The world’s best boulderers gave us a lot to chew on in 2021. So, the best boulder problem sends of the year are rife with storylines.
Hard bouldering is about transcending the limit of individual possibility. It’s a slow burn and a funny dance that starts with sussing the holds, proceeds with a lot of falling, and concludes with a topout — hours, days, or years down the line.
In 2021, boulderers did a lot of dancing. With more and more hard climbers getting out, progress at the top end might be faster than ever. In 3 days at Joe’s Valley, Natalia Grossman scored more V-points than a lot of us might score in a year.
Ryuichi Murai sent a long-sought-after overhang project by appearing to levitate on holds that would suck if they were on a slab. The world gained, and lost, a V17 thanks to two of the sport’s most fit climbers.
GearJunkie’s Best Boulder Problems of 2021 rounds up the top 10.
10. Natalia Grossman, 138 V-Points in 3 Days, Joe’s Valley, UT
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9. Pablo Hammack, “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” 8c/V15, Yosemite Valley, CA
8. Katie Lamb, “New Base Line,” 8b+/V14, Magic Wood, Switzerland
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7. Brooke Raboutou, “Trieste,” 8b+/V14, Red Rock Canyon, NV
6. Ryuichi Murai, “Floatin,” 8c+/V16, Mizugaki, Japan
5. Dai Koyamada, “The Maze” Project, 8c/V15, Japan
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4. Charles Albert, “The Source,” 8c/V15, Gorges des Usses, France
3. Nico Pelorson, “Soudain Seul,” 8c+/V16, Fontainebleau, France
2. Katie Lamb, “Jade,” 8b+/V14, Mt. Evans, CO
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