USA Climbing is the national governing body of the sport of competition climbing in the United States. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, they promote Sport Climbing which comprises three competition disciplines: bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing, in elite, youth and collegiate formats.
USA Climbing receives sanctioning and is recognized by the following organizations: the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Below is a brief timeline of American competition climbing history:
Any eligible climber aged 16 and older who meets the USAC qualification criteria may compete at Elite Nationals. There are no Regional or Divisional competitions for Elite competitors. The winners in each gender/event (Lead, Speed, and Bouldering) at Elite Nationals are recognized as the National Champions of the United States. However, a non-US citizen cannot be the National Champion of the US. If a non-US citizen wins any gender/event, the next highest-placed US citizen in that gender/event is declared the National Champion.
Youth climbers are subdivided into 5 age groups. As of the 2024âÂÂ25 season, USA Climbing no longer categorizes youth athletes using the Jr, A, B, C, D system. The age ranges are based on how old the competitor will be by the end of the season, not their current age:
The US is subdivided into 9 Divisions and 18 Regions. Anyone may compete in local competitions. USA Climbing members who have attended at least two local competitions and place in the top 26 in their region may compete at their respective Regional Championships. The top 13 competitors in each gender/category at Regionals receive an invitation to compete at their respective Divisional Championships. The top 6 competitors in each gender/category at the Divisional Championships receive an invitation to compete at the National Championships. The top four climbers in each gender/category/event at the National Championships are considered to be the U.S. Youth National Team. Youth on the National Teams for the U19 and U17 categories are eligible to compete at the Youth Pan American and Youth World Championships.
Starting with the 2024-2025 season:
USA Climbing adopted U13, U15, U17, U19, and U20 category names based on birth year, doing away with the Jr/A/B/C/D terms. This restructuring was driven by a desire to align with international standards and IFSC changes, especially for youth progression and eligibility for international events like Youth World Championships.
Provides access for undergraduate or graduate students that are currently enrolled at a college or university to compete in bouldering, lead and speed climbing.
Adaptive provides access for athletes with physical disabilities to compete in both bouldering and lead/top rope climbing.
Categories included in Adaptive are open to those with physical disabilities: Neurological / Physical Disability, Visual Impairment, Upper Extremity Amputee, Lower Extremity, Amputee, Seated, Youth.
The following are the results for bouldering at Elite National Championship level.
The following are the results for lead at Elite National Championship level
Starting with the 2021 Speed National Championships, the US competition format was changed to match the IFSC speed climbing competition format. Prior to 2021, US Speed Climbing National Champions (and final ranking placements) were determined by the fastest climber to finish the speed route. As of 2021, US Speed National Champions were determined by the winners of the IFSC knockout format.
Starting in 2023, USA Climbing adopted the same criteria as the Elite category to officially recognize Speed climbing records for Youth age groups. One key criterion is the use of an officially recognized electronic timing system. Historically, youth records were maintained for developmental purposes without official standards. Now, official Youth speed climbing records can only be set at specific events: USAC Youth Qualifying Events, USAC Youth Regional Championships, USAC Youth Divisional Championships, USAC Youth National Championships, IFSC Youth Pan American Championships, IFSC Youth World Championships, and other USAC or IFSC sanctioned events in which youth age groups compete. Records are not kept for youth age groups C and D because the speed climbing routes vary at each competition.
Beginning in 2019, USA Climbing established specific criteria for setting official National Records in the Elite Speed Climbing category. As such, the National Records below for the Elite category have been officially recognized by USA Climbing.
The athletes who represent the United States in International competition events.
2022 - The athletes who represent the United States in International competition events in 2022.
2021 - The athletes who represented the United States at International competition events in 2021.