The Nugget Climbing Podcast EP 291: Charlie Boscoe — Pro Climbing League: Comps Are About to Change Forever
Jan 26, 2026
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Head To Head Bouldering Creates Clear Winning Moments
- Pro Climbing League (PCL) introduces a head-to-head bouldering format that replaces complex scoring with simple win/lose outcomes.
- Climbers compete directly on identical problems and win by topping first or reaching the highest hold first, creating clear, dramatic moments.
Multiple Rounds Preserve Diverse Climbing Styles
- PCL keeps variety by using a seeding round plus best-of-three head-to-head rounds so athletes still face multiple styles.
- The day-before seeding uses five boulders; live rounds are best-of-three with a third decider when needed.
Treat Each Event As A Chance To Improve Broadcasts
- Iterate broadcast production deliberately each event rather than repeating the same package year after year.
- Charlie says planning pre-show, camera angles and tighter formats improves viewer clarity and makes the sport more accessible.