On June 23-25, 2011, top professional climbers will compete for a $10,000 cash purse on the sports biggest stage yet -- Central Park in the heart of New York City. Admission is free to watch Qualifiers and Semi-Finals at The Cliffs at Valhalla and Finals Saturday afternoon in Central Park during the 7^th annual Adventures NYC presented by The North Face. The Eastern Mountain Sports Pro will be the second stop of the 2011 Unified Bouldering Championships Pro Tour.

Photo: Tim Kemple

Competition climbing has come along way over the years. Climbing is bigger and more accessible than ever due to the development and popularity of climbing gyms nationwide. Within these safe and convenient confines, people are getting stronger, faster and the standards of difficulty are rising dramatically. Competition is a time-tested platform for athletes to challenge themselves, show their colorful exuberance, and carve out their name. As the UBC s 2011 Pro Tour Slogan states: "To be The Best, you have to beat The Best."

Photo: Andy Mann

The managing partners behind the UBC Pro Tour, Jason Danforth and Pete Ward, have been involved in the competition climbing industry since 2004 and closely observed the mistakes made in the past. Professionally produced and backed by the core athletes, the UBC has given over $130k to competitors and now has the structural support of the National Governing Body for climbing. And for the first time in history, professional climbing is on path to be evaluated by the International Olympic Committee.

Photo: Tim Kemple

"We're putting our sport on stage in a place that it s never been able to get to before," Ward says. "That fact alone is huge for the future potential of our sport."

The Competition Wall of the UBC Pro Tour - Vertical Solutions from NE2C on Vimeo.

Is climbing ready for its big break?

Ward says: "If climbing is to ever experience the growth and explosion in standards it enjoyed 30 years ago, it's not coming on rock, ice or in the mountains. It's coming on plastic, or it's not coming at all. Hey rock climbing, you look sexy, do you mean it or are we just flirting?"

Don't miss this event. Watch the live broadcast starting on Saturday at 2 pm at ubcprotour.com

2011 Unified Bouldering Championships - Eastern Mountain Sports Pro from NE2C on Vimeo.