Athletes and member federations are informed that registration for January’s UIAA Ice Climbing European Cup event in Champagny/L’Argentière-la-Bessée is now open. The event will be held from 11-13 January and follows on from successful competitions in Domzale, Slovenia and Bratislava, Slovakia. Organised for the first time this season, the four European Cup events offer athletes both the chance to maintain their form for the World Cup season, starting mid January, and for younger and debutant competition ice climbers to test themselves in a professional environment.
The event in France offers a first in ice climbing; in addition to two individual European Cup events in lead and speed, the event as a whole will be a combined test event, rewarding athletes who excel in both disciplines. This will serve as a forerunner for the 2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships which is scheduled to be a dual format competition and possibly be used as an Olympic format should ice climbing become an official Olympic sport at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
The Lead competition takes place first on 11 January in Champagny-en-Vanoise followed by the Speed competition two days later in L’Argentière-la-Bessée.
Full details can be found in the dedicated Welcome Letter/Information Kit.
The direct link to register can be found here. Please read the Welcome Letter/Information Kit closely before registering.
A week after this international combined event, the World Tour series commences with the first World Cup event in Saas Fee, Switzerland. The European Cup series concludes in Oulu, Finland on 24-25 February. Details on this exciting event can be found here. The Oulu website can be reached directly here.
A full preview media release dedicated to the 2018 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour will be available on 3 January.
