HIghlights include the first final appearance in Lead by Janez Svoljšak of Slovenia who is only 19-years-old, Alexey Tomilov leaving the competition and Russian dominance in the Speed event.
Rabenstein, the newest venue on the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour provided plenty of drama and memories for athletes and spectators.
It was the setting for the final climb of Markus Bendler of Austria, a perennial crowd favourite and former Lead champion who gave it his all to reach the final hold, but fell.
Athletes participating in the 2013 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour competition in Kirov are being warned by organizers to plan to get their Russian visas well in advance.
Alexey and Maxim Tomilov fell in love with the sport they dominate by chance.
Back in 1998, the two avid competitive indoor climbers watched the first Russian ice climbing championships in Kirov, their hometown, as spectators and were intrigued by what they saw.
This time they were tears of joy for Maria Tolokonina.
After an underperformance in the qualifying round that left her frustrated and a semi-final climb that placed her in the lead, Russia's Maria Tolokonina won the Women's Lead final in dramatic fashion in literally the final seconds.
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