should register for the Open category.
Rules talks will be given 15 minutes before the beginning of each session. Please plan to arrive on time to hear the rules talk, and to give yourself as much time as possible to climb!
Yes! Boulderfest is an all-levels competition, so even if you’re new to climbing, there will be something for you to climb. Boulderfest is an awesome experience for everyone!
Yes. Youth 13 and under require an adult (18+) that is also competing to supervise, or a coach if they are on a youth team. Youth 14-17 may compete without a supervisor.
Yes! Spectators are welcome and free all day on Saturday. Spectating is not allowed for the Friday night Open Qualifiers round.
We also have a need for volunteers for our community rounds. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can register here.
Interested in volunteering at Boulderfest? We’d love to have you!
Volunteers will help to judge the community rounds.
Volunteers will receive a free meal, t-shirt, and day passes for their time.
Tons of stuff! We’ll have a vendor market all day, free beer from Oddwood Brewing, puppy yoga and an adoption event with Austin Humane Society, a Ping Pong tournament, live music, open finals, an after party, and more!
No, Springdale will be closed for anyone not competing, spectating, or volunteering. The fitness and yoga studios will be closed. Westgate will be open all day!
The front lot at Springdale will be closed. Parking is available along Springdale Rd, next door at Springdale Station, and in our back parking lot. We recommend carpooling or arriving early as the parking lots will get full!