Cliffhanger Moment at Local Climbing Competition

Honey Dill Style Finals took place March 1 with a wave of new climbers on the podium.

Mojtaba Khodaei prepares to dyno to the zone hold on the second problem of the men's open final.

The crowd goes silent as Kyle Bethge approaches the wall for the last time. He’s ranked second, but if he tops this problem, he will take the lead from Mojtaba Khodaei.

Bethge has already nearly completed this problem, but the judges called a fault.

Judges confer after Kyle Bethge dabbed the top of the wall on the third problem of the men's open final.

He reaches into his chalk bag to dry his sweaty palms before mounting the large bulbous green start hold while hundreds watched on the livestream from around the world.

Someone in the crowd calls out “hot donuts” and someone else responds “all day,” the tagline written across the back of Bethge’s shirt. This prompts a call and response chant followed by encouraging cheers as Bethge presses up between two more similar holds.

Finally Bethge carefully reaches for the finish, teetering far over his left foot.