A West Coast Climbing Competition Series
Friction Series is our annual climbing competition at our gyms across the West Coast in California and Oregon! This multi-event series features six competitions taking place throughout the year and is open to climbers of all skill levels, members and non-members alike. Each competition includes a full day of climbing, food, mini-games, raffles, and prizes!
Thank you to all community, staff, sponsors, vendors for an incredible season! We can’t wait to begin the 2025 competition season this spring!
2025 competition dates coming soon!
Past Events:
March 17, 2024
Belmont – Rope Competition
2024 Belmont Photo Album
April 13, 2024
Portland – Rope Competition
2024 Portland Photo Album
May 4, 2024
Fountain Valley – Bouldering Competition
2024 Fountain Valley Photo Album
June 1, 2024
Sunnyvale – Rope Competition
2024 Sunnyvale Photo Album
August 24, 2024
Santa Clara – Bouldering Competition
2024 Santa Clara Photo Album
October 19, 2024
San Francisco – Bouldering Competition
2024 San Francisco Photo Album
who can compete in friction series?
Friction Series is a competition for climbers of all skill levels! Recreation, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions are non-gendered, while the Open Division will have male, female, and non-binary categories.
We welcome competitors to choose the skill and gender category they are most comfortable with. You will be competing with other climbers in the same category/skill level as you. As a general rule, your skill category should be determined by the hardest grade you regularly redpoint in the gym.
How do I prepare for Friction Series?
First time competing? Or not sure whether you should sign up? No problem – we’ve got some resources that will help you build your knowledge on comp climbing!
Check out Comp Climbing 101 to get the basics on types of competitions and commonly used terminology. This guide will help you strategize at a modified redpoint competition! Start here to learn about tactics and decision-making skills to help you maximize your comp experience.
2024 sponsors, partners, and vendors
Thank you to our 2024 Sponsors, Partners, and Vendors!
Portland: Arc’teryx Portland, Prana, Cotopaxi, Friendly Foot, Mountain Shop Portland, Portland Area Climbing Coalition, Rose City Physical Therapy, Tree Climbing at Silver Falls, Guayaki, Dry Pointe, Friction Labs, The Phone Belay, Hey Doc Clinic, Real Nutrition Dietitian, The Better Bar, Loco Por La Aventura
Fountain Valley: Arc’teryx Los Angeles, Rab Equipment, Sports Basement SoCal, Midnight Lightning, OnCrux, Dry Pointe, Static Climbing, Brixton, Healthy Meals Kitchen, Baboon Outdoors, Underground Climbing, Whisk and Sage, Iroirobeads
Bay Area: Sterling Rope, Tenaya, Evolv, Scarpa, DMM, Arc’teryx Nor Cal, V12 Resole, Mammut, Yosemite Climbing Association, Bay Area Climbing Coalition, Ropes for Rescue, Greater Than Climbing, Patagonia Palo Alto, Bespoke Craft Design, Hitorii Design, Idle Feline, Fort Point Beer, Dynamite Starfish, Moonwake Coffee, Dragmeupthewall, The Chalk Bag Fund, Sesh Climbing, Coalition Crag, Sports Basement, Cassie Zhang, Topo Designs, Cloud 95, Cotopaxi, Roaring Mouse Cycles, lhs_empowerher, Friction Labs, 8bplus, Tiny Holds, Anti Grav