“It Was the Hardest Thing I Could Think Of”: Inside a Badass Ascent of the El Cap Triple
Jordan Cannon and Michael Vaill raced up 8,000 feet of Yosemite granite, with difficulties up to 5.13 and A2.
Speed Climbing
Speed Climbing
Colley, Tippett, and Adams Set 22-Hour Speed Record on One of El Cap’s Hardest Aid Routes
In his own words, Oliver Tippett reflects on his team’s in-a-day ascent of the ‘Reticent’ (A4+; 2700 feet) on May 24, 2025.
Kelleghan and Pineau Set New Women’s Speed Record on the Naked Edge
The Boulder local and her French partner simul-climbed the five-pitch route “bridge to bridge” in 37 minutes 8 seconds, shaving 32 seconds from the previous record.
8 Speed Climbers To Watch for at the Paris Olympics
Speed climbers were dealt a rough hand at the Tokyo Olympics. This time around, we'll finally get to see who the best speed climbers in the world are.
American Sam Watson Sets Speed Climbing World Record
The 18-year-old Texan beat the previous record twice during the qualification round at the Wujiang World Cup
American Speed Climber Piper Kelly Punches Ticket to Olympics
She will compete in Paris alongside fellow compatriot Emma Hunt, who received her own ticket to the Games after placing second in the Bern World Championships this past August.
Mythical Speed Barrier Broken On The Naked Edge: 22:44
The big question was when—or even if— a party would eclipse the 24-minute mark on one of the finest multi-pitch climbs in North America.
How Did This Year’s World Cups Get So Weird?
This year wasn’t a disaster—it had its jaw-dropping moments, but it also proved that the competition circuit is still in somewhat of a dizzy tailspin, the same one it has been in for three years.
He Did It Again—Yep, Another World Record for Katibin
In his most recent history-making run, Katibin clocked a time of 5.009 seconds.
World Record Demolished—Is Climbing’s “4-minute Mile” Within Grasp?
With a final time of 5.04 seconds Katibin is within reach of the mythical sub-5-second bar, a time that was thought untouchable just a few years ago.
What? Two World Records And An American Record—Smashed!
And it's just the qualifying rounds at the World Cup in Salt Lake City.
What the Hell is Speed Climbing?
Everything you need to know about this faster version of climbing.
Climbing Was For Men Only. She Did It Anyway and Became One of the World’s Best
Girls weren't even allowed to use the local climbing wall. She fought for her access, and then made her way to the world stage.
Chasing a New Speed Record on the World’s Highest 14 Peaks
Two climbers want to be the youngest to summit the 14 peaks.
“Up To Speed”
Is speed climbing just a fringe activity whose glory days (the X Games) are long behind it? Reel Rock filmmaker Zachary Barr takes an in-depth look.
How Did Competitive Speed Climbing Become a Thing? Watch “Up To Speed”
Is speed climbing just a a fringe activity whose glory days (the X Games) are long behind it? Reel Rock filmmaker Zachary Barr takes an in-depth look.
Shocking Upsets In Speed Are All The Buzz(er) At Nationals. Results and a Hang-Onto-Your-Seat Recap.
Slips by top seeds, a rare tie and a missed buzzer kept the crowd on its feet at USA Climbing's Speed National Championships.
Fast and Furious
Check out James Lucas's author page.
How Can You Set a World Record and Not Medal in the Olympics?
Implausible as it sounds, Aleksandra Miroslaw of Poland did just that in Tokyo 2020's Sport Climbing combined event.
Let’s Stop Bashing Speed Climbing And Accept That It’s Legitimate
It's easy to say that speed climbing shouldn't have been in the Olympics, that it's not "real" climbing. Here's why those notions are just wrong.
Climb Long Routes Faster With This Simple Aid Trick
Check out Mark Synnott's author page.
USA’s Emma Hunt Grabs Silver, World Speed Record Smashed Second Time in a Single Day
In a powerful performance on home turf, Emma Hunt advanced to finals and got a podium, while John Brosler was narrowly edged out of bronze.
Indonesian Phenom Smashes Speed Record at World Cup in Salt Lake City. John Brosler Sets New American Record.
The 2021 Speed World Cup season is off to a helluva good start.
Watch Libby Sauter and Alix Morris Set the Salathé Wall Women's Speed Record in 2015
Check out The Editors's author page.
Speed On The Spur: Racing For The Yellow Spur FKT
Check out The Editors's author page.
Alex Honnold Breaks Epinephrine Speed Record
Check out Bennett Slavsky's author page.
Alpine Knee: Speed Isn’t Always Safety
After several personal losses, our columnist reexamines her relationship to speed.
Short Film: Peter and the Columns (Featuring Hans Florine)
Check out The Editors's author page.
Speed Ascent of Avocado Gully (WI3/4 M2, 400 Feet)
That time that Duane Raleigh, then Rock and Ice’s publisher/editor-in-chief, set the car-to-car speed record on Avocado Gully (WI 3/4), Redstone, Colorado back in 2010.
Operation Speed Climbing: From the Nose to the Olympics, Speed Climbing Is Making Its Mark
Check out Zoe Leibovitch's author page.
Highs and Lows: IFSC Toulouse Combined Olympic Qualifier
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Xiamen World Cup 2019—Lead and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2019 Xiamen—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
An Inside Look at USA Climbing’s National Team Training Center
The new facility is purpose-built to help American climbers compete on the international stage and prepare for the Olympics
Livestreams: IFSC Climbing World Championships 2019
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Chamonix World Cup 2019—Lead and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2019 Chamonix—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Villars World Cup 2019—Lead and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2019 Villars—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Paklenica International Climbers Meeting: Croatia's Big Wall Speed Climbing Competition
Check out Bennett Barthelemy's author page.
Olympic Committee Unanimously Votes to Include Sport Climbing in Paris 2024 Games
Check out Hannah Gartner's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Wujiang World Cup 2019—Bouldering and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2019 Wujiang—Bouldering and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Chongqing World Cup 2019—Bouldering and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2019 Chongqing—Bouldering and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Moscow World Cup 2019—Bouldering and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2019 Moscow—Bouldering and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
New Climbing Format Proposed for 2024 Paris Olympics Separates Speed Climbing
Check out Bennett Slavsky's author page.
USA Climbing 2019 Combined Invitational: Highs and Lows
A look at the first-ever USA Climbing combined-format event
Photo Gallery: The Films of Reel Rock 13
Check out The Editors's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Xiamen—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Wujiang—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Jim Reynolds: The Dark Horse
Meet the YOSAR beast and onetime Nose speed record holder
The Highs and Lows of El Cap Speed
Are big-wall speed climbers pushing too far?
Results: 2018 IFSC Climbing World Championships
Check out The Editors's author page.
Basecamp: A Climbing Magazine Podcast—Quinn Brett / Nina Williams
Check out Kevin Riley's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Arco World Cup 2018—Lead and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Arco—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Chamonix World Cup 2018—Lead and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Chamonix—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Villars World Cup 2018—Lead and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Villars—Lead and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Intro to Speed Climbing: Two Beginner Drills
Check out Oleksii Shulha and Jeff Chapman's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Tai’an World Cup 2018—Bouldering and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Tai'an—Bouldering and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap and Photo Gallery: IFSC Chongqing World Cup 2018—Bouldering and Speed
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Chongqing—Bouldering and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Recap, Highlights, and Photo Gallery: IFSC Moscow World Cup 2018—Bouldering and Speed
Check out Eddie Fowke's author page.
Livestreams: IFSC World Cup 2018 Moscow—Bouldering and Speed
Check out The Editors's author page.
Highs and Lows: 2018 USA Climbing Sport and Speed Nationals
Check out John Burgman's author page.
Photo Gallery and Results: USA Climbing 2018 Sport Nationals
Check out Andrea Laue's author page.
USA Climbing 2018 Sport and Speed Open National Championship Livestreams
Check out The Editors's author page.
A Portrait in Speed: Iranian Speed Climber Farnaz Esmaeilzadeh
Check out Alex Lubben's author page.
Shiraishi, Lightner Win 2017 Sport Climbing Nationals
Check out Liz Haas's author page.
Livestream: Sport and Speed Climbing 2017 Open National Championships
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Tuolomne Triple in 8 Hours
Check out The Editors's author page.
Brad Gobright and Scott Bennett: The El Cap Triple
Check out The Editors's author page.
Olympic Climbing Survey: 15 Pro Climbers Weigh in
Check out Brendan Blanchard's author page.
Vertical Triathlon: The Future of Climbing in the Olympics
How we ended up with a multidiscipline Olympic climbing event, what’s next for athletes, and whether the sheen of a gold medal reflects the future of the sport.
Bennett, Gobright Complete Three El Cap Routes in a Day
Check out Matt Rhodin's author page.