NiBS 2025 Roundup
Fifteen years of the NZAC National Indoor Bouldering Series! Before there were even dedicated bouldering gyms in Aotearoa, climbers have been getting together four times a year through the cold months to climb, hang out, and cheer on the finalists. Back then, we’d run the events at lead gyms like the Roxx, Extreme Edge, and Hangdog. The bouldering areas weren’t big enough, so we’d borrow high jump mats from local schools and set sketchy highballs up the lead walls. Someone would always slip between the pads and get wedged — part of the charm of those early days.
These days NiBS rounds are the biggest indoor climbing events in the country, with over a thousand entries each year. They’ve managed to grow while keeping their all-abilities feel, and at the same time remain events that carry weight for those at the top of their categories.
The reason the series works so well is the people running things at each gym — organisers, routesetters, staff, judges, and volunteers. Because they’re locally run, people get behind them, and that shows in the numbers. Some have been there right from the start — like Brook Powell in Wellington, Zane Bray in Auckland, and Andrew Powell at Bivouac — and there are dozens more who’ve put in mahi for over a decade. Thanks to all of you, and to our sponsors La Sportiva, North Face, Climb Craft, and Bivouac Outdoor. A big thanks to The Lion Foundation for helping make the series possible by assisting with covering venue costs.
2024 saw a huge jump in numbers, and 2025 has stayed right up there. What stood out this year was how many people travelled to more than one round — 165, up almost 50% on last year. That’s partly down to the categories getting more competitive (in the best way), and the sheer number of gyms that have opened in the past five years. The youth wave is well underway, with podium finishers in the U15–U11 categories climbing around two V-grades harder than just two years ago. The standard in the Open category is only going one way from here on in.
This year also brought the biggest format change yet: youth moved to a Sunday round, and we rolled out a new registration and scoring system. The aim was to cut down queues with advance payment and registration, and reward harder sends over volume. We trialled the Danish ClimbAlong system in Round 1, but it wasn’t quite the right fit — too random and not very intuitive. So we rebuilt it ourselves. That version worked much better, with only small tweaks needed across the later rounds. Thanks to everyone who gave thoughtful feedback; we’ll keep refining it for 2026.
Round 1 – Dunedin
Resistance hosted its second NiBS, and the difference since 2023 was huge. In two years the gym has grown a strong scene, and it showed. Every session was packed — sometimes you’d wait a while to get on. Dunedin might need a bigger bouldering gym at this rate! Youth numbers tripled compared to 2023, which says a lot about the future down south.
In finals, Kiri Shibahara was the only one to stick a tough lache-to-jump move, taking the win ahead of Rebecca Housell, who picked up a finger injury on the crimpy second bloc which ruled her out of the next round and ultimately the series. In the men’s, Oskar Wolff gave the locals plenty to cheer for, cruising all three finals problems. Joe Dravitski was right there too, enjoying the powerful style to claim second.
Uprising was big as always with 316 entries. With so many of the country’s best boulderers based in Ōtautahi and Castle Hill just up the road, it’s always a tough round.
The finals were stacked, and the crowd got a show. One moment that stuck was the look on Finlay Cate’s face after slipping off the finishing hold of Problem 2. It didn’t stop him topping the round though, while Bazooka Joe grabbed another second to hold the series lead. On the women’s side, Kiri held off a strong field on a varied and technical set, with Phoebe Kenderdine close behind.
Round 3 – Auckland
The Auckland round had a real buzz thanks to Canadian national head setter Victor Fleutre leading the setting team. The blocs were modern, playful, and exciting to watch. Despite that, this was the smallest round of the series with just over 200 entries — a surprise for a city that size. If you were there and had fun, spread the word for next year!
2024 champ Luka Sugimoto climbed brilliantly, topping the tricky coordination problems with style. Tom Waldin, as smooth as ever on modern movement, took second.
On the women’s side, Grace Hansen grabbed her first NiBS win, showing her versatility on technical and powerful problems. Defending champ Cirrus Tan made her only appearance of the year and pushed Grace hard to finish second. Helen Sinclair made the first of her two finals appearances, with the Yosemite veteran enjoyed herself on the jam-heavy second bloc.
Round 4 – Wellington
Faultline once again hosted the biggest event of the year, with over 370 entries. The expanded wall was put to good use with massive fields across every grade.
With the series already wrapped up, Kiri sat this one out. Grace Hansen took her second straight win on a tough set, with Emma De Lange giving her best performance of the series to finish second.
The men’s title came down to Oskar Wolff and Joe Dravitski. A big lache on Boulder 2 stopped most of the field, only topped by Jake Townshend and Finlay Cate, who placed first and second overall. Oskar eventually unlocked the move but couldn’t quite finish the climb. That left the whole series down to the final slab.
Joe, raised on Castle Hill’s slabs, deployed the big guns to stick the vertical smears to take the top. For Oskar, the maths was simple: he needed the send to win the series. He was right there until a late foot slip cut him off.
2025 Champions
Women’s Series Champion: Kiri Shibahara
Men’s Series Champion: Joe Dravitski
Both well-deserved after a cracking season.
Series Category Winners
Veteran Female: Helen Sinclair
Veteran Male: Joshua Merriam
Masters Female: Sarah Hay
Masters Male: Sefton Priestley
U19 Female: Grace Hansen
U19 Male: Finlay Cate
U17 Female: Katie Chinn
U17 Male: Cosimo Goodwin
U15 Female: Yume Fookes
U15 Male: Daniel Saxon-Clarke
U13 Female: Nina Fookes
U13 Male: Mikhail Dergilev
U11 Female: Lucy Barraud
U11 Male: Yael Adiv Blanario
Full results at: https://www.nibs.nz/results