On Thursday, Hoosier Heights Bloomington hosted a unique climbing competition as part of the Red Bull Ibiza Royale series. The event featured a lively atmosphere with a DJ and Red Bull representatives distributing energy drinks to participants.
About 50 climbers of all skill levels participated in a blindfolded competition, vying for a $100 gift card to Hoosier Heights Bloomington and its sister locations in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The competition involved three routes categorized as easy, medium, and hard, with timekeepers recording the fastest times.
Matthew Andres, an Indiana University sophomore, noted that such competitions are popular at Hoosier Heights. He recalled a previous top rope competition that drew so many participants it had to be held in two segments.
Noah Wood, another IU sophomore who recently started climbing, observed that despite the competitive nature, everyone was focused on having fun. “Some people are trying to do it as fast as possible, or some people are just trying to finish it,” Wood said. “It’s just good fun everywhere.”
Daniel Russell, an IU alumnus, entered the event after seeing it promoted on Instagram. He praised the welcoming atmosphere, saying, “Everyone is super welcoming, and they all want to help you out.”
For Andres, the motivation was simple: friends were attending, and there was free Red Bull. Kiah Royse, a beginner climber, found the blindfolded aspect rewarding, as it helped her overcome her fear of heights.
Despite competing against each other, climbers shared advice, known as “beta,” to help each other complete routes. Andres highlighted the supportive nature of the climbing community, saying, “Everyone just wants to watch each other succeed as well as themselves.”
The competition concluded with John De Castro in third place, Russell in second, and Andres in first. Russell expressed excitement about his first climbing win, saying, “It was pretty awesome.” Andres improved his time significantly by practicing both with and without a blindfold, ultimately achieving a winning time of 22 seconds.
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