BURSTThe North Face Climb Festival is taking place this week at the Royal Docks in East London, bringing together some of the world’s top climbers, including members of The North Face athlete team. More than 35,000 free tickets were reserved online in the weeks leading up to the highly anticipated festival.
The festival centres around a 14-metre-tall deep-water-solo wall suspended over the water, with multiple shoreline viewing areas capable of accommodating thousands of spectators. Today’s programme featured the qualifying rounds under sunny skies, with climbers including Shawn Raboutou and Molly Thompson-Smith competing.
Away from the competition, the festival featured workshops, athlete talks and film screenings. Alex Honnold and Brooke Raboutou led a bouldering workshop, while alpinist Fay Manners hosted a session on building your own climbing route. Stefano Ghisolfi introduced a screening of 4x9Bs, documenting his 2025 ascents of The Full Journey, Sleeping Lion, Neanderthal and Ratstaman Vibrations, all graded 9b (5.15b). The competition field also included several popular YouTube creators, including Emil Abrahamsson and parkour brothers Ben and Toby Segar.
There were relatively few awkward falls from the wall, although lots resulted in dramatic splashes into the water below. Spectators cheered climbers battling through the upper third of the route and applauded every successful top-out. The competition was open to both elite athletes and public entrants, creating a mixed field where local climbers competed alongside some of the sport’s best, with friends and supporters cheering them on from the shoreline.
Some of the fastest times up the wall were by Noa Shiran in 32.67 seconds, Pietro Vidi in 33.25 seconds, and Jules Marchaland in 38.55 seconds. We’ll have complete results after the finals on July 18.
The evening programme includes DJ AG livestream, a Rinse FM live broadcast, followed by sets from Lila, Femi Koleoso and Girls Don’t Sync. The festival continues tomorrow with the competition finals, more workshops and more live music. If you’re in London, I highly recommend you arrive early to take in the final rounds.
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