USA Climbing has awarded the 2015 American Bouldering Series National Championships to Madison, Wisconsin. The events will take place over two weeks, beginning with an Open National Championship February 5–6 followed by the Youth National Championship from February 12–14.
The event will be co-hosted by the Boulders Climbing Gym, and will be staged at Monona Terrace, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed facility on the shores of Lake Monona. The championships will feature USA Climbing’s bouldering wall, which is also used for the annual IFSC World Cup in Vail, Colorado, and will be webcast internationally.
“This is a really exciting event for the Madison Area Sports Commission and our partners to be able to bring to Madison, Wisconsin,” said Jamie Patrick, director of sports sales and program development for the Madison Area Sports Commission. “We can’t wait to see our unique venue—Monona Terrace—transformed into a climbing mecca that will be set up for the National Championships.”
“We are really looking forward to bringing the ABS National Championships and the best bouldering climbers in the nation to Madison next year,” said USA Climbing CEO Mary-Clare Brennan. “Madison is a tremendous college town and climbing community and we appreciate the support of both the Madison Sports Commission and the Boulders Climbing Gym. We’re going to have a great time there next year.”
USA Climbing is the national governing body for the sport of competition climbing. The organization manages the disciplines of bouldering, lead and speed climbing as well as paraclimbing.