Spray Walls and Boards


Whether it's your home wall, a spray wall at the gym, or one of the many pre-set commercial boards (Moon, Tension, Kilter, Grasshopper, etc), learning to make up your own boulders to fit your needs is essential for growth.

In this course, Kris Hampton and Zach Alexander discuss the many things you'll need to take into consideration - both practical and philosophical - when deciding what makes up those boulders.

Inside the Course

Blueprints | Knowing Your Objective

The value of intent can't be overstated. Kris and Zach discuss the various objectives for building boulders and the considerations that will need to be taken.

Schematics | Rules for Your Wall or Boulders

Creating rules for your wall or individual boulders can be an effective tool - but can also produce limitations you might not be aware of.

Turning the Dials | Creating Specific Difficulties

Many people, when left to their own devices, will repeatedly create boulders of the same style and difficulty. Learn to avoid this trap.

Sparks | Methods of Making Up Creative Boulders

Figuring out where to start can be the most difficult part. Kris and Zach talk through the many points of inspiration that can spark a great boulder.

Flash Points | Actionable Tasks to Get You Started

As a supplement to the Sparks section, you'll receive a checklist of tasks to help you learn to better apply the lessons from Boulder Builder.

Hardwired | Case Studies of Machine Shop Classics

Kris and Zach examine many of the boulders at their home wall - The Machine Shop. They look at each classic boulder through the lens of the course.

For anyone who climbs on a spray wall or board, and wants to learn to make up their own creative and more effective boulders.


  • 21 individual lessons on theory and practice.
  • Over 3 hours of discussion and example videos.
  • More than 20 case studies from inside the Machine Shop.
  • Checklist of tasks to get you started making up boulders.
  • Ebook of notes and charts from the course.
  • Unlimited access via mobile or computer.


Take control of the variables.


For every boulder you build, there are nearly infinite possibilities. We know it can get overwhelming.

Boulder Builder will help you narrow down the variables to the ones that matter most for YOU.


Get Started Building Boulders


Boulder Builder Curriculum


  Introduction
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blueprints | Knowing Your Objective
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Schematics | Rules for Your Wall or Boulders
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Turning the Dials | Creating Specific Difficulties
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days after you enroll
  Sparks | Methods of Making Up Creative Boulders
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Assembly | Making up a Project Level Boulder
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Hardwired | Case Studies of Machine Shop Classics
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days after you enroll
  Wrapping it up
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days after you enroll

Your Instructors

Kris Hampton and Zach Alexander


Kris is the owner of Power Company Climbing and The Machine Shop, and has been climbing for nearly 25 years, chasing goals in trad, sport, and now bouldering. He's the author of The Hard Truth: Simple Ways to Become a Better Climber.

Zach is owner of 42° North Bouldering, a site dedicated to bouldering in Wyoming as well as personal development through climbing. He is working on a guidebook for The Rockshop, one of Wyoming's best bouldering areas, due for release in summer 2021.

They often climb and train together both outdoors and in The Machine Shop, leveraging their respective strengths to challenge and push each other to be better climbers.