Bouldering Competition Review: Bruut Open 2024

This weekend, bouldering competitions were scheduled all over the Netherlands, but the choice was easy. My favorite bouldering gym in Breda – see previous review – was hosting its annual highlight: the Bruut Open 2024. Together with a friend, I traveled to Breda to participate and climb the best boulders in the Netherlands.

Structure and Scoring System at Bruut Open

The competition was divided into two categories: amateur and pro climbers. The difference? For the pros, only their top 10 hardest boulders counted. Each boulder had four marked starting holds, clearly indicated with tape. Along the route, there were two zones where climbers could earn 5 and 10 points, respectively. Reaching the top earned 25 points, and a successful top on the first attempt (a flash) awarded an additional 5 bonus points. Climbers had a total of five hours to try 35 boulders — an excellent challenge for any boulderer to test their skills.

My Experience with Bouldering in Breda

The first 10 boulders I topped without any trouble. My fingers slowly started warming up, and I moved on to some more challenging problems. The next 10 boulders also went well, except for number 18 — a boulder where you had to run in and immediately hook a toe behind a large hold. After a few attempts, I finally succeeded.

With the toughest boulders, I managed to complete most fairly quickly, but boulders 33, 34, and 35 turned out to be just a bit too challenging. I only picked up some zone points there. However, with a final score of 940 points, I was very happy with my performance.

Organization and Atmosphere at Boulderhal Bruut

The boulders were well-spaced throughout the gym, so you weren’t in each other’s way. Despite the crowd, you never had to wait too long, making the climbing experience very enjoyable. The great thing about these open competitions in the Netherlands is that anyone can join, with boulders set for every skill level. It created a fun dynamic — you could watch others, share insights, and discover new techniques and tricks that you might not have thought of by yourself.

Additional Activities and Prizes

Apart from the competition itself, there were fun activities like the "campus wheel of fortune," where you could draw a card based on how far you got. This earned many participants great prizes, from T-shirts and chalk to training tools. I personally won a set of scented sachets for my climbing shoes – a pleasant surprise!

Another activity was the crushclub battle. In this challenge, two climbers had to pull a sloper hold on a board toward themselves. The winner of each round advanced until only one champion remained. It was a tough challenge! I knocked out my friend in the first round but ultimately fell in the semi-final.

Foodtruck en Finale bij Bruut open

For participants with a meal ticket, there was a food truck serving burritos — perfect for those wanting a bite to eat after bouldering in Breda. Thanks to the generous time slot (from 16:30 to 19:30), there were no long lines, and everyone could enjoy their food at a relaxed pace. Although I hadn’t purchased a ticket myself, I regretted it afterward — the burritos smelled delicious.

The day wrapped up with a spectacular finale. Due to the long wait between the end of the competition and the final round, we decided not to stay, but on Instagram, it looked amazing — a perfect conclusion to an enjoyable and exciting competition day!