Wall-Stars: A New Format for Competition Climbing | Episode 2

Wall-Stars | A New Format for Competition Climbing - Episode 2 Welcome to Tension’s new competition format, designed to showcase both high-level climbing and professional routesetting, featuring 3 high-level competition climbers, 2 professional routesetters, and 4 World Cup-style boulders. THE FORMAT Climbers will session together as a group Climbers will have 15 minutes per boulder Climbers will draw straws to determine who must make the first attempt within each round 10 minutes will be given in between boulders to rest and debrief with routesetters on results, intentions, and methods used within each round. Scoring is tallied by number of Tops - Zones - Attempts In Episode 2, we’re joined by Helen Gillett, Nekaia Sanders, and Sovarae Sanders for another round of competition that puts their skills, adaptability, and competitive instincts to the test. MEET THE CLIMBERS Helen Gillett is an American competition climber and member of the U.S. climbing team. She won the women’s bouldering event at the 2024 USA Climbing National Team Trials and has competed on the international World Cup circuit. Nekaia Sanders is an American competition climber who has represented the U.S. internationally at World Cups and Pan American Championships. A two-time collegiate national champion, she reached her first Boulder World Cup final in Curitiba in 2025. Sovarae Sanders is an American competition climber and Nekaia’s sister. After more than a decade competing in youth climbing, she has earned international results including securing first place in Youth Nationals, fifth place at the 2025 Pan American Cup in Armenia, and seventh place at the 2022 IFSC Youth World Championships in bouldering. 00:00 Introduction 02:25 Meet Helen 03:41 Meet Nekaia 04:53 Meet Sovarae 05:57 Meet Marshall 06:46 Meet Ruth 07:45 Boulder Preview 08:51 Boulder 1 19:11 Boulder 2 25:40 Boulder 3 34:09 Boulder 4 42:26 Podium