Sean McColl Heads to Adidas Rockstars 2018

Impressive, gravity-defying moves on vertical walls are guaranteed when the world’s best bouldering athletes fight for an entry to the superfinal at the annual Adidas Rockstars invitational that is hosted in Germany on the 21st and 22nd of September.

@adidasrockstars starting in just two days! ? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Can’t wait to start at this awesome event alongside a stacked field of competitors! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @adidasterrex @scarpana @walltopia @joerockheads @verticalartclimbing @flashedclimbing @perfect_descent #verticalart #climbing #train #canada #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #athlete #igers #amazing #sports #fitspo #gymlife #power #fitfam #adventure #fitness #work #workhard #workout #strength #challenge #follow #ninja #gym #fun

A post shared by Sean McColl (@mccollsean) on Sep 19, 2018 at 7:40am PDT

he prestigious event draws the top stars of the climbing scene to Stuttgart’s Porsche-Arena, because it stages enthralling competition bouldering as intoxicating show. The popular invitational contest for the international climbing elite takes place for the eighth consecutive time and this year sees one of finest fields ever.

Around 3,800 spectators can share the excitement when World and European champions, World Cup winners, and national champions impressively demonstrate why bouldering, i.e. climbing without a rope over a crash pad, is considered one of the most difficult disciplines in sport climbing.

The goal of competitive bouldering is to solve short and complex climbing problems in a limited time using as few attempts as possible. Apart from power, extreme flexibility and creativity, athletes need motivation and adrenaline to reach maximum performance, which is why Adidas Rockstars combines white-knuckle competition bouldering with show acts and live music.

There are athletes you fall in love with on first sight. Crowd favorite @chonjongwon96 is one of them. When he first attended @adidasrockstars in 2013, he was invited as winner of adidas ROCKSTARS Korea, a sweet and shy 17-year old who finished in 22nd place overall. One year later he returned and reached the most legendary #superfinal in aR history, in which he was beaten by a nose by @mccollsean. The year after that he won the Overall Bouldering World Cup. Last weekend he claimed WCH silver at #innsbruck2018. What makes the audience fall in love with this inspiring you man from Korea are not only his outstanding climbing skills and his strong will, but first and foremost the interactions with him. He shows his joy and embraces the crowd. Thanks for sharing your emotions with us @chonjongwon96 ? #adidasrockstars #adidasterrex #climbing #bouldering #competition #goretex #fiveten

A post shared by adidasrockstars (@adidasrockstars) on Sep 18, 2018 at 3:25am PDT

Hot DJ battles, this year with beatbox legend DJ Eklips from Paris, create an intoxicating atmosphere. Only invited athletes can take part. The start list reads like the who’s who of bouldering.

Exactly one week after the World Championships in Innsbruck, some athletes may have some unfinished business and the crowd can look forward to an exciting competition.

The field includes the defending champion, Alex Puccio (USA) who already won twice in Stuttgart, this year’s overall Bouldering World Cup Champions Miho Nonaka (JPN) and Jernej Kruder (SLO), 19 year-old Janja Garnbret (SLO), Lead World Champion 2016, Overall Lead World Cup Winner 2017 and a truly exceptional talent, Jongwon Chon (KOR), the (still) reigning Bouldering World Champion Petra Klingler (SUI), the two European Champions Staša Gejo (SRB) and Jan Hojer (GER), as well as triple Adidas Rockstars and four time World Champion Combined (L/S/B) Sean McColl (CAN), who couldn’t compete last year due to an injury and co-commentated the livestream instead.

Over 70 athletes from more than 20 different countries were invited this year.

Watch Trailer: