[July 2, 2017, Beijing, China] The 2017 adidas ROCKSTARS China national competition concluded successfully today at the Sanlitun Orange Hall in Beijing. After two days of fierce competition, climbing stars Chen Xiangzhi and Hu Yingyu won the men’s and women’s professional titles respectively. They will represent China at the ROCKSTARS World Finals taking place this year in Stuttgart, Germany.
[Photo Captions 1-2: Highlights from the event]
The first round of the professional finals featured four routes. Competitors had to climb each route and the ones who completed the most routes in the fewest attempts within the time limit would advance to the Speed Hyper Battle for the championship that evening. The difficulty level of these professional routes was exceptionally high, and athletes had no prior knowledge of the routes. They only had a few minutes to plan their climbs before tackling them within a limited timeframe. Contestants battled through the course, delivering an outstanding bouldering showcase with remarkable climbing skills and a bold, unconventional outdoor spirit.
Climb to new heights, surpass limits
In the first round, among the women, adidas-sponsored athletes Niu Di and Li Hongying delivered impressive performances by completing all four routes, advancing to the Hyper Battle in first and third place respectively. The men’s division was even more thrilling. Also an adidas athlete, Huang Zhouwen demonstrated the absolute prowess of a seasoned pro by claiming second place and securing a spot in the Hyper Battle. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated adidas-sponsored athlete Qu Haibin, a veteran climber from Changsha, closely followed in third place to join the final lineup of the Hyper Battle.
[Photo Captions 3-6: Intense battles among Hyper Battle qualifiers]
The final Hyper Battle for both men and women adopted a 2-vs-2 showdown format, where the fourth-place finisher from the first round competed against the first-place finisher, and the second-place faced the third-place athlete. Then the winners of those matches competed for the championship. With passionate rock music performances creating an electrifying atmosphere, the fusion of climbing and rock music heightened the excitement. The professional Hyper Battle courses tested not only the athletes’ techniques but also their stamina. Adidas-sponsored athlete Li Hongying, drawing on years of competitive experience, remained calm and composed, clinching second place and sharing the victory joy with Hu Yingyu, who won first place. Adidas athlete Niu Di also fought bravely to secure fourth place, earning cheers from the audience for her exceptional performance.
The climax of the competition was the men’s Hyper Battle. Veteran Huang Zhouwen was defeated by You Jiajun and was stopped at the ultimate final. The battle for the top spots was between adidas-sponsored athlete Qu Haibin and climbing star Chen Xiangzhi. As the championship race reached its final moments, the audience went wild, cheering passionately for their favorite athletes, pushing the atmosphere to its peak. In the end, Chen Xiangzhi narrowly defeated Qu Haibin by just 2 seconds to win the 2017 adidas ROCKSTARS men’s title, earning thunderous applause from the crowd.
[Photo Captions 7-8: Championship battle in the men’s Hyper Battle]
After the competition, awards were presented by Mr. Gu Letian, Senior Director of Outdoor at adidas; Mr. Liu Weili, General Manager of the Beijing branch of Pou Sheng International; Mr. Li Guowei, Director of the Climbing and Ice Climbing Department of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; and Ms. Hou Yunhui, Marketing Director for Greater China and General Manager of the Beijing branch of Gore-Tex. The men’s and women’s champions will travel to Stuttgart, Germany to compete in the 2017 adidas ROCKSTARS Global Finals.
[Photo Captions 9-10: Awards ceremony for men’s and women’s champions]
Each year, the ROCKSTARS China event attracts at least 30,000 live spectators. From 2013 to 2016, eight athletes have represented China in Germany, competing alongside world-class climbers.
Building an international exchange platform for bouldering competitions
ROCKSTARS is a global competition hosted by adidas and is also recognized as one of the premier events in the climbing community by the International Federation of Sport Climbing. First held in Stuttgart, Germany in 2011, the event has seen climbers from around the world joining in every year since. The China edition pioneered a world-class bouldering competition in China, creating an outstanding platform for exchange among domestic and international climbers and enthusiasts. With its professional organization and attentive services, it has attracted many top bouldering athletes from around the globe.
About the adidas Rockstars Bouldering Competition
This year marks the fifth edition of the adidas ROCKSTARS China competition, attracting numerous professional climbers and enthusiasts. ROCKSTARS is a bouldering competition, also known as climbing without ropes.
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing where climbers scale rocks no higher than 5 meters without ropes, relying solely on their own strength without any external aids. This sport greatly tests one’s determination to press forward and showcases exquisite climbing techniques, making it highly thrilling. It requires athletes to perform a series of daring moves—such as turning, pull-ups, shifting positions, and even jumping—on walls of varying heights and angles. Combining fitness, entertainment, and competition, it is an exhilarating yet graceful extreme sport, often referred to by climbers worldwide as “ballet on the cliffs.”
The biggest difference from traditional climbing is that bouldering does not use ropes or other safety equipment, so the climbing height is kept low to ensure safety in case of falls. The protection method is also different, usually involving thick foam mats below to prevent injuries to the back and head from falls. Without the constraints of ropes, bouldering allows for a fuller display of strength and agility.
About adidas TERREX (adidas Terrex):
As a professional outdoor sports brand, adidas TERREX is committed to promoting an “LIVE WITHOUT LIMITS” outdoor mindset across various activities such as climbing, trail running, mountain biking, and outdoor exploration. It empowers outdoor innovators to push their limits and forge their own unique paths in outdoor adventure.