The UIAA Respect the Mountains (RTM) project is evolving to create more opportunities for collaboration between the UIAA, its member associations and other partners, greater access to events for mountaineers and increased visibility for sustainability-focused projects showcased on a new international calendar....
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...
The UIAA was one of number of international bodies who took part in a climate change workshop hosted on Friday 8 March by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at their temporary headquarters in Pully, Switzerland. Some 20 international sport federations, among which the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), World Rugby, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and the International Ski Federation (FIS) to only name a few, took part in the discussion about the Sports for Climate...
On Saturday 9 March, during the UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships in Kirov, Russia, news broke that the bodies of Briton Tom Ballard and his Italian climbing partner Daniele Nardi had been discovered on Nanga Parbat, Pakistan. As a regular competitor on the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, representing Great Britain at World Cups during the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons, Tom, 30, enjoyed close friendships with a number of fellow athletes and officials nurtured both during...
The UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships, the closing event in the 2018-2019 UIAA Ice Climbing season, was held in Kirov, Russia from 9-10 March. A warm weekend in the Russian city provided a welcome respite from the freezing conditions athletes have had to endure throughout the season. The World Championships, the pinnacle event in the UIAA Ice Climbing calendar and running every two years, provided thrilling competition with action going down to the wire. The men's...
The 2018-2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour has already crowned the winners of the six-event World Cup season, the inaugural World Combined Championships, the World Youth Championships and the best performing athletes over the four-leg European Cup season. This weekend in Kirov, Russia, the calendar officially closes with the pinnacle event – the biennial UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships. The season, collectively the World Tour, is partnered by Outdoor Research. [caption id="attachment_70184" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Action from...
The 2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships concluded in Oulu, Finland on Saturday 2 March. The event was organised in conjunction with FINICE. Across all three age categories, 84 athletes from ten countries had to contend with a diverse range of conditions - blizzards, sunshine, heavy snow - and extreme temperatures in attacking Oulu's impressive ice structure. The next generation of competition ice climbers demonstrated enormous potential and skill. Swiss athletes Yannick Glatthard, despite a broken...
Since 2013, the UIAA Mountain Protection Award has showcased 106 projects from over 30 countries. The platform has enabled initiatives to receive international recognition and much-needed funding. It has provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and share best practices. Investment generated by the Award has helped projects advance in meeting key targets such as building infrastructures to improve the lives and conditions of mountain people and communities. The annual Award is open to initiatives, projects and...
With the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup season concluding in Denver, Colorado last week, attention swiftly turns to one of the most northerly cities in the world, Oulu, in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland which will host the annual UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships this weekend 28 February - 2 March. The stunning night skies and a challenging 22m ice tower await athletes, with around 90 competitors from 11 countries set to compete in...
During January and early February, representatives of the UIAA visited both the Asian and European editions of the annual ISPO trade shows. At ISPO Beijing, the UIAA was represented by Vice President Thomas Kahr and Safety Commission President Amit Chowdhury. The focus of their visit was mountain safety. From its onsite booth, the UIAA engaged with stakeholders from a range of manufacturers and brands about the importance of climbers using safe and certified gear, providing information...