4,000 climbing fans celebrated an exceptional bouldering event featuring the best athletes in the packed Porsche-Arena in Stuttgart (GER). Lead by new crowned adidas ROCKSTARS Miho Nonaka from Japan and Jernej Kruder from the Republic of Slovenia, the twelve finalists delivered outstanding climbing performances. Nonaka and Kruder proved to be true adidas ROCKSTARS champions throughout all competitions, from the qualification to the semifinals and finals. Therefore Alex Puccio (USA) and Jongwon Chon (KOR) congratulated this year’s winners fairly and respectful. “I’m very happy, that finally I am a ROCKSTAR. I’ really excited”, said Nonaka about her first title in Stuttgart. “She is extremely fast. Sure, I know that before, but this fast. Wow”, Alex Puccio stated after the final and thanked the “fantastic crowd” for a magical evening. For Kruder, 2nd time adidas ROCKSTAR after 2013, was the triumph “the crowning of a fantastic season.” Also his last opponent Jongwon Chon was satisfied. “I’m very happy, there can only be one winner.”

The final’s round was held in a mode of elimination: Twelve finalists had to climb four different routes. In round 1 all athletes were facing two routes, the last three in the ranking after this round were eliminated. In the women’s final Stasa Gejo (SRB), Petra Klingler (SUI) and Chloé Caulier (BEL) didn’t advance to round 2, while Japanese Keita Watabe, his fellow countryman Kokoro Fujii and the Ukrainian Sergii Topishko had a few problems in the men’s category reaching the boulder’s tops. Especially Jongwon Chon showed some amazing moves, while Alex Puccio (USA) and Miho Nonaka (JPN) dominated the women’s finals. In the next round Russian Katerina Kipriianova seemed not as strong as Nonaka and Puccio so, she was eliminated as well as Tomoaki Takata in the men’s competition, Kruder and Chon qualificated for the crucial superfinal. To become the adidas ROCKSTAR champion 2018 the athletes had to solve the last boulder problem with an identical route on both sides simultaneously. In the end there is only one true champion: Jernej Kruder was crowned in the men’s superfinal, while Japanese Miho Nonaka was a litte bit faster than American and 2017’s winner Alex Puccio.


Results Women TOP 6
1 - Miho Nonaka (JPN)
2 - Alex Puccio (USA)
3 - Ekaterina Kipriianova (RUS)
4 - Stasa Gejo (SRB)
5 - Petra Klingler (SUI)
6 - Chloé Caulier (BEL)

Results Men TOP6:
1 - Jernej Kruder (SLO)
2 - Jongwon Chon (KOR)
3 - Tomoaki Takata (JPN)
4 - Keita Watabe (JPN)
5 - Kokoro Fujii (JPN)
6 - Sergii Topishko (UKR)