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Since rock climbing emerged in Europe in the early 20th century, its development has spanned nearly a century. The difficulty levels of climbing routes are graded using either the French or American rating systems. As a branch of rock climbing, bouldering has only been around for about 20 years, yet it has developed at an astonishing pace. Today, many of the world’s top climbers specialize in bouldering. In the UK, there are nearly a hundred thousand people who regularly practice bouldering, and the sport is even more popular in the United States. Even in the IFSC Climbing World Cup, the number of bouldering events surpasses that of other climbing disciplines.
The widespread popularity of bouldering is closely tied to its unique characteristics. First, its climbing style is convenient and straightforward, featuring dramatic and impressive movements. Second, it requires less equipment and experience compared to traditional climbing—just a good crash pad, a pair of climbing shoes, and a chalk bag. Third, it emphasizes teamwork and allows climbers’ skill levels to be quickly assessed through just a few moves. It also helps climbers rapidly improve their ability to overcome challenging sections.