Delfts Bleau International Youth Open

Het Delfts Bleau International Youth Open is een internationale wedstrijd met Engels als voertaal. Alle informatie is daarom in het Engels opgesteld.

Background

Watching and enjoying the Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF) live in Sheffield in March 2017 we wondered why there’s not yet such an opportunity for the Youth JAB to meet and compete just before the opening of the international competition season. Or even just to meet at an international competition not being an EYCB. All brilliant comps are for adults only, time for a change!

What if the youth JAB could test where they’re standing on an European level? What if those youngsters that just couldn’t make it to the National Youth Bouldering Team get a chance to prove they should be up there, competing next to members of National Youth Bouldering Teams? What if coaches have an opportunity to test the results of their winter training program just before their trainees need to peak in the first EYCB of the fresh year?

We proudly present the Delfts Bleau International Youth Open (DBIYO)!
An open competition for both the top and the sub top of the European Youth competition boulderers with a maximum of 250 competitors. The Delfts Bleau International Youth Open will be a platform for talented young boulderers who might experience their first European competition as no license is needed to participate.

The first edition of the DBIYO was organised in 2018, the second edition in 2019. The 2020 edition sadly had to be cancelled only 2 weeks beforehand due to the covid-19 lockdowns all over Europe. Because of the covid-19 restrictions there has been no DBIYO in 2021 either and the third edition in 2022 had to be rescheduled to the fall. Since 2023 the DBIYO is always in March, the weekend depends a bit on the EYCB schedule of the IFSC but also on Easter (as travelling and accomodation is more expensive).

Dates 2026: Saturday 14 March (qualifications) and Sunday 15 March (finals) 2026. 

Format Qualifications: 30 flash boulders, with max 5 attempts per boulder, scored by number of tops, number of zones, number of attempts for tops and number of attempts for zones.
Format Finals: 4 on sight boulders
Entry fee is €25 per competitor (by registration & payment in advance, official t-shirt included) or €30 per competitor (cash by registration upon arrival, no t-shirt).
The boulders will be set by a team of international setters.

Registration for the 2026 edition opens on 5 January 2026 12:00 CEST and closes 1 March 2026 at 23:59 CEST

As sponsors are very hard to find for a competition without “BIG names” we are the main sponsor of this event. Surely we could ask a higher entry fee, or charge a spectators fee, but that could also result in less competitors and spectators instead of providing a platform for talented  youngster. So, we keep the fees low and invest in this amazing sport with both pride and pleasure as we love to see what the experience of the DBIYO brings to the development of young athletes. They become national champions, reach finals in EYCB’s or even end up in the Olympics! Should you like to support us, you’re obviously very welcome. Simply purchase your chalk, shoes, beverages etc at our gym during the event and you’re already helping out!