This February, in Guillestre, near Briançon in the French Alps, the first event of the 2019 UIAA Global Youth Series took place. The event, held from 24 February-2 March, welcomed around 70 participants. Those who attended were afforded glorious weather for all six days under the tutelage of knowledgeable and expert instructors.
A variety of activities at differing locations were undertaken. The purpose of the camp was to explain the use of a variety of forms of equipment, including ice screw, crampons and ice axes. Tuition was also provided on how to climb safely on ice, how to set up a safe belay and how to descend through multiple abseils.
An Ice Climbing Instructor Boot Camp formed part of the programme, coached by the certified mountain guide Charles Noirot. The training, which is UIAA certified, provides knowledge on how to manage an Ice Training Class for inexperienced climbers, both for youngsters and adults.
Other activities to take place included a camp for the EPAF, a female Alpine Team of the Pyrenees, coached by Lara Amoros and Christophe Moulin, FFCAM National Technical Director Alpinism mountain guide. There were opportunities for young climbers from regional youth groups to discover and harness their love of ice climbing.
International participants came from across Europe – Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain and host country France.
The camps will return next February 2020.
Details on a new UIAA calendar for international youth events will be published shortly.
Photos from the event can be found here.
For further details on the 2019 UIAA Global Youth Series please click here.
