Final stop in 2012 Ice Climbing World World Cup tour is Kirov, Russia

The 2012 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup which only has one remaining stop in Russia in March has been a story of Russian dominance and personal comebacks. In the Men’s Lead competition Austrian climber Markus Bendler, after a disappointing start in South Korea and Switzerland, roared back to win a difficult route in Busteni, Romania. The Romanian win was personal vindication for the veteran Bendler but it won’t be enough to catch up with Russian climber Maxim...

Winter ascent of Damavand organized by Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation

Climbers from Spain, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran took part in a January winter ascent of Damavand (5,671 m) the highest volcanic mountain in the Middle East. Located just two hours by car from the Iranian capital of Tehran, the mass climb of the South Face of the mountain was organized by the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation.The expedition was kicked off on 27 January and included 210 Iranian climbers and nine foreign climbers. The expedition was buffeted...

Acting UIAA president Jordi Colomer on the year ahead

Jordi Colomer who is the Acting President of the UIAA Board discusses the year ahead for the organization. Colomer comes from Barcelona, Spain and has been a member of the UIAA’s Expedition and Mountaineering Commissions; he was President of the International Ski Mountaineering Committee from 1999 to 2007. UIAA:  What do you see as your role as acting president until the 2012 General Assembly in Amsterdam in October? Colomer: This is a transient position. The UIAA board consists of...

Angelika Rainer and Maxim Tomilov win big as UIAA World Cup ends in Saas Fee, Switzerland

News Release 22 January 2012 Saas Fee, Switzerland  - The 2012 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup in Saas Fee, Switzerland concluded Saturday with a second World Cup victory for Angelika Rainer of Italy this year in the Lead discipline and a dramatic display of skill and strength by Russia's Maxim Tomilov in Men's Lead. Rainer’s victory comes about a week after her win in Cheongsong, South Korea and is significant because the Italian athlete almost quit competitive climbing last...

Climbers reflect as the 2012 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup moves to Switzerland

The European leg of the 2012 Ice Climbing World Cup organized by the UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) begins on 20 January 2012 in Saas Fee, Switzerland. Angelika Rainer, fresh from a victory in the Lead discipline in South Korea, says she’s always had a soft spot for Saas Fee where she won her first World Cup and first World Championship. Rainer said she has put behind her an elbow injury that plagued her last year and...

Final results for 2012 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup – South Korea

Ice Climbing World Cup & Asian Championship CheongSong, Korea  Women's Speed Finals  Men's Speed Finals  1. SHABALINA, Viktoria RUS  1. SPITSYN, Ivan RUS  2. KRASAVINA, MARIA RUS  2. VAGIN, Alexey RUS  3. FILIPPOVA, Maryam RUS  3. TOMILOV, Alexey RUS  Women's Speed Full list  Men's Speed Full list    Women's Lead Finals  Men's Lead Finals  1. RAINER, Angelika ITA  1. TOMILOV, Maxim RUS  2. GALLYAMOVA, Anna RUS  2. TOMILOV, Alexey RUS  3. HROZOVA, Lucie CZE  3. PARK, Hee Yong KOR  Women's Lead Full list  Men's Lead Full list For results from previous years and rankings please click here. The remaining stages for the 2012...

Markus Bendler and Maria Tolokonina stumble on first day of 2012 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup in South Korea

Two stars on the world circuit, Austria’s Markus Bendler and Russia’s Maria Tolokonina, both stumbled on the first day of competition at the UIAA 2012 Ice Climbing World Championship in Cheongsong, South Korea. “I think I need a mental coach!!,” Bendler good-heartedly wrote on his Facebook page as he reflected on a fall that knocked him out of the competition on Saturday and a chance to compete in the semi-finals and finals on Sunday. Bendler was the winner of the...

Registration for 2012 Ice Climbing World Cup open

The UIAA has begun to accept registrations from athletes accredited by UIAA member federations for the 2012 Ice Climbing World Cup that starts on 14 January in Cheongsong, South Korea. The event is spread over a three month period and will then move to venues in Switzerland, France, Romania and Russia. The rules and regulations for the two ice climbing disciplines, Speed and Lead, are set out in the UIAA website.  Athletes can register here. Please share our ice climbing...

UIAA supports International Mountain Day

The UIAA supports the celebration of 11 December 2011 as International Mountain Day. First started in 2003 by the United Nations, the day has become an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains and to focus on both the opportunities and challenges in mountain development. At the UIAA, the protection of the mountain environment is a central area of concern. As part of its commitment to ensuring sustainable development and use of mountains, the UIAA, through...

UIAA General Assembly 2011

On October 8th, the UIAA celebrated the General Assembly in Kathmandu, Nepal kindly hosted by our member federation  the Nepalese Mountaineering Association (NMA).  It was a great honor for the UIAA to have the Assembly opened by the President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav . President Yadav was so kind to hand out 4 UIAA awards to 2 male and 2 female Nepalese mountaineers for their extraordinary mountaineering achievements. On Friday the 7th of October, 3 symposia...