EUROPEAN TOUR COMMENCES IN BERN

The organisers at O’Bloc in Bern, Switzerland put on a great show for the opening event of the 2018-19  UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour on Saturday 24 November. The first of the four European Cup Series proved a successful and popular meet with competitors coming from Canada, several European countries including France, Finland, Slovenia as well as a strong Swiss team. "It was great to see everyone enjoying the atmosphere and getting involved in the circuit...

RETURN OF THE UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD TOUR

Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, hosted the start of the 2018-2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour on 24 November (see report here). The European Cup event held at the O’Bloc Climbing Centre took place a little over six kilometres from the UIAA headquarters and marked the onset of the largest World Tour to date. Three World Championships, six World Cups and four European Cups make up the season. Competitions will take place on three...

UIAA POSITION ON HELI-BIKING IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS

Heli-biking, an activity offered in an increasing number of countries, offers MTB riders the opportunity to take a helicopter to a point from which they can directly commence a spectacular descent. On the subject of heli-biking, and other mountain-related pursuits which require motorised forms of transport, the UIAA, like many of its national member federations, is opposed to the organisation of such activities. The UIAA believes that mountain regions should remain a refuge for calm and peace;...

INCREASING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF CLIMBING AND MOUNTAINEERING

The UIAA Youth Commission held its annual meeting on the weekend of 17-18 November in Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain as guest of UIAA member federation FEDME - Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada. The Commission were treated to a warm welcome by the town's mayor, local dignitaries and members of the Andalucía section of FEDME. The Commission had a very successful meeting discussing a number of important topics including the future of the Youth Commission,...

REVIEW: UIAA INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CLIMBING CAMP IN ARIEGE

This summer, Ariège, in the picturesque region of southwest France welcomed a number of aspirant climbers from across the globe to take part in one of the UIAA’s latest International Youth Camps. The camp, held from 7-12 July, offered youngsters from diverse backgrounds and cultures the opportunity to enhance and harness their passion for mountaineering, along with the chance to develop new and lasting friendships. Under the tutelage of knowledgable instructors, the youngsters were able to make...

DETAILS: ICE CLIMBING TRAINING CAMPS IN RUSSIA AND IRAN

Two of the UIAA’s member federations are organising dedicated ice climbing training camps ahead of the 2018-2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour. The camps will be held in Kirov, Russia and in Polour and Meygun, Iran. The former is organised in conjunction with the Russian Mountaineering Federation (RMF) and the latter with the I.R.Iran Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF). Kirov, Russia All age categories are invited to participate. The tentative dates for the camps have been set: Training...

BLOQUEANDO: UIAA SUPPORTS ROCK CLIMBING DEVELOPMENT

Two of the three South American festivals recognised as part of the annual UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award recently held their 2018 editions. In this article we profile a hugely successful edition of BLOQUEando, the festival awarded the 2018 UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Development Award. The UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award, set up in 2015, is a channel for the UIAA to support and promote global rock climbing development. Its annual focus on a different continent ensures...

Safety alert for FIXE Lower-Offs

The UIAA Safety Commission, through DAV Safety Research, has again received information about a broken chain link from a FIXE belay anchor. As a consequence, the UIAA Safety Commission now recommends replacing all FIXE chains made from INOX. They can be identified by the “INOX” imprinted on the hanger. Case History [caption id="attachment_71815" align="alignleft" width="236"] Photo 1: FIXE belay anchor with two broken chain links[/caption] In the summer of 2015, DAV Safety Research was sent a torn chain...

2019 International Youth Ice Climbing Camp in Guillestre, Hautes Alpes

Please note registration for this event is closed as of 21 January, 2019. --- Registration is now open for the 2019 edition of the annual UIAA Global Youth Series Ice Climbing Camp in Guillestre. The main goal of this youth ice climbing camp is to learn and practice many forms of ice climbing: one pitch, or routes with many pitches. Dates: 24 February - 2 March, 2019 Location: In Guillestre, near Briançon in the French Alps (region Rhones Alpes, departement 05, "Hautes...

UIAA TO CO-HOST PREMIERE OF THE DAWN WALL IN SWITZERLAND

Winner of the UIAA prize at the 2018 Trento Film Festival, The Dawn Wall, a film which charts Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s epic attempt to scale the rock face by the same name, has recently be launched to international acclaim across North America, Europe and Asia. In partnership with Pathé Cinemas, Red Bull, Adventure Film Tours and the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), the UIAA will co-host the Swiss premiere of the film in Bern on...