From October 17th to 19th, the heart of the climbing world will once again beat in Arco, the "Home of Climbing." The legendary Rock Master event will be in its 38th edition and, thanks in part to some new features, promises to be a spectacular climbing festival.
The classic is being expanded
Since 1987 The Rock Master is a fixture in the calendar of the international climbing community. At the foot of the Castello di Arco, the best athletes in the scene competed against each other, and the event quickly developed into one of the most prestigious climbing events in the world. 38 years later, in 2025, the Classic expanded: instead of one day, there are now three days of full climbing action and a great supporting program on top.
Ambassador of this year’s edition is none other than the Czech climbing GOAT Adam Ondra.
Sporting highlights are guaranteed in Arco
At Rock Master, the absolute World class 16 of the best in their sport, 8 women and XNUMX men, are hand-picked by the organization. Highlights and spectacles are guaranteed at such a high-caliber event. Participant field In addition, the entertaining tournament mode provides vertical High voltage.
The competition traditionally consists of two disciplines: the KO Boulder and the Lead Duel.
Rock Master’s KO Boulder:
- Four consecutive rounds.
- Per round three attemptsto top the boulder.
- At the end of each round there is a ranking based on the highest score and the number of attempts.
- In case of a tie, the results of the previous rounds count. Participants are eliminated after each round:
- Rounds 1 and 2: two people are eliminated each.
- Round 3: one is eliminated.
- Round 4: the final with the three best. Everything is decided in the last boulder: whoever holds the top wins!
This is how the KO Boulder competition went last year:
Rock Master's Lead Duel:
- Duel format on the overhanging, 25m high lead wall.
- Two identical, parallel routes of the highest difficulty.
- After a qualifying round, the athletes compete in a knockout system.
- Become Top button first to press, wins.
Colorful supporting program creates a festival atmosphere
In the new Expo area, the Climbing Village, in the climbing stadium of bow The latest trends and innovations will be presented to the scene. Workshops, lectures, and meet & greets with stars such as Adam Ondra and Filip Schenk round out the program.
"Rock Master isn't just a competition on the wall. A real village awaits all around – made for everyone who loves climbing or is just getting into it."
rock master
If you are itching to climb, you won’t miss out: For the little climbing fans there is a Speed climbing competition, while recreational climbers can demonstrate their skills with amateur bouldering or simply have fun. And beyond the city, the town of Arco and the Garda Trentino region in general offer all climbing enthusiasts a cornucopia of sporting, culinary, and cultural highlights.
In short: From 17. to 19. October Climbing is celebrated in a big way in Arco!
Further information can be found on the official website of the event or on Instagram.
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Credits cover photo: Garda Dolomiti SpA