Pro Climbing League
| Pro Climbing League | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Bouldering |
| Location | Europe |
| Inaugurated | 2026 |
| Founders | Danaan Markey Charlie Boscoe |
| Website | https://www.proclimbing.com/ |
The Pro Climbing League (PCL) is a professional competition climbing league, with its first event scheduled for 28 February 2026 in London. Olympic gold medalists Toby Roberts and Janja Garnbret plan to compete in the league.[1]
The league features "head-to-head" competition bouldering, where two climbers will attempt identical side by side routes at the same time. Each pair will compete head-to-head on three different routes, with four minutes per route. Each PCL event will have eight climbers and three rounds, where the winner of each pairing advances to the next round until there is a single winner.[1][2] Co-founder Danaan Markey stated the format is intended to increase pressure and excitement, and "reward creativity and intuition just as much as raw strength".[2] This format is distinct from competition bouldering events organized by World Climbing or at the Summer Olympics, where athletes individually attempt multiple boulders, and the winner is determined by total boulders completed or partially completed and number of attempts. French magazine PlanetGrimpe speculates the head-to-head format is intended to be more straightforward for a general audience, and easier to broadcast on television.[3]
The league will be broadcast by Red Bull TV.[1]
Editions
The first edition will be held at Magazine London with 16 competitors, eight men and eight women.[2] 14 of the participants are invited, with the final two spots determined by a qualifying event in January.[4]
| No. | Location | G | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London 28 February 2026 |
M | Maximillian Milne |
| W | Oriane Bertone |
See also
References
- ^ a b c Pullan, Brandon (11 December 2025). "Janja Garnbret to Compete in First-Ever Pro Climbing League". Gripped. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "New Pro Climbing League launches in London on 28 February 2026". Planet Mountain. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ Mattuzzi, Nicolas (21 December 2025). "Janja Garnbret en tête d'affiche d'un nouveau format de compétition : naissance de la Pro Climbing League" [Janja Garnbret headlines a new competition format: the birth of the Pro Climbing League]. Planet Grimpe (in French). Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "The »Pro Climbing League« will start in London in 2026 – Janja Garnbret and Toby Roberts will be at the starting line". La Crux. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2026.