This weekend, Ouray will host the World Youth Ice Climbing Championships, marking the first time the event has come to the United States.
The competition will run from Friday to Sunday at the Ouray Ice Park, featuring both difficulty (also known as lead) and speed climbing events. Athletes in the Under-16, Under-18, and Under-20 categories will compete in both male and female divisions. The event will see climbers as young as 13 from eight countries take part.
The Ouray Ice Park, the largest of its kind in the U.S., offers more than 200 man-made climbs for all skill levels. Its 150-foot competition wall overlooks the Uncompahgre Gorge and is a central feature of the competition.
The event schedule includes the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by qualifying rounds from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday will feature the speed climbing finals from 9 to 11 a.m. and the lead climbing finals from 1 to 4 p.m., with an awards ceremony and closing remarks at 4 p.m.
World Cup Ice Climbing to Arrive in Longmont
Competitive ice climbing will also make its way to Longmont, Colorado, on February 22 and 23. The event will bring together an estimated 150 athletes from over 25 nations to compete for the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup lead and speed titles. The UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) is the organizing body for the World Cup.
This competition is part of a global tour that spans six locations across three continents. The Longmont stop, hosted by the Climbing Collective, a local rock climbing gym, is expected to draw a large crowd.
In conjunction with the event, Longmont’s WinterFest will offer a variety of attractions, including climbing walls, a kids’ zone, ice climbing tool tryouts, food, drinks, and vendor booths. Admission is free, and the festival will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
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