Calling All Writers! Enter Climbing Magazine’s June 2025 Writing Contest

Sometimes, it all comes down to one move.

The jump across the abyss. The dyno that hits just right. The last-second dodge of rockfall. Whether it’s a near miss, a dream fulfilled, or the catalyst to a decade-long quest, everyone’s got one move that’s more memorable than others. From Alex Honnold’s ropeless karate kick 2,000 feet off the deck to Mélissa le Nevé’s six-year quest to latch a two-finger pocket dyno, we want to hear about the move that meant everything to you.

The Climbing June Writing Contest invites you to tell us about the one move that’s been—or will be—the most important to you. We’re looking for vivid imagery, rich storytelling, and a sense of momentum. You do not need to climb any particular grade to enter. Just wow us with your writing. Make it creative. Surprise us. And most importantly, leave us just as obsessed with this move as you are.

• Submit your entry using this Google form.
• Bonus points if you have a photo, video, and/or illustration to go with your story.
• Submissions open Friday, June 6 and close Friday, June 27 at 11:59pm Mountain Time.
• Keep your initial submission to 500 words or less. (Published stories will be edited, in collaboration with the writer, and may run slightly longer or shorter than the original submission.)
• We will select three winning stories, all of which will be published on Climbing.com. Cash prizes are as follows: $350 (first place), $100 (second place), $50 (third place). In addition, the top five stories will receive a free, 12-month Outside Digital subscription. This includes unlimited access to 10+ publications in the Outside Network, including Climbing, plus digital access to Outside Magazine. It does not include access to mapping tools or streaming content from Outside TV.
• The winning entry will be read aloud onstage at the 2025 International Climbers’ Festival in Lander, Wyoming.
• We may also publish runner-up stories. By submitting your story, you give Climbing permission to publish it.
• Please do not submit stories that have previously been published elsewhere.
• We will aim to respond to all submissions before announcing the winners, but our response time may vary depending on the volume of entries. There’s no need to follow up on your submission.

Complete contest rules can be found here.

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