Climbing celebs from over 20 countries meet in Stuttgart for a stellar season finale

Impressive, gravity-defying moves on vertical walls are guaranteed when the world's best bouldering athletes fight for an entry to the superfinal at the annual adidas ROCKSTARS invitational that is hosted in Germany on the 21st and 22nd of September. The prestigious event draws the top stars of the climbing scene to Stuttgart's Porsche-Arena.

The popular invitational contest for the international climbing elite takes place for the eighth consecutive time and this year sees one of finest fields ever. Around 3,800 spectators can share the excitement when World and European champions, World Cup winners, and national champions demonstrate their impressive talent. Admission to the event is free of charge.

Global Event Series

Since 2011, the German sporting goods manufacturer adidas hosts pro-am bouldering competitions under the name of ‚adidas ROCKSTARS' and ‚Ticket to Rockstars' around the globe. The international series climaxes at the global invitational contest in Stuttgart, for which participants of the national comps (e.g. Japan, Russia) and grassroots events can qualify.

Climbing meets Music

Atheletes require power, extreme flexibility and creativity, motivation and adrenaline to reach maximum performance, which is why adidas ROCKSTARS combines white-knuckle competition bouldering with show acts and live music. Hot DJ battles, this year with beatbox legend DJ Eklips from Paris, create an intoxicating atmosphere.

World-class field lined up

Only invited athletes can take part in adidas ROCKSTARS. The start list reads like the who's who of bouldering. Exactly one week after the World Championships in Innsbruck, some athletes may have some unfinished business and the crowd can look forward to an exciting competition. The field includes the defending champion, Alex Puccio (USA) who already won twice in Stuttgart, this year's overall Bouldering World Cup Champions Miho Nonaka (JPN) and Jernej Kruder (SLO), 19 year-old Janja Garnbret (SLO), Lead World Champion 2016, Overall Lead World Cup Winner 2017 and a truly exceptional talent, the 2017 Overall Bouldering World Cup Champions, Shauna Coxsey (GBR) and Jongwon Chon (KOR), the (still) reigning Bouldering World Champion Petra Klingler (SUI), the two European Champions Staša Gejo (SRB) and Jan Hojer (GER), as well as triple adidas ROCKSTAR and four time World Champion Combined (L/S/B) Sean McColl (CAN), who couldn't compete last year due to an injury and co-commentated the livestream instead.

Head-to-head duel in the superfinal

Over 70 athletes from more than 20 different countries were invited to adidas ROCKSTARS this year. They first have to make it through the qualification and semi-final. The top 6 men and women advance to the great final on Saturday evening. They fight in two rounds for the entry to the superfinal. Here, the top 2 compete in direct comparison on a so-called "super boulder" that was specifically created for the event. The athletes climb simultaneously an identical route on two sides of the same boulder. In this thrilling duel the two superfinalists need both, excellent skills and good nerves. Although the climbers cannot see each other, the cheers of the crowd adumbrate what is happening on the other side.

On Friday, 21 September, 130 aspiring amateurs from 14 different nations will participate in the Ticket to Rockstars Final at the Porsche-Arena, attempting to win one of six wildcards into the semifinal of the pros and compete side by side with the stars of the international climbing community.

Alexander Huber Presentation

With the award-winning documentary "To the Limit" the great climbing brothers Thomas and Alexander Huber put their names on the global map, far beyond the climbing community. On Saturday afternoon between 15h00 and 17h00, Alexander Huber will give a presentation also entitled "To the Limit", in which he talks about his personal boundary experiences in mountain sports.

bigFM After Party

After the finals on Saturday evening, climbing fans can move closer to their heroes – on the dance floor. Radio station bigFM presents the official after party at Disco ONE in Esslingen. And what's best: climbing pro and passionate DJ Dave Graham from the USA will be in the tunes! Spectators who present their adidas ROCKSTARS voucher, which everyone receives when entering the Porsche-Arena, get free admission to the club.