Climbing · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Climbing today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← See today's latestSalt Lake wraps the series, Katz lands breakthrough gold
Salt Lake City Finale
The 2026 boulder season ended where it began: with McNeice on top.
Erin McNeice claimed the overall World Climbing Series Boulder title after finishing runner-up in Salt Lake City's final [Quelle: IFSC Climbing]. France's Oriane Bertone took the event gold, topping all four boulders for her third career title at this level, while Japan's Mao Nakamura rounded out the podium. McNeice's consistency across six stops—one gold, four silvers—outpaced Australia's Oce Mackenzie and Annie Sanders despite a slower final showing, locking down 4,545 series points and proving that endurance beats one-day brilliance.
Eight thousand five hundred fans packed Smith's Ballpark to close the loop.
Katz Breaks Through
Yonatan Katz won gold on only his second senior start.
The Israeli climber solved a coordination boulder that had stumped everyone else in the men's final at Salt Lake City, using a specific swing move he'd spent one to two years training [Quelle: World Climbing]. Katz scored 69.7 points ahead of Great Britain's Max Milne and Japan's Rei Kawamata, becoming only the second Israeli climber to medal at World Climbing Series level. His win signals that early-career breakthroughs often hinge on having the exact toolkit an unexpected problem demands—not raw consistency, but specificity meeting opportunity at the right moment.
Momentum at the second outing rarely sticks without deliberate next moves.
La Sportiva HyperEZ Review
La Sportiva's new hybrid shoe prioritizes comfort without sacrificing precision.
The HyperEZ combines a wide, gently asymmetric toe box with padded heel and SenseGrip midsole technology—originally built for technical performance—making it a rare beginner-focused shoe that works across indoor gyms and outdoor terrain [Quelle: Climbing Gear Reviews]. Machine-washable, fully vegan, with replaceable sole and dual velcro straps, the shoe costs £110 and excels through intermediate grades. The padded heel helps heel hooks on volumes, though experienced climbers may find initial stiffness a trade-off worth making if they value all-day comfort.
Beginners rarely outgrow good gear; they outgrow bad choices.
Bertone back on top | World Climbing18 hours ago ... NEXT UP. The women will close the competition, and Boulder series, with their final later this evening. News and updates about the World Climbing Series Salt ...ifsc-climbing.org
Katz gets gold on only second senior start - World Climbing15 hours ago ... The women will close the competition, and Boulder series, with their semi-final and final on Sunday. News and updates about the World Climbing Series Salt ...worldclimbing.com
Review – La Sportiva HyperEZ Climbing Shoe11 hours ago ... The same rubber compound is used on the Tarantula, Mythos and the more technical Skwarma Lite shoes so is tried and tested on a variety of rock types. It's ...climbinggearreviews.com