What is Speed Climbing? All You Need to Know
What is Speed Climbing? All You Need to Know Written by Zack Haze in Rock Climbing What is Speed Climbing?: Speed climbing is a form of rock climbing that focuses on ascending a route as quickly as possible. It differs from traditional free climbing, which relies more on strength and technique. While the sport has only been around for about 25 years or so, it has seen exponential growth in popularity in recent years and continues to gain new adherents all the time. In this article, I’ll cover what exactly speed climbing is (and what it isn’t), as well as its rules, and even some of the records set by individuals in the sport. What is Speed Climbing? Speed climbing is a competitive form of rock climbing where climbers attempt to scale a wall as quickly as possible. The sport has its roots in France and Italy, where climbers would race each other to the top of local cliffs. In the 1990s, speed climbing began to gain popularity as a competitive sport, with th...