This past weekend, there was once again a big list of climbing competitions on the agenda. This time, my choice was Radium Arcadium in Maastricht, the southernmost tip of the Netherlands. What immediately stands out is the diverse field of participants: alongside Dutch climbers, there are many Belgian and German climbers present, creating a lively, international atmosphere.
The concept: bouldering and games
Upon entering, you receive a scorecard and six tokens for games - it’s called Arcadium for a reason ...The competition features an impressive 50 boulders to top, each varying in difficulty. The harder the boulder, the more points you earn. Extra bonus points are awarded for flashes, but there are no zones - only a top counts. I particularly appreciate that all the walls have been completely cleared for the competition boulders, eliminating any distracting holds. The organizers have designed a smart layout that allows competitors to avoid getting in each other's way.
A Strong Start
I kicked off with the easiest boulders, numbers 1 through 15. This proved to be the perfect warm-up, quickly limbering up my fingers. Feeling confident, I then tackled boulder 30, which turned out to be surprisingly manageable. From there, I methodically worked my way through each wall, successfully completing most boulders up to number 40 on my first attempt. This systematic approach allowed me to build momentum and maintain a strong performance throughout the initial stages of the competition.
A Break with a Playful Twist
Following this strong start, I decided to take a breather and put my tokens to use in the various games on offer. This proved to be a brilliant addition to the event! For one coin, you could participate in activities such as throwing pillows to build a tower, fishing for screws with a magnet, or a wall run In this game, you had to stop a timer exactly at 5 seconds. While these games were not physically demanding, achieving a good score earned you extra tokens. With those tokens, you could win various products in the prize shop, including brushes, magnesium, T-shirts, and much more. I thought it was fantastic that everyone had the chance to go home with a prize. I personally walked away with a brush, magnesium, a mug, and an energy bar. The prize pool was impressive: thousands of euros worth of prizes were awarded in total.
Confronting the Crux: Tackling the Toughest Boulders
After the games, it was time to tackle the most difficult boulders. Here I encountered my weaknesses, such as big jumps, which I unfortunately had to skip. A tricky slab, boulder number 48, challenged me to my last bit of energy. After multiple attempts, I finally managed to grab the top, which gave a share joy!
In total, I managed to top 44 out of 50 boulders - a solid score. However, with a slightly different approach, I might have been able to complete one or two more boulders.
Missed the final, but had a great day.
The event culminated in a final round, which I regrettably had to miss due to my journey home. With elite climbers such as Paul Brand and Olympian Yannick Flohé competing, it must have been a spectacular conclusion to the day. The presence of such high-caliber athletes undoubtedly raised the level of competition and excitement for those who were able to stay and watch.
Closing thoughts
Radium Arcadium is more than just a bouldering competition. It's a unique event that offers a creative mix of sport and games, with an impressive array of prizes and excellent organization. I'll definitely return very soon to review the entire facility!
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