Burning River Boulder League Format and Rules

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We are excited to host the Second Annual Burning River Boulder League! Read below for more details.

Format:

Burning River Boulder League will take place over 3 weeks from October 25th, 2023 to November 8th, 2023. Every Wednesday there will be 12 new boulder problems from beginner to advanced as well as an opportunity for bonus points. Participants will compete on an individual basis, but all competitors will climb together on Wednesday evenings.

Competitors can attempt all boulders in any order they choose, and can take as many attempts as they like, however, attempts will count towards final scores. Participants will be placed into categories based on their performance each week and overall. Categories will be divided approximately as follows:

Recreational– V0-V3
Intermediate – V4-V6
Advanced – V6-V9

Rules:

  • Competitors must climb on Wednesdays during Boulder League from 5pm to 10pm to score points
  • Competitors must record the number of attempts they take on each boulder, and mark the attempt on which they successfully completed the boulder on their scorecard
  • Competitors must have another participant watch them climb and initial their scorecard to confirm successful scores
  • Boulders will be marked with 4 starting points for hands and feet
    • To achieve a legal start on a boulder, competitors:
      • Must simultaneously contact each of the 4 marked starting points with a hand or foot, while in a stable controlled position
      • Can use any of the marked starting holds or volumes, or the climbing wall itself to climb into a stable controlled starting position
      • Can NOT use any holds or volumes other than marked starting holds to gain a stable controlled starting position
    • Boulders will each have a single marked “Top” hold
      • To successfully complete a boulder, competitors:
        • Must make clear contact with the marked Top hold with both hands, while in a stable controlled position
      • Gray volumes can be used for all boulders
      • Wall features such as aretes and dihedrals can be used for all boulders
      • Use of the top edge of the climbing wall is prohibited on all boulders
      • Cheering and supporting fellow competitors while they’re on the wall is encouraged, but please refrain from yelling beta at other climbers while they climb
      • Discussing and sharing beta on the ground is encouraged

Scoring:

  • Each week boulders will be scored from 100 to 1200 points in approximate order of difficulty
  • Flashing (successfully completing on the first attempt) a boulder earns full points
  • Subsequent attempts deduct 1 point each (see scorecard example below)
  • Competitors’ Top 3 scores each week will be combined with any bonus points for a Weekly Score
  • Competitors’ 3 weekly Scores will be combined for a final Boulder League Score
  • Categories will be assigned based on a competitor’s highest 2 scores during the League
    • If both top scores fall into the next category, competitors will be bumped into that category
    • If only one of the top scores falls into the next category, competitors will remain in the lower category

Recreational: 100 - 400pts
Intermediate: 500 - 800pts
Advanced: 900 - 1200pts

  • EX: Completing two 500pt boulders during the league bumps a competitor from Beginner to Intermediate. Completing two 900pt boulders bumps a competitor from Intermediate to Advanced
  • Bonus points do NOT affect category placement
  • Completed scorecard example:
Scorecard jpeg
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