ROCK MEETS MUSIC: Rock Climbing vs. Bouldering
(June 15, 2013, Shanghai, China) The adidas ROCKSTARS China national competition officially kicked off today at Century Plaza on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai, with the top four male and female amateur finalists advancing to tomorrow’s Super Battle to compete for a spot in the pro finals. Meanwhile, the pro group successfully completed the preliminaries, laying the foundation for the semifinals, finals, and the Super Battle tomorrow, where qualifiers will earn tickets to compete in the ROCKSTARS event in Stuttgart, Germany. A total of 100 amateur climbers from across the country participated in this competition. The preliminaries were held in an open-format (Flash) session lasting 4.5 hours, allowing participants to attempt and achieve their best scores on six routes, with the top six advancing to the finals. The finals followed the IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) bouldering final format: all six athletes climbed Route 1 in sequence, then proceeded to the next route in the same order, with each climber having 4+ minutes to tackle two routes. The top four ranked climbers would advance to the Super Battle. Female amateur competitor No. 111, Bi Yan Yi, performed steadily and secured first place in the finals to advance to the Super Battle. On the men’s side, Gong Li from Wuhan, who played it safe in the preliminaries and finished eighth, ultimately edged out Hong Kong’s Li Jian Hua—who had topped the preliminaries—by a narrow margin to claim first place, earning a guaranteed spot in tomorrow’s amateur Super Battle.
In the pro preliminaries, the appearance of China’s Top 50 climbers added intensity to the day’s competition. Athletes competed in order of their national climbing rankings, with each given five minutes to climb four routes. The 19 female pro climbers produced six semifinalists, with Rinchen Lamu from Tibet taking first place—she is also the double Asian Championship winner in bouldering difficulty. Among the 36 male competitors, a fierce battle ensued for 20 semifinal spots, with adidas-signed athlete Qu Haibin emerging victorious with a flawless score of 4-for-4, setting a strong tone for tomorrow’s competition.Additionally, the inaugural adidas ROCKSTARS China event was open to consumers, who could watch the exciting competitions in the main arena, explore the performance of adidas’ latest outdoor gear in the Terrex and climacool product zones, and engage in interactive experiences on the slackline and climbing walls to enjoy the thrill of outdoor sports. People of all ages gathered at the venue, immersing themselves in the dynamic DJ & B-BOX performances while fully experiencing adidas’ new outdoor sports trend. Rock music and passionate bouldering stimulated the senses, offering attendees a deeper appreciation of the allure of climbing.
To demonstrate its commitment to China’s outdoor market, adidas invited both domestic and international signed athletes to showcase and interact with fans. Dubbed the “female wall flyer,” Mayan Smith, along with renowned American climber, mountaineer, and BASE jumper Dean Potter, signed autographs for fans and delivered breathtaking bouldering and slackline performances tonight that left audiences breathless.
The 2013 adidas ROCKSTARS China marked the beginning of world-class outdoor climbing competitions in China and provided an exceptional platform for exchange among climbers and enthusiasts from around the globe. As an internationally recognized event sanctioned by the IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing), ROCKSTARS China presented Chinese audiences with a fresh outdoor sports trend that seamlessly integrated “rock and roll” elements into bouldering. Free from the constraints of traditional ropes, bouldering allowed climbers to unleash their athletic creativity and physical expression, resulting in bold yet graceful movements. Moreover, bouldering represents a pursuit of higher competitive ability. In this sense, it aligns perfectly with the Olympic spirit, demanding excellence in height, speed, and strength. The Rockstars competition can be seen as a profound interpretation of Olympic ideals.
The adidas climacool clothing line features climalite technology
Adidas Terrex series apparel features ClimaProof.
Rockstars officially kicked off the battle, attracting audiences and consumers to stop and watch.
