Successful Mammoth Blacklight Boulder Challenge 2017

Yesterday evening, the Mammut Blacklight Boulder Challenge 2017 took place in the St. Gallen climbing hall. More than 230 athletes competed in brightly colored, bright clothes in neon light.

The Mammut Blacklight Boulder Challenge took place for the fourth time in the climbing hall in Eastern Switzerland. A special kind of competition format. Climbing is done in as conspicuous clothes as possible and in black light. The visibility is accordingly limited, but the fun factor is all the greater, because the gaudy items of clothing glow in the neon light. The athletes present are not just about having fun. You take it seriously. Jérome from Bern says: “The rules are not as rigid as in a normal competition and the focus is on having fun. Nevertheless, I give everything and want to get into the top ranks. "

From Zero to Hero

The participating athletes are as colorful as the clothing. Young and older participants as well as professionals and amateurs climb the glowing boulders. So that hobby climbers also have a chance of a podium place, a distinction is made between the two categories “Zero” and “Hero”. "Anyone who moves in the middle segment has the chance to get into the zero final," explains Diego Lampugnani, managing director of the St. Gallen climbing hall.

Immense work behind the scenes

The St. Gallen climbing hall is hardly recognizable anymore. With over 4 kilometers of colored adhesive tape, motifs were stuck to the walls, new routes were screwed, 50 black light spotlights were installed and a bar was set up. The hard-working helpers began with the construction work five days before the event. “I had four hours on this motif alone. But it was worth it, ”says Hansueli Brülisauer enthusiastically from the indoor climbing team. LACRUX can only confirm that. It was a really great event.

The Winner is ...

Benjamin Blaser won the men's category “Hero”, followed by Kevin Heiniger (2nd place) and Alex Khazanov (3rd place). Andrea Kümin took the women’s victory. Anne-Sophie Koller and Nathalie Bärtschi follow in second and third place for women.

You can find the ranking lists for the qualification and the “Zero” finalists under the following links on the St. Gallen climbing hall website.

• Ranking qualification men
• Ranking Qualification Ladies
• Ranking Final Zero and Hero Gentlemen
• Ranking Final Zero and Hero Ladies

Photos of yesterday's competition

The pictures of the Mammut Blacklight Boulder Challenge 2017 can be found here.

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Video of the Mammoth Blacklight Boulder Challenge 2015

Credits: Images © LHfoto