What Is 2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup was a global competition series held across 15 events in 10 countries from April to September 2018, featuring elite climbers in lead, bouldering, and speed disciplines.

Key Facts

15 World Cup events were held in 10 countries between April and September 2018
Three disciplines: lead, bouldering, and speed climbing
Jakob Schubert and Janja Garnbret won overall bouldering titles
USA hosted two events: Vail (speed) and Salt Lake City (bouldering)
IFSC introduced updated scoring for tiebreakers in bouldering events

Overview

The 2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup was a premier international series showcasing the world's top sport climbers competing across three disciplines: lead, bouldering, and speed. Organized by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), the season spanned five months and featured athletes from over 50 nations.

The competition served as a critical platform for climbers aiming to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where sport climbing made its debut. With events hosted on four continents, the 2018 season highlighted the sport’s growing global reach and competitive depth.

15 events were held across 10 countries, including France, China, and Austria, from April to September 2018
The series included 6 bouldering, 6 lead, and 3 speed competitions, reflecting the Olympic format
Janja Garnbret of Slovenia dominated the women’s bouldering circuit, winning 5 of 6 events
Jakob Schubert of Austria secured the men’s bouldering title with consistent top-five finishes across the season
The IFSC implemented new tiebreaker rules in bouldering to prioritize fewer attempts, increasing strategic depth

How It Works

The IFSC Climbing World Cup operates as a season-long circuit where climbers earn points based on performance in individual events, culminating in overall season champions. Each discipline follows distinct formats, testing different climbing skills and strategies.

Disciplines: The competition features three distinct climbing types—bouldering, lead, and speed—each with unique rules and scoring. Bouldering involves short, powerful routes without ropes, while lead tests endurance on taller walls, and speed uses standardized routes for timed ascents.
Scoring System: Athletes earn ranking points based on placement, with 100 points for first place, 80 for second, and so on. The overall winner is determined by the highest cumulative score across all events in a discipline.
Event Structure: Each stop lasts 2–3 days, with qualification rounds narrowing to top 20 or 30 climbers for finals. Finals are spectator-friendly, held in urban arenas with live broadcasts.
Qualification Path: Climbers qualify via national federations or IFSC rankings, with a maximum of 6 athletes per country per gender in finals. Wild cards may be issued for local talent.
Time Period: The 2018 season ran from April 27 in Meiringen, Switzerland, to September 30 in Innsbruck, Austria, covering spring through fall.
Olympic Relevance: Performance in the 2018 World Cup contributed to Olympic qualification rankings for Tokyo 2020, making it a critical season for national programs.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of the three disciplines highlights the diverse skills required across the 2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup season.

Discipline	Wall Height	Time Limit	Top Climbers (2018)	Events in 2018
Bouldering	4.5 meters	4 minutes per problem	Janja Garnbret, Jakob Schubert	6
Lead	15+ meters	No time limit (typically 6–8 min)	Jernej Kruder, Akiyo Noguchi	6
Speed	15 meters	Race format (under 10 seconds)	Dmitrii Timofeev, Iuliia Kaplina	3
Combined Score	N/A	N/A	Not awarded in 2018	0
Total Events	N/A	N/A	Over 300 athletes competed	15

The table illustrates how each discipline emphasizes different physical and mental attributes—bouldering demands explosive power, lead climbing tests endurance and technique, and speed relies on precision and repetition. The 2018 season laid groundwork for the combined format later used in Tokyo, though no official combined title was awarded that year.

Why It Matters

The 2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup was pivotal in shaping the future of competitive climbing, especially with the Olympics on the horizon. Its structure and visibility helped elevate climbing from niche sport to global spectacle.

The season provided crucial ranking points for 2020 Olympic qualification, increasing athlete investment and national support
Janja Garnbret’s dominance signaled a shift in women’s climbing, with unprecedented consistency across multiple disciplines
Events in urban centers like Vail, USA, expanded the sport’s fanbase in North America
IFSC’s live streaming and media partnerships reached over 10 million viewers globally
New scoring rules improved fairness and strategic depth, especially in bouldering tiebreakers
Hosting events in 10 countries demonstrated climbing’s international appeal and logistical maturity

As sport climbing approached its Olympic debut, the 2018 World Cup served as both a proving ground and a promotional engine, solidifying its status in the world of elite athletics.