On March 28 and 29, the 2008 Gravity Brawl had Isaac Newton turning in his grave. The season opener of the Mammut Bouldering Championships Pro Tour had 270+ participants who pushed the gravitational limits. 

The new kid on the block, competition organizer NE2C (in their third season), is known for putting on bouldering events that go beyond sport and enter the realm of Entertainment. The organization’s latest show, the 2008 Gravity Brawl, held in the New Jersey Rock Gym dangled a big carrot (read: $5,000 cash purse) to provide extra motivation for the pro competitors.

On the topic of competitors, the Brawl brought many of the best climbers in the country to Fairfield, New Jersey. The roster included: Matt Bosley, Kevin Jorgeson, Vasya Vorotnikov, Tyler Haack and more for the men. Notables in the Women’s category included: Paige Claassen, Alex Johnson, Lizzy Asher, Charlotte Jouette, Kate McGinnis and many more. (Haack, Johnson, Claassen, Asher, and McGinnis are all members of the 2008 U.S. Adult Bouldering Team)

NE2C has long sought to create events that are as much about bringing climbing into the public eye as they are about pitting top climbers against each other. Aside from the over-the-top MC stylings of co-founder Jason Danforth, NE2C employs the computer-based TopScore scoring system, which simplifies the standings and displays them live, in real time, at the event and online for those who couldn’t make it to Jersey.