Old School vs New School
Had fun at Old School vs New School? Your next team comp is waiting.
Team Boulder Arena 5 London (TBA5) is next!
Saturday 10 October at Tottenham Hale.
You already know how fun climbing as a team can be.
Teams of two took on 24 blocs from V0 to V8, split between old school classics and new school bangers. Every send counted towards one combined team score.
It wasn’t simply about who could climb hardest. It was about sharing the experience with your partner, working things out together and having a good time on the mats.
That same team feeling is at the heart of TBA5.
OLD SCHOOL
NEW SCHOOL
ONE TEAM
More than just sends.
1️⃣ Crux Support Hold
Use an extra marked hold on one climb to make it easier to send.
2️⃣ Coach’s Beta Boost
Call in a coach for beta and guidance when things get tricky.
3️⃣ Coach Climbs For You
Choose a coach to climb one boulder on your behalf. Yes, really.
The lifelines kept things playful, but they also made teams think. When do you use them? Which problem is worth it? And when do you simply back your partner to get it done?
Had fun with us in August?
Come and do it again.
Thanks to everyone who climbed, cheered, coached and brought the energy to Tottenham Hale.
TBA5 isn’t just for the pros.
TBA5 might look big from the outside, but the Amateur category is built for everyday climbers who want to experience a proper competition without needing to climb at Pro level.
Grab your partner. We’ll see you on the mats.
STARTS AROUND V2
The qualifiers begin with accessible boulders around V2. You do not need to be a pro climber to get involved and enjoy the format.
YOU + YOUR PARTNER
You are out on the mats together, sharing the whole experience. Talk, plan, cheer each other on and make the four minutes yours.
AMATEUR MEANS AMATEUR
You will not be competing against the Pro climbers. Enter Amateur and compete within your own category while enjoying the same event atmosphere.
Ready to give it a go? Sign up for TBA5 London. 🔥
If you enjoyed Old School vs New School, bring that same team spirit to TBA5 London. Enter the Amateur category with your partner and enjoy the full competition atmosphere without competing against the Pros.
⏰ Competitor ticket sales close at midnight on Tuesday 6 October.
Your entry includes event goodies such as a T-shirt and sponsor items. Once you have finished climbing, stay and watch the rest of the competition. If this is your first comp, staff will be around to help throughout the day.
Can’t stay for the Pro competition? Watch TBA5 London live on YouTube from around 7pm. The exact start time may shift depending on how the competition day runs.
🔥 Climbed Old School vs New School? Use the competitor discount shared with you when you book.
TBA5 London FAQs
No. The Amateur qualifier starts with accessible boulders at around V2. You do not need to be a Pro climber to get involved and enjoy the event.
No. Pro and Amateur are separate categories. You will compete in Amateur while getting to enjoy the atmosphere of climbing alongside some seriously strong climbers.
You enter as a team of two and experience the competition together on the mats. Your team shares one score, so communication, strategy and backing your partner are all part of the fun.
A new boulder is released every four minutes. Your team has that window to complete it and keep progressing through the competition. The opening boulders are designed to be accessible, so you can settle into the format as you go.
That is absolutely fine. Staff will be around on the day and happy to explain the format and give advice if anything is unclear.
Your competitor experience includes event goodies such as a T-shirt and sponsor items. Once you have finished competing, you can stay and watch the rest of the action.
Competitors must normally be 16 or over. The Pro category has an exception for climbers aged 14 or over who have previously represented their country regionally, nationally or internationally.
Yes. If you took part in Old School vs New School, use the competitor discount that was shared with you when booking your TBA5 team.
Competitor ticket sales close at midnight on Tuesday 6 October 2026. TBA5 London takes place at Climbing District Tottenham Hale on Saturday 10 October 2026.
Yes. The Pro competition will be streamed live on YouTube from around 7pm. The exact start time may shift depending on how the competition day runs.
*The information presented in this article corresponds to the period of its publication - September 2026.
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