Editing Bouldering (section)

=== Modern bouldering ===
Modern recreational climbing began in the late 19th century in England, southeastern Germany, northern Italy, and France. Bouldering on the rocks of [[Fontainebleau|Fontainbleau]] outside of Paris began in the late 1800s, with the first guidebook written by Maurice Martin in 1945. Bouldering as training or a recreational past-time began also in the late 1800s in England and  perhaps elsewhere. [[Oscar Eckenstein]] was an early proponent. 

In the late 1950s, [[John Gill (climber)|John Gill]], who is frequently called "the father of modern bouldering", combined [[gymnastics]] with rock climbing, and felt that the best place to do that was on boulders or small outcrops.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sherman |first=John |title=Stone Crusade: a Historical Guide to Bouldering in America |date=1999 |publisher=American Alpine Club |isbn=978-0-930410-57-5 |series=The American Alpine |location=Golden, Colorado |page=xxxvii}}</ref>{{Sfn|Ament|Gill|1998|p=118}} He developed a rating system that was closed-ended: B1 problems were as difficult as the most challenging roped routes of the time, B2 problems were more difficult, and B3 problems had been completed once.{{Sfn|Sherman|2001|pp=64-65}} He also introduced [[magnesium carbonate|chalk]] as a method of keeping the climber's hands dry, promoted a dynamic climbing style, and emphasized the importance of [[strength training]] to complement skill. His 1969 article in the Journal of the American Alpine Club entitled "The Art of Bouldering" defines modern bouldering.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gill |first=John |date=1969 |title=The Art of Bouldering |url=https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12196935500/The-Art-of-Bouldering|access-date=20 February 2025 |journal=American Alpine Club Journal|language=en-US}}</ref> As Gill improved in ability and influence, his ideas became the norm.{{Sfn|Ament|Gill|1998|p=22}}{{Sfn|Beal|2011|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ei5GEfWDrKYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=strength&f=false chapter 1]}}

In the 1980s, two important training tools emerged. One important training tool was [[bouldering mat]]s, also referred to as "crash pads", which protected against injuries from falling and enabled boulderers to climb in areas that would have been too dangerous otherwise. The second important tool was indoor climbing walls, which helped spread the sport to areas without outdoor climbing and allowed serious climbers to train year-round. As the sport grew in popularity, new bouldering areas were developed throughout Europe and the United States, and more athletes began participating in bouldering competitions. The visibility of the sport greatly increased in the early 2000s, as [[YouTube]] videos and climbing [[blog]]s helped boulderers around the world to quickly learn techniques, find hard problems, and announce newly completed projects.<ref name="Beal2011">{{cite book |author=Beal, Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ei5GEfWDrKYC |title=Bouldering: Movement, Tactics, and Problem Solving |publisher=The Mountaineers Books |year=2011 |isbn=9781594855016}}</ref>

<gallery widths="155px" heights="200px">
File:Gill_on_The_Scab_,_1963_,_The_Needles_of_the_Balck_Hills,_SD.jpg|[[John Gill (climber)|John Gill]] on the Scab in the Needles of the [[Black Hills]], 1963
File:Christian Core on Gioia.jpg|[[Christian Core]] on ''Gioia'' ([[Varazze]], [[Italy|ITA]]), first {{Boulder grade|8C+}} boulder in history, 2008
File:Midnight Lightning yosemite.jpg|Michael Rael Armas on [[Midnight Lightning (bouldering)|Midnight Lightning]], [[Camp 4 (Yosemite)|Camp 4]] ([[Yosemite National Park]], [[United States|USA]]), one of the world's most famous bouldering problems
</gallery>