The Vertical Challenge
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Ready to defy gravity? Join us for The Vertical Challenge, a thrilling new climbing wall competition designed to test your limits and crown the ultimate vertical athlete!
Held Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 5pm - 9pm.
Registration
Includes a Crystal Mountain water bottle and two slices of pizza during the event. Plus, unlimited "warm up" / fun climbing races on Walls 1 and 2 prior to the competition!
Pre-Registration (July 7 - 31): $35 per person
Day-Of Registration (if available): $50 per person
To register, please visit or call the Park at Water's Edge, 231-378-2238. Payment is required upon registering. No refunds will be issued. Each participant must decide if they wish to participate in the Amateur or Pro bracket during registration.
Requirements
- Minimum age of 10 years old to participate.
- An Activity Waiver must be completed prior to the competition.
- Personal climbing equipment aside from climbing shoes and chalk is not permitted.
Amateur Bracket
Think of our amateur bracket as the intermediate level for climbers. It's designed for those with a solid grasp of fundamental techniques and some experience with more challenging movements who want to push themselves without facing professional-tier competitors.
The Amateur Bracket will be held on Walls 3 and 4. Each wall features three routes, and participants get two attempts per route. Competitors are eliminated if they fail to complete a route within two tries or exceed the two-minute time limit. Successfully conquering all three routes on a wall advances climbers to the next. Those who complete both Walls 3 and 4 will move on to the Wall 5 finale, where the time limit extends to three minutes specifically for this bracket.
Please note, all competitions for the Amateur Bracket will take place on an auto-belay system.
Pro Bracket
The Pro Bracket is for experienced climbers. It picks up right where the Amateur bracket leaves off, perfect if you're comfortable with advanced techniques and ready for a serious challenge. Here, you'll find yourself among peers who are all pushing their limits on the wall.
The Pro Bracket will be held on Walls 4 and 5. Each wall features three routes, and participants get two attempts per route. Competitors are eliminated if they fail to complete a route within two tries or exceed the two-minute time limit. Successfully conquering all three routes on a wall advances climbers to the next. Those who complete both Walls 4 and 5 will move on to the Wall 6 finale, where the time limit extends to five minutes. Wall 6 will showcase some elite climbing!
Please note, competitions on Wall 4 and 5 will take place on an auto-belay system. Wall 6 is hand-belay only.
Prizes
The top three climbers in each category will receive a medal and an exclusive Crystal Mountain prize pack! Every climb is scored based on the total vertical feet you complete in the fewest attempts.