The Vision Behind the Professional Climbing League (PCL)

@charlieboscoe1

The Vision Behind the Professional Climbing League (PCL)

The Professional Climbing League (PCL) was created with a bold vision: to build a commercially viable league that rewards athletes, entertains fans, and unites a historically fragmented industry.

We spoke with Charlie Boscoe, PCL Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, about how it all came to life — and what’s next.

Why PCL? Why Now?

Climbing has grown rapidly over the past decade — but according to Charlie, there was still something missing.

“We felt that there was space in the climbing industry for a private league, running in the IFSC off-season.”

The idea mirrors models seen in other major sports: a commercial league operating alongside the federation structure. In this case, that federation is World Climbing (previously known as the International Federation of Sport Climbing, or IFSC) and it hosts World Cups and prepares athletes for potential Olympic team selection. The commercial league offers other benefits including:

  • Athletes can compete more frequently at a high level

  • New competition formats can emerge

  • Greater commercial opportunities for climbers

  • A more entertainment-driven experience for fans

Simply put — PCL was built to expand what competition climbing can be.

Designing a New Competition Format

It may look seamless on the outside, but developing the PCL format took years.

The biggest challenge, Charlie says, was keeping it simple. "Adding complication is easy.” He pointed out. But the PCL team didn't want to overcomplicate things, they wanted to create a new format that:

  • Feels like real climbing

  • Is easy for new fans to follow

  • Delivers drama and fairness

  • Remains authentic to the sport

Through industry collaboration and continuous refinement, the format evolved into something that balances elite performance with spectator excitement.

The Real Challenge: Logistics & Funding

Like any global sports operation, the glamour of arena lights comes with serious behind-the-scenes work.

According to Charlie, the most difficult elements so far have been:

Logistics

Getting athletes, staff, routesetters, equipment, media crews, and partners into the right place — at the right time — is a massive undertaking.

Funding

“Event finances seemed quite straightforward before I actually started to try and tackle them…”

Scaling professional climbing requires significant investment. Building something sustainable — and spectacular — demands financial strategy as much as passion.

How Has the Industry Responded?

“Incredibly positively!”

Charlie shared that there has long been an appetite for something like PCL. Athletes, brands, and fans alike seem ready for a fresh competition experience that complements the traditional circuit rather than replacing it.

What’s Next for PCL?

The ambition is big.

PCL plans to:

  • Run 6–8 major arena events annually

  • Host competitions in major cities worldwide

  • Develop additional spin-off programming and experiences

More details are coming — but the goal is clear: elevate climbing into a new era of professional sport.

What Success Looks Like

For Charlie and the PCL team, success isn’t just measured in ticket sales.

“If climbers are appropriately rewarded, fans are engaged and brands have derived value from PCL, we’ll have done something right.”

At its core, PCL is about balance:

  • Fair compensation for athletes

  • A compelling experience for fans

  • Real return and engagement for brands

If those three align, the league will have achieved exactly what it set out to build.

We’re excited to see how the first season unfolds — and to support initiatives that continue pushing competitive climbing forward.

Stay tuned.

*Kilter and Urban Plastix, as well as Setter Closet brands Sup'r and Unleashed, are proud sponsors of PCL's first major event in London, England, February 28, 2026.

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