CEC runs a national series of competitions each season, from youth regionals to senior national championships, plus Canadian stops on the North American Cup Series. Each series crowns national champions, awards national ranking points and is a pathway to the National Team. See Qualification & Categories for how to get in, and Events for dates.
Youth Series
For U15, U17, U19 and U21 athletes, female and male, in bouldering and lead.
- Regional Championships, East and West: bouldering for U15, U17 and U19. Regionals are the qualification pathway to Youth Nationals, and give athletes who won’t reach Nationals a strong competition experience. U15 athletes compete at regionals only.
- Youth National Championships: bouldering and lead, for U17, U19 and U21. Athletes can enter one or both disciplines.
Youth Nationals crown national champions, award national ranking points and are a selection pathway for the Youth World Championships and the High Performance Program.
Senior Series
For athletes 17 and older, female and male, in bouldering and lead. Athletes can enter one or both disciplines.
The Senior National Championships crown national champions, award national ranking points and are an entry pathway to the High Performance Program. Finals are set at a level that prepares athletes for international competition.
Speed Series
For U17, U19, U21 and Senior athletes, female and male. The Speed National Championships run alongside a national speed development camp to grow speed climbing in Canada.
Speed Nationals crown national champions, award national ranking points and are a selection pathway for the Youth World Championships and the High Performance Program. Athletes who post an automatic qualifying time, set each season by CEC High Performance staff, receive a direct invitation.
Para Series
The Para-Climbing National Championships are held in lead, with athletes competing by sport class (for example AL2, B1, B3 and RP1–RP3), female and male.
Para Nationals are open to athletes with a disability at any climbing level, aged 17 or older on December 31 of the competition year, who fit one of the para-climbing sport classes. There are no qualification quotas. Athletes from outside Canada can also enter; every athlete must be a member of their national federation. For more on para-climbing in Canada, see the Para National Team.
North American Cup
The North American Cup Series (NACS) gives advanced and elite athletes from across the Americas a high level of competition outside the World Cup circuit. Launched in 2021, it runs several stops a year in bouldering, lead and speed, in partnership with USA Climbing and the Pan American Council. CEC hosts the Canadian stops.
- Canadian athletes need a CEC athlete licence or a one-time NACS licence. See Registration & Licences.
- Athletes from other countries choose the international licence, and their national federation confirms their membership.
- Stops in the United States are registered through USA Climbing.
Event manuals and other competition documents are in Resources.