| Bouldering, though using much of the same skills and | | | | system changed to include lower grade problems, the |
| techniques as climbing, is truly a sport of its own. | | | | Peak System has lost favour with many climbers. |
| Routes are usually designed low to the ground and | | | | When you see B-Graded problems on a conversion |
| instead of using ropes for safety, climbers are | | | | chart, it is actually this Peak grading system that you |
| spotted by a partner. Climbers manoeuvre over large | | | | are seeing. Found most often in North America, most |
| boulders that are often found at the base of crags. | | | | climbers found the methodology used in this system |
| Originally climbing over these boulders provided a | | | | to be inconsistent and confusing. |
| means of warming up for a longer climb, but it has | | | | Font Grades |
| since developed into a sport in its own right. | | | | Developed in France, the Font or Fontainebleau |
| Bouldering routes or problems, as they are most | | | | Grading System is most often seen in European |
| often called, are graded according to difficulty levels, | | | | courses. Grades range from 1a to 8c, with the lower |
| and over the years, several grading systems have | | | | numbers representing the easier problems. This |
| emerged. | | | | system of grading was originally developed to |
| V Grades | | | | encompass the sandstone boulders of France and for |
| This was the very first grading system developed | | | | this reason, many climbers argue that it is not a |
| for bouldering. Grades in this scale range form 0-16, | | | | grading system relevant to universal bouldering. As a |
| with 16 being the highest, or most difficult value. | | | | result, many have found the ratings confusing, finding |
| Although a grade of V0 is considered an easy | | | | that what should have been a fairly easy problem |
| bouldering course, keep in mind that it would still be | | | | judging by its Font Grade, turned out to actually be |
| considered a good challenge for the novice boulderer. | | | | quite difficult. Consequently, this system, though still |
| Indoor bouldering has started to grade problems as | | | | widely used in Europe, has not garnered the |
| well and have included a grade of V-B which | | | | international acceptance that the V Grading system |
| represents a course that is suitable for a beginner. V | | | | has found. |
| Grading was developed in, and remains most widely in | | | | While it appears that some controversy remains over |
| use in the United States. | | | | which system is best and most accurate for grading |
| Peak Bouldering Grades | | | | bouldering problems, it is ultimately up to the individual |
| This method of grading bouldering problems was | | | | climber to be educated and informed as to the |
| developed by Allan Williams in an attempt to include | | | | difficulty level of any bouldering problem being |
| grades for easier problems that were not included in | | | | considered. |
| the V Grade System. However, as the V Grading | | | | |