Hardcore Parkour!!

German Rock-climbing, and the people who like it.

Believe it or not…

Germany is a huge attraction for fans of competitive climbing and bouldering the world over, with over 700 professional climbing resorts.

Germany, in both 2010 and 2011, hosted the world-wide bouldering competition. That’s a big deal!

So what’s that mean?

Bouldering involves climbing without a rope attached, risky business, nein? There’s tons of great places in Germany to do it, such as:

Over 100 routes in Baden-Württemberg!

More than 130 in Nordrhein-Westfalen!

Over 200 in Bayern (Bavaria)!

So people actually do this?

Yup! Check out these normal people in Germany tickling the stone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUtuco4HsY

In Germany, climbing teams and leagues are common, just like they are here in America.

What was that competition, again?

That “competition” was the incredibly hard-core boulder world cup in Munich, if you want to feel like an incredibly lame human being, watch these incredible climbers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsEzP8j0DNk

Climbing in the Media

German climbing has inspired multiple films, but the most popular by far is Nordwand (North Face).

Here’s an (admittedly intense) trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZElkv-xcwo

Sources Cited

Youtube.com for the use of videos and links.

http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/Europe/Germany

http://www.urbanclimbermag.com/travel/bouldering_in_france_germany_and_switzerland/

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=18069.0