As Orlando prepares for a gripping week of competitive climbing, the city is set to host the YETI Climbing National Championships from February 11 through February 15, a pivotal event not only for the climbers but also for the future of American competitive climbing as it edges closer to the LA 2028 Olympics. As reported by Orlando News, hosting the event at High Point Climbing and Fitness, athletes will vie for a slice of the $30,000 prize pool and points for the 2026 National Team selection.
Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing, conveyed the organization's enthusiasm about the championships in Orlando, foreseeing one of the "most competitive athlete lineups we’ve seen in years"; meanwhile, Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, emphasized the significance of the event in selecting the 2026 U.S. National Team hopefuls, as revealed to Orlando News. A batch of eight Olympians who represented Team USA in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 are among the competitors, and Chris Sharma, a renowned figure in the climbing world, is set to make a comeback to the climbing circuit in this Orlando event.
The Championships, as Bungalower highlighted, will put climbers to the test across three disciplines: boulder, lead, and speed, all against the state-of-the-art backdrops at High Point's flagship facility. John Wiygul, President of High Point Climbing and Fitness, told Bungalower that they are "honored to host USA Climbing’s YETI Nationals" and are excited to bring the spotlight onto their new Orlando gym while putting Florida on the map amidst the climbing community.
