This year’s Olympic bouldering and speed climbing competitions drew an incredible audience of 6,000 people in attendance.
Thanks to the growing access to an indoor climbing wall, the plastic holds have found their way into the heart of the mainstream. This year’s Olympic bouldering and speed climbing competitions have seen a full 6,000+ audience, and that could be easily doubled.
Our teammates from Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Haley (an Olympian herself!) and Ryan were there to watch speed records and well-rounded athletes tested on endurance, slabs, dynos, and their technique. This year had also strong female presence and bigger than ever media attention. The popularity of the sport brought money and solidified climbing careers which in return will help athletes excel at a higher level quicker and push more.
Gone are the days where a high-performance athlete was dreaming about a dentist’s salary. In Canada, being an Olympian comes with a bit more – including being eligible for a government stipend from the Athlete Assistance Program. It won’t make you rich, but can help go towards some of the cost of post-secondary and keeps the lights on.
Welcome to the new era of dirtbagging: balancing an engineering gig while hanging at the crag, juggling digital nomad work between climbs, or going all in as a pro climber. Because these days, the real flex isn’t just medals – it’s making it all work.
Author: Karolina Krakowiak, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Haley and Ryan at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is a globally recognized event and tour celebrating the beauty, adventure, and culture of mountains globally. Join us at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity from November 1 – 9, 2025 for the 50th Anniversary of the Festival in Banff, Alberta! The nine-day festival showcases live events with adventurers, authors, photographers, and filmmakers sharing their inspiring stories.
Online films are also available to watch throughout the year on Banff on Demand.
To find out more about the Festival, World Tour, and related programs, please visit banffcentre.ca/banffmountainfestival.
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