The Most Unique Climbing Comp You've Probably Never Heard Of
It’s time to share a little secret. In my 13 years of climbing, I’ve never participated in anything quite like the BFL Combine. It’s hands down the most unique climbing competition out there! Half weight lifting and half climbing, it is based on the NFL and NBA combines, where athletes showcase their athletic and mental skills to pro scouts. The BFL Combine started in 2021, and has attracted world class climbers, including Natalia Grossman, Zach Galla, and Drew Ruana. The comp is held at Beast Fingers climbing gym, a Black-owned gym, in Denver, Colorado. I've been the commentator for the past two combines, taking over for Kai Lightner.
The BFL Combine is a full day event that includes open climbing and even a musical performance. The first half of the day is the strength portion of the combine. This year, there were seven events that allowed the athletes to showcase their upper body strength, flexibility and balance, and lower body power. At last year’s event, one of the highlights was watching Zach Galla and Drew Ruana crank out one arm pullups like it was nothing! In the 2023 combine, there was also a tricky mobility challenge that gave the competitors a chance to showcase their flexibility. At one point, I wondered how Noah Wheeler (180-cm) was able to fit into such a small box. Then I realized he won the mobility challenge, so it all made sense!
The final portion of the strength testing is the Grippul Lift-off, where athletes go head to head in testing their finger strength. The Grippul is a finger training tool that was developed by Beast Fingers owner, Aman. The athletes often lift more than body weight with just four fingers from one hand! It's an absolutely incredible feat to watch!
The top six athletes from the strength portion compete in the climbing finals. The men and women climb the same four problems, with a few adjustments to make sure the holds are accessible. This aspect also makes the BFL Combine unique and poses an interesting challenge to the route setters. The climbs are a mix of outdoor style and comp style, so that everyone (athletes and spectators) can have fun!
The 2023 BFL Combine was livestreamed on Epic TV and you can catch the replay on Epic TV's YouTube channel. I already can't wait for next year's combine and hope it motivates more climbers to weight train!
Now that I’m exactly six months post-op from lower back spinal fusion surgery, my workouts are shifting. Initially, I stuck to body weight and light weight resistance to keep pressure off the bone. Now, I’m finally getting back to heavier weights and more of my pre-surgery workouts. So with that my series on spinal fusion recovery comes to end! But don’t despair, I have a few last exercises to share!