Chase Climbs, Not Grades This Summer

This June, we’re asking climbers across London Climbing Centres to join us in chasing climbs, not grades.

The first week after every new set, every new climb from V2+ will be left ungraded.

After that first week, we’ll flip the grade tags to reveal their ‘given’ grades.

Why the change? Let us explain…

Why we’re hiding grades (from V2 up) for the first week of new sets

Grades are useful tools. They help people quantify progress and are a universal way of communicating general difficulty. But, grades are flawed too.

In outdoor climbing, grading is by consensus, whereas indoors, it simply reflects the opinion of the setter or setting team working on the bloc during the day.

Climb difficulty can also vary depending on angle, style, hold type, and many other factors. If strength and power is your go-to you may be able to climb a steep, overhanging V4, but don’t expect to jump onto a balancey, technique-heavy slab climb and flash it.

A reliance on chasing grades often leads climbers to:

• Filter what they try based on what they think they should be climbing
• Skip climbs that look interesting but feel “out of range”
• Rush movement to tick numbers rather than understand sequences
• Judge sessions by what was sent, not what was learned

Ultimately, we want to encourage climbers to separate the grade from the climb.

Instead of immediately seeking out grade tags, read the route. Look at the holds, the movement, the angle. Does it look fun or intriguing? Then give it a go.

Grades aren’t completely disappearing

It’s important to stress grades aren’t disappearing.

After the first week, all climbs will have their grade tags flipped.

Grades will also be accessible through the Griptonite app.

We’d love to encourage you to not only use the app to check grades, but also use the feedback/voting feature!

What else to expect in June

• An Imposter Circuit is coming to town…

• New sets being gradeless for their first week

• Summer Sales, Open Days, and more…
• Summer Workshops to help you maximise your climbing in and outdoors

Climbing isn’t about proving what grade you climb; it’s about enjoyment and engagement, and a personal mission against the climb in front of you.

This June, we’re creating a space for that mindset indoors.

Join us and chase climbs, not grades.