AscentStats
Welcome to AscentStats
We build statistical models and software tools for climbing analytics.
World Climbing Series Bern
Sorato Anraku won the men's in Bern on May 22, his second World Climbing Series gold of the year, closing on a near-perfect 99.7 after Dohyun Lee and Tomoa Narasaki both went out in the semi-final. With Janja Garnbret not starting, Oceania Mackenzie took the women's for her first World Climbing Series title, ahead of Erin McNeice and Annie Sanders.
With the Europe Series stops in Kaunas and Liptovský Mikuláš now both in the fit, the men's tier-2 route-grade offset has resolved firmly negative, about 249 ELO below World Cup routes. Earlier in the month, 16-year-old Jakoba Rauter won her first senior title in Liptovský Mikuláš.
Competition climbing data science
We have analysed the last 19 years (2008–2026) of IFSC bouldering competitions using a full Bayesian dynamic Bradley-Terry model to find out which climbers are the most skilful, and which boulder problems have been the most difficult. Check out our analyses and elo rankings for climbers and routes here.
Recent Posts
Bern 2026: Anraku again, and a first gold for Mackenzie
Sorato Anraku won a thin men's final in Bern; in Janja Garnbret's absence, Oceania Mackenzie took her first World Climbing Series gold. Dohyun Lee and Tomoa Narasaki both went out in the semi.
Kaunas and Keqiao 2026: event tiers and the new model
The 2026 season opens with two events one week apart, one a tier below the other. We use the contrast to motivate a change in the Bayesian model: route-grade priors now carry separate offsets per e...
Seoul 2025: World Championships conclude a record-breaking season
Garnbret and Anraku claim gold through final-boulder drama while Dohyun Lee's lead victory and Melina Costanza's breakthrough bronze complete a season of statistical extremes.
Innsbruck 2025: Garnbret returns, Anraku makes history, and Japan's depth problem
Janja Garnbret's victorious return couldn't overshadow Sorato Anraku's historic achievement: the first male climber to break 3000 ELO. Meanwhile, breakout stars and Japan's embarrassment of riches ...
Bern 2025: Heartbreak and breakthroughs as Pan claims maiden gold
Dohyun Lee's semifinal masterclass couldn't translate to gold as Yufei Pan's emotional breakthrough victory reshapes the men's standings. Meanwhile, Erin McNeice makes history as the first British ...
FlashGrade
FlashGrade is a mathematical grading system for climbers! It leverages probabilistic data modeling to accurately assess the skill level of climbers based on their ascent data.
Adam Ondra’s bouldering flash grade
We applied the flash grade model to Adam Ondra’s bouldering ascent data on 8a.nu. Check out the results.
FlashGrade tool
We have developed a simple experimental tool that allows climbers to input their ascent data (from thecrag.com) and estimate their climbing ability. Currently it only uses the simple Bradley-Terry model, but a version that uses the dynamic Bradley-Terry model is under development.
Cumulative Performance Grade
The cumulative performance grade is a universal index of climbing performance over multiple ascents that weights each ascent proportional to the expected difficulty compared with other ascents.