Intermediate Rock Climbing Grade (IRCRA-Verified)

Proof required

Submit the completion certificate or gym attendance record from a bouldering introductory course (minimum 2 sessions with structured instruction). Include a short video (30–60 seconds) of you completing a V0 or V1 route showing deliberate footwork — feet placed precisely on holds, not smeared — and an assessor's note or gym staff confirmation of your V0–V1 level.

What gets checked

• Course completion document or gym attendance record showing a structured introductory programme was completed
• Video shows a V0–V1 route climbed with deliberate foot placement — toes on holds, not full sole smearing
• Assessor note or gym staff confirmation of your independent grade (V0–V1) from someone qualified to judge

Common mistakes

• Skipping the introductory course and just climbing — technique taught later (hip rotation, flagging, drop-knee) cannot be absorbed without the foundational footwork pattern in place
• Focusing on completing routes rather than technique quality — a sloppy V2 is a worse proof than a technical V0
• Not getting a gym assessor note — self-declared grades at V0–V1 are unverifiable without an independent assessment

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Course completion document or gym attendance record is required — casual gym visits without structured instruction do not satisfy this milestone
• Watch the route video for foot placement: toes should be on holds (not full sole), and the climber should pause on footholds rather than pulling through with arms alone
• Ask the submitter what hip rotation or flagging means — a climber who completed a real course will have encountered these terms

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Proof required

Submit a video of you completing three different V2 or V3 routes at an indoor gym, each in a separate clip. Routes should be labelled by the gym's grade system (V-scale or Font scale equivalent shown in the video). Include a 100-word reflection on the specific technique challenge on each route — not a description of how hard it was.

What gets checked

• Three separate video clips each showing a different V2+ route completed from start to finish
• Grade labels visible in each clip (gym hold colour, V-scale card, or Font scale label on the wall)
• 100-word reflection naming specific technique used on each route (e.g. 'hip rotation on the right-hand crimp in the middle' not 'it was hard')

Common mistakes

• Projecting the same route for 8 weeks instead of building a route repertoire — 3 different V2–V3s require applying technique to varied problem shapes
• Filming from a distance where holds and body position are not visible — a close enough angle to see foot placement on holds is required
• Writing a reflection that describes effort rather than technique — 'my fingers hurt' is effort; 'I used a hip-turn on the left side to reach the next hold without cutting feet' is technique

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Three videos required — a single long video with three routes is acceptable if routes are clearly separated
• V-scale or Font grade must be visible in each clip — without grade labelling the verifier cannot confirm V2+ standard
• The 100-word reflection should name specific movement decisions on specific moves, not just difficulty level — technique specificity confirms real engagement with climbing as a skill

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Proof required

Submit a video of you completing a V4 route at an indoor gym with the grade label visible, plus a written assessment from a qualified climbing coach or gym instructor confirming your V4 level. The assessor must have watched you climb in person — a remote assessment of a video is not sufficient.

What gets checked

• Video shows a V4 route completed from start to finish with the grade label visible in frame or confirmable from the route description
• Written assessor note states: assessor's name, gym, their qualification (coach certificate, gym instructor status, years of experience), date watched, and confirmation of V4 independent level
• Assessor watched the climb in person and was not the person filming — the assessment is independent

Common mistakes

• Skipping the assessor requirement and submitting video-only — V4 is the first grade where external assessment prevents self-reporting inflation
• Getting an assessment from a fellow climber rather than a qualified instructor — a peer grade from another V4 climber is not equivalent to a gym instructor's assessment
• Filming only the completed send and not showing the grade label — every route in every clip must have its grade verifiable from the video itself

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• The assessor's written note must include their name and qualification — 'my climbing friend who climbs V6 said I climb V4' does not meet this standard
• Watch the video for flagging or backstep technique on at least one move — a V4 climbed with no technical movement (pure arm-strength) suggests grade inflation
• If the gym's V-scale seems non-standard (very easy or very hard for V4), ask the submitter which gym and cross-reference against known V4 benchmarks at UK climbing gyms

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