Zarzuela eyes strong Asian doubleheader after using “frustration as fuel”
A field of 180 athletes representing 27 nations will compete at the newly renovated Gunsan Climbing Center on 29 and 30 October, as the World Climbing Para Series 2026 heads to South Korea for the penultimate event of the season
The World Climbing Para Series 2026 returns to Asia for the final two competitions of the season, with Gunsan, South Korea, hosting the penultimate event on 29 and 30 October before the series concludes in Fukuoka, Japan, on 5 and 6 November.
The competition will mark the first Para Series event ever held in South Korea, following the country’s debut as a Para Climbing host at the 2025 World Climbing Para Climbing Championships in Seoul. A total of 180 athletes, including 67 women and 113 men, representing 27 nations across four continents, will compete at the newly renovated Gunsan Climbing Center.
GUNSAN WELCOMES THE PARA SERIES
The newly renovated Gunsan Climbing Center will provide the setting for two days of competition as athletes return to South Korea for the first time since last year’s World Championships.
With the season approaching its conclusion, the penultimate event offers athletes one more opportunity to strengthen their positions in the Series rankings before the final stop in Japan. The Asian doubleheader will bring the 2026 campaign to a close across two consecutive weeks, with the remaining medals and ranking points up for grabs.
For Brian Zarzuela of the USA, the final two events offer an opportunity to build on an already successful season and carry his momentum into the off-season.
“I’m feeling really excited for these two competitions of the season here in Asia,” Zarzuela said. “South Korea has once again proven itself to be one of the most beautiful and welcoming host countries I’ve ever visited, and I can’t wait to finally get to experience Japan for the final competition of the season!”
ZARZUELA TURNS FRUSTRATION INTO MOTIVATION
Zarzuela arrives in Gunsan after a season that has brought two gold medals, including a victory in Salt Lake City. However, it was his performance in Innsbruck that he identified as a particular source of pride, having recovered from a difficult qualification round to secure his second win of the campaign.
“There’s definitely still plenty of room for improvement, but I’d say I’m pretty happy overall with my climbing this season,” he explained. “Obviously, I’m happy to have secured another gold in Salt Lake City, but I’m mostly proud of my performance in Innsbruck and having been able to bounce back from a pretty rocky start in qualifications and secure my second gold for the season.”
The season has not been without its setbacks. At Laval, Zarzuela missed the podium for the first time in seven years, a result that initially proved difficult to process.
“Admittedly, I was pretty disappointed with how I performed in the finals in Laval. It’s been seven years since the last time I’ve missed a podium, and it definitely hit me hard,” he said.
Rather than allowing the disappointment to define his season, however, the American used the experience as motivation heading into the final competitions.
“Mistakes happen, and it’s hard to consistently perform at your best. There’s definitely a fine line between allowing yourself as an athlete the opportunity to feel frustrated, but also being honest with yourself about why your performance didn’t go the way you wanted.”
After returning home, Zarzuela found a way to channel those emotions into his preparations for the Asian doubleheader.
“Once I returned home, I was able to utilise that frustration as fuel towards the last two competitions of the season.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2027 AND LA 2028
Beyond the immediate challenge in Gunsan and Fukuoka, Zarzuela already has his sights set on the seasons ahead. With the 2027 Para Climbing calendar featuring a number of venues he is eager to visit, the American is planning a selective competition schedule as he works towards his main long-term goal: the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
“The 2027 Para Climbing calendar might be one of the coolest lineups of venues I’ve seen so far,” he said.
Among the competitions on his radar are Innsbruck and Brno, alongside a particularly meaningful opportunity to compete on home soil in Los Angeles.
“But with LA 2028 being my main goal, I’ve decided to focus my attention on only a few competitions next year: Innsbruck, of course Brno, and I can’t pass up the opportunity to compete in front of the LA home crowd just a year before the main event!”
Before looking too far ahead, however, Zarzuela and the rest of the field will turn their attention to the final two stops of the 2026 season, beginning in Gunsan.
NEXT UP
Competition at the Gunsan Climbing Center takes place on 29 and 30 October, with the World Climbing Para Series moving to Fukuoka, Japan, on 5 and 6 November for the season finale. The Asian doubleheader will bring the 2026 campaign to a close as athletes make their final push for medals and positions in the rankings.
News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.
