AOTEAROA'S PREMIER FESTIVAL-STYLE BOULDERING COMP
Bloc Fest is a full-day festival experience bringing together competitors, community, and culture under one roof. Bloc Fest kicked off in Hamilton on Saturday 6th June 2026, with Christchurch to follow on 1st August, and Auckland on 22nd August.
Climbers of all levels compete together across three qualification sessions, tackling 30 boulder problems in each qualification round.
A hidden score-based cut-off separates the top finishers (across the three qualification rounds) into three Open finals categories. Competitors in those Open finals categories, plus the top Youth A climbers, advance to an electrifying finals format that runs through the afternoon and into the evening.
Finals categories cover Open A (elite, 17+), Open B (intermediate, 17+), Open C (beginner/developing, 17+), and Youth A (Under 17).
Climbers in Youth B (Under 14) category compete in qualification rounds only, with prize-giving alongside Finals categories in the evening.
Beyond the competition, Bloc Fest is a festival. Expect live music, shoe demos from leading climbing brands, food and nutrition booths, workshops, physio and moassage sessions, and a relaxed atmosphere designed to welcome everyone from serious competitors to first-time spectators.
Spectating is free! To enter the comp, see the ticketing options below.
Dates
Boulder Co. Hamilton: Saturday 6th June [complete]
Boulder Co. Christchurch: Saturday 1st August
Boulder Co. Auckland: Saturday 22nd August
tickets
COMP FORMAT
Qualification
Climbers compete across three 2-hour qualification sessions (max 70 per session). Each session includes 30 boulder problems, ranging from V0–V11. Each competitor logs their best result per problem using the scoring below:
| Attempt | Points |
| Flash (1st attempt) | 10 points |
| 2nd attempt | 7 points |
| 3rd attempt | 4 points |
| 4th attempt or more | 1 point |
A hidden cutoff score determines which competitors in Open A, B and C qualify for finals. Competitors are automatically placed into a category based on their total qualification score.
Categories
Open A – Elite open division (male & female). 17+
Open B – Intermediate open division (male & female). 17+
Open C – Beginner/developing division (male & female). 17+
Youth A – Under 17 years (male & female).
Youth B – Under 14 years (male & female). Placings determined in qualification rounds for this category.
Finals
The top six male and top six female from Open A, B, C and Youth A categories advance to finals. Finals are held in a rolling rotation through the afternoon and evening, with each finalist competing on 3–4 dedicated boulder problems in a timed isolation/rotation format (5 min 15 sec per problem). Finals categories run in order: Open C → Open B → Youth A → Open A.
Cash Prizes
| Open A | Open B | Open C | |
| 1st | $400 | $150 | $100 |
| 2nd | $200 | $125 | $75 |
| 3rd | $150 | $100 | $50 |
Beyond the Comp
Expect a full day of goodness, with plenty going on, whether you’re between attempts, cheering on a mate, or just here for the vibe.
Live music keeps the energy up all day. Shoe and gear demos from leading climbing brands give you the chance to test out the latest kit before your next session.
Unwind with a sauna or yoga session between rounds, or book in with our on-site physios for some pre-climb mobility work and massage (or post-climb damage control).
Look out for spot prizes from our amazing sponsors throughout the day as well!
Bloc Fest is proudly supported by:
Ultra-durable coolers, drinkware and bags that are the pinnacle of performance and built for every-day use. Get the gear that performs when it matters most.
Merino Performance Apparel from the bottom of the world. Wānaka, New Zealand.
To inspire and enable athletes to push their limits – to seek new routes, new lines or new distances and to Never Stop Exploring.
Climbing shoes designed for performance to ensure that your rock climbing experiences are better than you’ve had before. Available from the Boulder Co. Pro-shops.
The new standard in chalk. For athletes who demand confident grip.
Raglan Rock Adventure Co offers rock climbing, caving and canyoning tours from Raglan, on the beautiful west coast of the North Island.
Christchurch sponsors:
