The IFSC Youth World Championships 2025 began in Helsinki with the U19 Boulder qualification at the Helsingin Kiipeilykeskus – one of two that will play host in the Finnish capital city.
Over 600 athletes – 340 male and 279 female – are registered to compete across the three core disciplines – Boulder, Lead and Speed, and across two age groups – U19 and U17. The event will be the first edition featuring competitors divided into two age categories instead of the previous three (U16, U18 and U20).
After traveling from the USA to South Korea and China in the span of three years, the Youth World Championships is back in Europe for its 2025 edition from 28 July to 3 August.
Split between two venues, the KiipeilyAreena Ristikko will host Lead and Speed later in the week and Helsingin Kiipeilykeskus currently hosting the Boulder discipline with semi-finals and finals for all disciplines free to watch live, and replay, on the IFSC YouTube channel.
The ten planned live streams will feature IFSC World Cup commentator Matt Groom who will be joined by competitors, sponsors, coaches and other climbing figures from the Youth World Championships.
Xanthe Saunders from New Zealand will compete in the Lead discipline in Helsinki, and before the event said: “I’m really excited but really nervous as well. This is my first Youth Worlds. I expect it to be really hard but I am just here to have fun and get the experience.
“Climbing in New Zealand is totally different to Europe. Our walls are not as high and our grades are completely different. The holds are really different also, so it’s cool to travel and try new climbs.”
South Korea’s Park Seokimin competes in Boulder and said: “Finland has been on my lost to come for a long time so I’m happy to come and compete.
“Before the competition I’ve been a bit injured so my training hasn’t been the best, but the competition I’m sure will be great. I tore my calf muscle a bit and rested for three weeks. It’s a long time to rest but it’s good to be back.”
Full list of IFSC Youth World Championships 2025 live streams:
**Tuesday, 29 July:
**19:30 – U19 Boulder semi-finals • YouTube
**Wednesday, 30 July:
**9:00 – U17 Boulder semi-finals • YouTube
17:00 – U19 Boulder finals • YouTube
20:00 – U17 Boulder finals • YouTube
**Friday, 1 August:**20:00 U19 Lead semi-finals • YouTube
**Saturday, 2 August:
**11:00 – U17 Lead semi-finals • YouTube
19:00 – U19 Lead finals • YouTube
20:30 – U17 Lead finals • YouTube
**Sunday, 3 August:
**13:30 – U17 Speed finals • YouTube
20:30 – U19 Speed finals • YouTube
The full playlist on the IFSC YouTube channel can be found here: https://ifsc.hopp.to/yw25live