What is "World Class"?

Not Not MP Adminwrote:

I think 5 is a fair number. I would contest that the only true world class areas in the US would be: 

Bouldering: Hueco, and Bishop

Sport Clipping: RRG 

Trad: Indian Creek, Yosemite

If those 5 crags are world class, when someone says they have a “world class” local crag not near the listed places…what do you think? 

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

If those 5 crags are world class, when someone says they have a “world class” local crag not near the listed places…what do you think? 

I think I would be psyched to go check it out, then heckle hard if it's not 

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

If those 5 crags are world class, when someone says they have a “world class” local crag not near the listed places…what do you think? 

Depends on many factors, but generally I’d think they are probably wrong. The red was once just a local crag though…

Jonathan Marekwrote:

I've been sidelined with knee surgery and a newborn baby and now suddenly I'm reading MP forums...I hope I can actually climb soon...

Maybe I'm just a climbing superfan, but my standards for world class are quite a bit lower than most folks here.

I think the western US and Canada have at least 20 world class destinations, some are obvious and can become rather crowded while others are low key, under the radar, and provide a world class experience for the climbers who appreciate the style. 

Not every world class crag is desirable for every climber. Devils tower for instance is in my opinion world class, but it doesn't have many high end test pieces or a lifetime of climbing. 

Also, maybe I'm just cheap, but there are many world class destinations I will never visit because I hate to travel. 

Bottom line, the most important thing is to have a world class experience rather than some feather in your cap to post on Instagram or FB.

ETA in no particular order...all the world class areas I've been to in the USA (Canada):

Ibex, red rocks, Joe's, Yosemite, tetons, squamish, black hills, devils tower, index, eldo, Indian creek, winds, lander, ten sleep, rmnp, Zion, bishop, jtree, city of rocks, rrg, bighorns, maple, smith

Still need to visit but I'm sure are world class:

Bugaboos, cascades, Tahoe, acephale, Chattanooga, nrg, hueco, dacs, gunks, high Sierra, horseshoe, Flagstaff and many more. 

I'm sure that with the right mindset and partners, you can have a world class experience at any of these locations! 

I think you are confusing world class experiences with world class areas. I can make the local dumpster a world class experience given the right hallucinogens 

Go Back to Super Topowrote:

I think you are confusing world class experiences with world class areas. I can make the local dumpster a world class experience given the right hallucinogens 

Nah, I'm not confused. We just have different opinions on this entirely subjective topic. 

World class experience = world class area