Bouldering is a popular rock climbing activity that involves climbing boulders or small rock formations without the use of ropes or harnesses. It requires problem-solving skills, technique, and strength. Here are 59 riddles about bouldering to test your knowledge about this fun outdoor activity. See if you can figure out the answers!
Bouldering Basics
Bouldering takes place on boulders that are low enough to the ground that ropes and harnesses are not needed. Problems range from very easy to extremely difficult. Bouldering focuses on intense movement over a short period of time. Let’s start with some riddles about the basics of bouldering:
Q: I’m a short climbing route without ropes. What am I?
A: A bouldering problem.
Q: I’m useful for brushing holds, drying wet grips, and marking the start of problems. What am I?
A: Chalk!
Q: I’m worn on hands to improve grip and prevent flappers. What am I?
A: Chalk or climbing gloves.
Q: I’m a type of climbing done without ropes on short walls or boulders. What am I?
A: Bouldering!
Q: I’m the area below the boulder used for falling safely or putting down gear. What am I?
A: The crash pad.
Bouldering Gear
Bouldering requires minimal gear compared to roped climbing. Let’s see if you know the essential bouldering gear:
Q: I’m a thick padded mat used for safe falls. What am I?
A: A crash pad.
Q: I’m a handheld bag filled with chalk to dry your hands. What am I?
A: A chalk bag.
Q: I’m worn on the tips of fingers to prevent rips and tears. What am I?
A: Climbing tape.
Q: I’m a downturned shoe that hugs the rock for smearing. What am I?
A: Aggressive bouldering shoes.
Q: I’m often worn over bare hands to improve grip. What am I?
A: Fingerless climbing gloves.
Bouldering Techniques
There are many techniques used in bouldering from footwork to handholds. Let’s see if you know some common bouldering techniques:
Q: I’m using my toe rubber on small holds to grip. What technique am I doing?
A: Smearing.
Q: I’m pressing my palm against a hold to support my body on an overhang. What am I doing?
A: Mantling.
Q: I’m reaching above my head for a grip to make a big move. What technique is this?
A: A dyno.
Q: I’m turning my body to place my outside foot on a hold. What technique am I using?
A: Flagging.
Q: I’m pushing my heel down to shift my weight over it. What am I doing?
A: Heel hooking.
Bouldering Strength and Skills
Bouldering requires a specific set of strengths like finger power and flexibility. Let’s see if you can name these important abilities:
Q: I’m the grip strength in hands and forearms. What am I?
A: Finger strength.
Q: I’m the ability to support your weight on small holds. What am I?
A: Finger power.
Q: I’m the range of motion in shoulders and hips. What am I?
A: Flexibility.
Q: I’m the ability to make powerful dynamic moves. What am I?
A: Power.
Q: I’m the ability to maintain body tension on overhangs. What am I?
A: Core strength.
Bouldering Styles
There are a few main styles of bouldering, each with a different focus. Let’s see if you can name them:
Q: I’m a powerful style involving dynamic moves. What am I?
A: Power bouldering.
Q: I’m a static style focusing on balance and technique. What am I?
A: Slab climbing.
Q: I’m a bouldering style requiring flexibility on roofs. What am I?
A: Roof climbing.
Q: I’m a style involving small crimpers and slopes. What am I?
A: Technical bouldering.
Q: I’m a style done on walls angled past vertical. What am I?
A: Overhang bouldering.
Bouldering Grades
Bouldering problems are given a grade that indicates their difficulty level. Let’s see if you know the bouldering grade scale:
Q: I start at VB and go up to V16 for the hardest problems. What am I?
A: The V-scale bouldering grade system.
Q: I’m the easiest bouldering grade requiring basic climbing skills. What am I?
A: VB/V0.
Q: I’m a moderately difficult bouldering grade for advanced climbers. What am I?
A: V4-V7.
Q: I’m an extremely hard bouldering grade only climbed by elite climbers. What am I?
A: V14 and above.
Q: I’m the medium grade ideal for an intermediate climber to improve skills. What am I?
A: V2-V5.
Bouldering Locations
There are many great places around the world to go bouldering. Do you know some famous bouldering destinations?
Q: I’m a bouldering area in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. What am I?
A: Rocky Mountain National Park.
Q: I’m a wooded bouldering habitat in the southeast US. What am I?
A: Rocktown, Georgia.
Q: I’m a bouldering mecca with sandstone rocks in Utah. What am I?
A: Joe’s Valley.
Q: I’m a scenic bouldering destination overlooking a lake in Canada. What am I?
A: Squamish, British Columbia.
Q: I’m a historic bouldering site underneath a bridge in California. What am I?
A: The Buttermilks.
Bouldering Competitions
Bouldering competitions feature climbing on artificial walls for spectators. Do you know any major bouldering comps?
Q: I’m one of the most famous bouldering world cups. What am I?
A: The Boulder World Cup.
Q: I’m a premier US bouldering competition held in Colorado. What am I?
A: The SCS Nationals.
Q: I’m a global bouldering event held in Innsbruck, Austria. What am I?
A: The Boulder World Championships.
Q: I’m a Japanese bouldering competition dating back to 1989. What am I?
A: The All Japan Bouldering Competition.
Q: I’m a televised bouldering league featuring top pros. What am I?
A: USA Climbing Bouldering Cup series.
Famous Boulderers
Some professional climbers are known for their bouldering skills. Can you name any famous boulderers?
Q: I’m an American bouldering legend known for hard first ascents. Who am I?
A: Chris Sharma.
Q: I’m a Czech climber who redpointed the first V16. Who am I?
A: Adam Ondra.
Q: I’m a female bouldering star from Japan with multiple world cups. Who am I?
A: Akiyo Noguchi.
Q: I’m an Austrian climber who flashed V15/8B+. Who am I?
A: Angela Eiter.
Q: I’m a Canadian crusher who climbed the first V11 by a woman. Who am I?
A: Sonnie Trotter.
Bouldering Training
Training is important for improving your bouldering skills. Do you know some good training exercises?
Q: I’m done on small holds to improve finger strength. What am I?
A: Hangboarding.
Q: I’m repetitive bouldering moves done to increase power. What am I?
A: Campusing.
Q: I’m bouldering on inclined walls to build power. What am I?
A: Moonboarding.
Q: I’m done on a spray wall with movable holds. What am I?
A: Circuit training.
Q: I’m climbing without using certain holds to improve skills. What am I?
A: Elimination bouldering.
Bouldering Safety
Safety is critical in bouldering. Make sure you know how to spot and use pads correctly:
Q: I’m the proper falling technique of landing flat on your back. What am I?
A: A flatback fall.
Q: I’m spotting a climber by guiding their landing. What am I?
A: Spotting.
Q: I’m an essential bouldering zone free of hazards below the problem. What am I?
A: The landing zone.
Q: I’m sliding pads under a falling climber to protect them. What am I doing?
A: Padding their fall.
Q: I’m keeping hands ready and watching closely while spotting. What should I do?
A: Stay attentive.
Conclusion
How did you do on these bouldering riddles? Bouldering combines physical skills, mental creativity, and determination. With a curious mind and consistent practice, boulderers can continue honing their technique on rocks around the world. Play on bouldering problems to put your skills to the test. Stay safe and keep climbing!
