On the roof of Scandinavia’s largest shopping center Westfield Mall of Scandinavia is one of the most modern climbing facilities in Europe

BLX BOULDERING CLUB

Here is the story behind it

ELISE MANNERSTRÅLE

A JOURNEY TOWARDS THE 2026 OLYMPICS

Elise Mannerstråle has been climbing since she was 6 years old. Over the years, climbing has developed into her great passion and driving force. At the age of 11, she, together with her father Christian, created a climbing wall in her room, dreaming of one day building her very own climbing hall.

At the age of 12, Elise made her debut as a competitive climber and has since collected several impressive titles, both nationally in Sweden and internationally in Germany.

As a 14-year-old, she was accepted to the Swedish national climbing team, and she has since represented her country in both national and international arenas. Her competitive journey has taken her to prestigious events such as the Nordic Championships, Swedish Championships and NRW Champion in Germany.

Today, Elise has nearly 2,000 followers on Instagram who follow her journey towards the biggest goal: to represent Sweden in the 2026 Olympics.

CHRISTIAN MANNERSTRÅLE

A VISIONARY IN THE SPORT OF CLIMBING

Christian Mannerstråle had an eye-opener to the challenges of climbing when he started following his daughter, Elise’s, climbing journey. He saw that there was a need to make the sport more accessible and improve its conditions. When he started climbing himself, he realized the potential for significant improvements in the sport.

One of the first challenges he encountered was the high cost of participating in climbing. The prices discouraged many of Elise’s friends from coming along and climbing regularly. Long queues to buy entry and rent climbing shoes were a common occurrence in the climbing halls. In addition, the gyms offered only a limited number of exercise stations, and there was no opportunity to exercise before work because many gyms did not open until 9 a.m.

The routes in the climbing halls were often designed with a focus on advanced climbers, making it difficult for beginners to get started. The quality of the facilities was generally low, and there were rarely staff available to answer questions or offer tips and guidance.

BLX BOULDERING CLUB

A CLIMBING HALL FOR EVERYONE

Elise Mannerstråle, the ambitious climbing talent who is now 18 years old, together with her father, Christian, has realized a vision at the top of the Mall of Scandinavia. There now stands the BLX Bouldering Club, a modern climbing hall that offers real training equipment and challenging climbing routes for climbers of all levels.

BLX has changed the conditions for the sport of climbing. The club has set low price structures, with time-based access and special offers for beginners to encourage and welcome new enthusiasts to the sport.

Inside the training room is a wide variety of equipment, including treadmills, rowing machines and free weights. Opening hours range from 6:30 a.m to 11 p.m, and a self-service option is available to reduce waiting times. In addition, experienced coaches are always on hand to answer questions and give valuable tips.

At BLX Bouldering Club, climbing is not just a sport; it is an experience where everyone, regardless of experience level, can challenge themselves and find their own path to success and development.