Double the adrenaline, double the titles. At Rock Master, two legendary formats are in play: the Lead Duel, the iconic head-to-head race to the top of the Climbing Stadium’s towering wall, and KO Boulder, the knockout battle that rewards power, instinct and determination. 8 women and 8 men – some of the best climbers in the world – are invited to compete in one of the most spectacular climbing events on the international scene.
How does the Rock Master boulder challenge work?
KO Boulder is one of the most exciting and unpredictable moments of Rock Master: a head-to-head bouldering showdown that keeps the audience on edge from start to finish.
The action takes place on the new bouldering wall of the Climbing Stadium in Arco, designed to deliver spectacular moves and maximum showtime. Before the competition begins, athletes can try out the blocs, while the route setters make final adjustments to dial in every detail.
The format? Four knockout rounds, rising tension, and no room for error.
Each athlete has three attempts per bloc to reach the top. Rankings are based on height reached and number of attempts, with earlier results used as tiebreakers. After the first two blocs, the bottom two climbers are out. One more is eliminated after the third. Only three finalists make it to the last round, where everything is on the line. No points, no calculations: the first to top wins.
It’s fast, it’s fierce, and it’s all about power, precision and nerves of steel. KO Boulder is bouldering at its most thrilling, and a true crowd favourite at Rock Master.
Speed, power and strategy on the great wave of the Climbing Stadium
The Lead Duel is the signature event of Rock Master. A unique challenge played out on the iconic wall of the Climbing Stadium in Arco – the massive overhanging wave that has become a symbol of sport climbing around the world.
Two athletes, two identical and parallel routes, one goal: be the first to hit the top button.
In just over a minute, climbers must fight their way up 25 metres of overhang, combining strategy, determination and raw explosive power. The first section is a fast-paced run of dynamic moves from hold to hold. But it is on the steepest part of the wave – with feet above the head and fingertips clinging to millimetres – that most duels are decided.
The format is simple and unforgiving. A qualification round sets the matchups, followed by knockout rounds leading to the final. The winner is whoever tops first, in a crescendo of speed and suspense that keeps the crowd breathless.
Over the years, the Lead Duel has delivered moments that have become part of climbing legend.
Jakob Schubert versus Adam Ondra, with the Czech champion taking the win in 2016 and the Austrian striking back in 2019 in a final decided on the very last hold.
In 2017, Ondra set a sub-minute record against Marcello Bombardi. One year later, his electrifying duel with Sean McColl came down to fractions of a second.
The 2023 final was equally unforgettable – once again Ondra versus Schubert, with a final sprint that lit up the Climbing Stadium.
And the women’s field has been just as thrilling. From the razor-sharp showdown between Jessica Pilz and Vita Lukan, to the 2023 final where a determined Brooke Raboutou pushed favourite Janja Garnbret to the limit in a heart-pounding finish.
The Lead Duel is more than just a competition. It is pure spectacle, a rush of energy and emotion that continues to write the story of Rock Master.
Want to explore the most epic duels? [Discover the history of Rock Master]
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