In 2025 the Golden Carabiner Award reaches its 9th edition with changes in structure and a new award category.
Created by the Confederação Brasileira de Montanhismo e Escalada (CBME) in 2015, the first edition of the Golden Carabiner took place during the 2ª Semana Brasileira de Montanhismo. Since then, the award has grown and consolidated itself as one of the most anticipated moments in the national mountaineering calendar.
The Golden Carabiner was inspired by the traditional Piolet d’Or, a well-known international award that can be considered the “Oscar of mountaineering”. The purpose of the Brazilian version is to celebrate people, projects and expeditions that have left a positive mark on the national scene — not only for great technical achievements, but for the ethical, responsible and inspiring way in which they are carried out.
In the first editions, the award had only four categories: Mountaineering, Traditional Climbing, Sport Climbing and Mountaineering and Society. Over the years, new categories have been incorporated, reflecting the evolution of the sport and the diversity of projects that make up the mountain universe.
Today the award has eight categories: Mountaineering, Climbing, High Mountains, Sport Climbing, Mountaineering and Society, Mountaineering and Local Action, Life in the Mountains and Posthumous Tribute, the latter being created in 2025.
Within these categories, the Golden Carabiner includes initiatives of environmental education, conservation, local action, innovation in mountaineering and achievements in high mountains, climbing, among others. Each edition records new inspiring stories — from great ascents to community projects that transform local realities.
The award’s impact on the mountain community
The Golden Carabiner plays a fundamental role in valuing and giving visibility to those who make mountaineering happen in Brazil. Each nomination or achievement represents an incentive for conscious practice and the exchange of knowledge between generations of mountaineers.
Furthermore, the award reinforces the importance of preserving mountains and trails, promoting dialogue between athletes, guides, clubs, and federations. By recognizing not only great ascents, but also grassroots community projects and preservation actions, the Golden Carabiner broadens the notion of what it means to “conquer a mountain” — often, that conquest lies in taking care of it.
How the nomination and selection process works
The award’s nomination process is open to the community. Anyone can nominate people, teams, or institutions that have stood out within each category. A person can also self-nominate to receive the award.
It doesn’t matter how many nominations are made for a person but rather the relevance of each achievement. A person can receive a single nomination and be selected as a category finalist, while another person can have 20 nominations but not be selected. What will be evaluated is the relevance of the achievement/accomplishment, so the more detailed the justification, the better. There is a specific text area in the nomination form for this explanation.
The criteria evaluated go far beyond technical performance — they include ethics, respect, commitment, autonomy, and contribution to Brazilian mountaineering. After the nomination period, a CBME commission analyzes all nominations and defines the 3 finalists for each category, who will go to popular vote. But it is not the popular vote that decides the winner of each category!
The selection of the winner will be carried out through the verification of the election, where the following will be counted:
- 1 popular vote (election via Internet, with the selection of the most voted name per category)
- 1 CBME vote (verified through an election held among affiliated federations and associations, with the selection of the most voted name per category)
- 1 Commission vote from the Golden Carabiner (verified through an election held among Commission members, with the selection of the most voted name per category)
In conclusion, a total of 3 votes will be counted (1 popular vote, 1 vote from CBME entities and 1 vote from the Commission) to reach the winner of the year. In case of selection of three different names, the CBME Board will have the right to the deciding vote.
2025 Edition: news in the award
In 2025 the Golden Carabiner underwent important changes. It was not held at the traditional Rio nas Montanhas event, which used to be the venue for the award ceremony. This change allows it to become itinerant.
The award also gained its own website, where it is possible to view all information, regulations, make nominations, vote and still check the winners of previous editions in each category.
Furthermore, as already mentioned, in 2025 the Posthumous Tribute category was created, an award for mountaineers who have made relevant contributions to Brazilian mountaineering.
A link between sport, nature, and society
Over the years, the Golden Carabiner has become an important link between mountaineering, society and the environment. It shows that sport can — and should — go hand in hand with sustainability, education, and respect for the mountains.
More than celebrating individual achievements, the award celebrates a way of being in the mountains: conscious, ethical and collective.
It is time to recognize and nominate people, clubs and projects that stood out in 2024 — whether through opening new routes, achievements, promoting ethical mountaineering or through conservation and environmental education actions.
The nomination period is an opportunity to reflect on what mountaineering represents: not just the pursuit of challenges, but the connection with nature, constant learning and the strengthening of a community that shares the same values.
Nominations for the Golden Carabiner are open until November 3, 2025.
We here at Gear Tips, in 2022 and 2023 nominated the Programa de Reciclagem de Cartuchos de Gás, but we were not selected. In 2025, we will nominate the Programa Capacitar, which recently was one of the 5 finalists for the Mountain Protection Award, from UIAA.
The complete schedule and all information are on the website: https://mosquetaodeouro.com.br/
This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)
