We asked Jody Miall, Chief route setter for the Canadian Tour de Bloc series, to explain the “Zone” system of setting. This system is used in all Canadian sanctioned regional & national comps, as well as all IFSC sanctioned bouldering events.

Jody tells us:

“The “Zone” format or IFCS format is the format used at all the World Cup bouldering events. Unlike in the U.S. where most open comps use the “points per hold” format. The “Zone” format is designed to reward complete ascents.

“Generally the finals will have four to six problems where competitors have a set amount of time (say five minutes on, five minutes off) to send their problems. Each problem has a clearly marked start and finish except there is a marked “bonus” or “zone” hold midway through the route. The bonus hold is not worth anything unless there is a tie. Confused? I’ll try and explain.

“It breaks down like this. The winner goes to the climber with:

• The most completed problems
• Then least attempts to complete problems
• If there is still a tie it goes to most zones
• Then the least amount of attempts to reach zones

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