The 2017 USA Boulder Nationals go to Puccio and Coleman

It was one of the best competitions of the year in North America. As Bouldering comp season wraps up in Canada and the U.S.A, there are a number of Provincial and National showdowns. The U.S.A showdown took place in Salt Lake City with some of the biggest names in American climbing. Canadian Sean McColl missed Finals by a few points, as did Daniel Woods and Josh Larson. If the scoring was by IFSC World Cup standards, they would have made it through. Instead, a number of relatively new and young faces made it into the Finals round.

The Men’s problems seemed to go down easier than the Women’s. The most entertaining problems were Men’s number two that had a momentum-swing to jump to jug opening move. For the Women, it was problem three, which climbed through steep underclings and pinches. At the end of the comp, Alex Puccio nudged out Ashima Shiraishi for the win, with 15-year-old Brooke Raboutou coming in third. For the Men, Nathaniel Coleman flashed every Finals problem and just beat Kai Lightner and Russian Aleksei Rubstov for podium top.

This was Puccio’s tenth win of the comp and Coleman’s second in a row. Puccio was beat last year by Megan Mascarenas and Coleman noted he doesn’t train much but working construction full time keeps him in shape. Video highlights to come later this week. Finals results below and for full results visit here. Click on the clips below to play.

Finals Men/Women
1. Nathaniel Coleman / Alex Puccio
2. Kai Lightner / Ashima Shiraishi
3. Aleksei Rubstov / Brooke Raboutou
4. Sean Bailey / Michaela Kiersch
5. Shawn Raboutou / Kyra Condie
6. Nic Milburn / Megan Mascarenas
7. Andy Lamb / Margo Hayes
8. Tyler Landman / Grace McKeehan
9. Alex Waterhouse / Lily Canavan

So strong! Great Finals at USA Bouldering Championships! Here is @alex_puccio89 climbing to podium top. @nathaniel.coleman crushed four flashes for win in Finals! #strong #climbing #indoorclimbing #competition #usaclimbing

A video posted by Gripped Magazine Comps (@grippedmagazinecomps) on Feb 4, 2017 at 10:11pm PST

Best problem at USA Bouldering Championships Finals is this so far!! @shawnraboutou with the send! #indoorclimbing #climbing #strong #competition

A video posted by Gripped Magazine Comps (@grippedmagazinecomps) on Feb 4, 2017 at 9:00pm PST

Wowwwwww . Can't wait to compete in the ABS Open National's finals tonight!!! ?Used my flexibility yet again during semi-finals ? pic: @evolvusa

A photo posted by Ashima | 阿島 (@ashimashiraishi) on Feb 4, 2017 at 12:43pm PST

Had a blast competing at Open Bouldering Nationals this year! The climbs were really tough and the competition was really stacked! Psyched to have pulled off a second place finish! Congrats to @nathaniel.coleman for flashing ALL 4 BOULDERS in finals and taking the title. Also congrats to @alex_puccio89 for winning her 10th national title. Next stop, Youth Nationals next weekend! #usacbouldering Photo by: @usaclimbing @adidasterrex @evolvusa @clifbar @bluewaterropes

A photo posted by Kai Lightner (@kailightner) on Feb 5, 2017 at 9:44am PST

Head on over to the USA Climbing Facebook page to view photos of the Bouldering Open Championship Semifinals from earlier today! Be sure to make it to the @saltpalacecc tonight for Finals! Doors open at 7pm or tune in at LT11.tv for the live broadcast from @louderthan11 #usacbouldering

A photo posted by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) on Feb 4, 2017 at 5:42pm PST

Nationals was a great opportunity to compete with the best boulderers in our country. Thank you to USA Climbing and Salt Lake City for making it happen. Unfortunately I didn't execute on the last two blocs in the final, but it was an experience to learn from. I enjoyed each climb put up by the hardworking route setters. Huge congratulations to @alex_puccio89 for standing on top of the podium for the 10th time, as well as @ashimashiraishi and @brookeclimbs for standing beside her. Great work girls! ?? @thenorthface @petzl_official @lasportivana @dogearedjewelry ? @usaclimbing

A photo posted by MΔRGΩ HΔΨΣS? (@margojain) on Feb 5, 2017 at 8:39am PST

So excited to be in finals tonight with so many great climbers! Chillin' with @stella_climbs @nataliaclimbs trying to make the hours go by faster! Thanks for the great photo @angelajpayne ?❤

A photo posted by ⒷⓇⓄⓄⓀⒺ ⓇⒶⒷⓄⓊⓉⓄⓊ (@brookeclimbs) on Feb 4, 2017 at 3:58pm PST

YES….. I was able to claim my 10th National Championships Title last night!!! ? This Adult open Nationals was my 12th, I have competed in it since I was 16 years old. I have lost a couple times and last year I came second after coming back from my knee surgery. Now 1 year later, 1 more surgery to come back from and 1 more year older I find myself on top of the podium again! ? This was probably the hardest Nationals I have ever competed in because the field of women is so strong and stacked now, ANYTHING can happen! Something that was a bit of a funny feeling was being on the podium with 2 other amazingly strong and talented climbers that are both 15! They are 12 years younger than me….. ?! The new generation is here and they are strong, but the stronger they get motivates me to keep pushing myself to get stronger too!!! I love the competition and I love that it keeps getting harder!!! ? Amazing job to all the athletes that competed this weekend and especially to @ashimashiraishi for taking silver and @brookeclimbs for taking 3rd and @nathaniel.coleman for defending his Title as the Champ! ? @e9clothing @us_e9 @scarpana @petzl_official @frictionlabs @kiltergrips #nationals #tryhard #havefun #champagain #10xchamp #ontothenext

A photo posted by Alex Puccio (@alex_puccio89) on Feb 5, 2017 at 10:04am PST