It’s wall-to-wall action in the Austrian capital with a Paraclimbing World Cup (June 21 – 22), Bouldering World Cup (June 23 - 24) and Lead World Cup (25 – 26 June).
Followers of GB Climbing – is it time you boiled with psyche? Yes, you may boil for excitement for levels are rocketing ahead of the season’s biggest event so far. Fans of comp climbing – are you right to froth? Yes, you may froth, for so many things in the world of plastic ninja-ness are both beginning and climaxing this week coming. Get ready, because paraclimbing, bouldering and lead climbing are all taking flight in a World Cup whirlwind this weekend in Innsbruck and you best strap yourselves in for the ride.
First up is the Paraclimbing World Cup. Para climbing is really on the buzz at the minute and participation, commitment and visibility has been going up and up over the last five years or more. Amidst this, we have watched the GB Para Team going from strength to strength. The team had a fantastic season last year, securing six medal, and it’s fair to say their psyche is at an all-time high.
🎤 Zoe Spriggins , Paraclimbing Team Manager, summed it up:
“After some strong performances in the qualification round, we are excited to see Abbie, Rich, Lea and James tackle the final routes. This is James’s first international final, with Abbie Robinson, Richard Slocock and Lea Volpe all making finals in the 2021 World Championships. Fingers crossed as they all look to make the podium and don’t forget to join us via the live stream.”
This is their first opportunity to flex on the international stage so far in 2022 and they are keen to make it count.
🎤 Abbie Robinson , GB Paraclimbing Team, is through to the finals, and she’s ready:“I'm mega psyched to be heading into finals. The qualification routes were fun and the atmosphere here in Innsbruck is epic. I'm currently dealing with a finger injury, but regardless, I'm ready to put in a fight!”
The great news for fans of the event is that the paraclimbing event is to be livestreamed for free, even for viewers in Europe. To tune in see here .
On top of that the 2022 Boulder World Cup season reaches its sixth and final event. For anyone who has been paying attention, this has undoubtedly been one of the most exciting seasons we can remember. Perhaps it’s the pent-up psyche following the restrictions of Covid, perhaps it’s just a growth in the depth of talent entering our sport, but we are seeing stronger and more-focused athletes than ever before. In this red-hot arena of talent, it’s all the more impressive how our own GB Climbing athletes have been pushing through. There are new faces on the block, and they are hungry for success.
Bearing in mind that for many athletes, having only attended a few WC events last year, this is their first full season. For Holly Toothill and Hamish McArthur, both getting into semi-finals at the last event, Brixen, this is a great hint of things to come. However, Brixen was all about a different Future.
Max the Future
Max Milne turned in a truly world class performance at the Italian event and fended off rock hard opposition to secure a silver medal, even pipping Olympic royalty, Tomoa Narasaki, on the podium. Along the way he climbed brilliantly, even being the only competitor to top one of the problems. And bear in mind, as with many of his team mates, this is Max’s first full season.
This silver is no flash in the pan for MtF; having got through to semi-finals in every WC event this season, Max is more of a rolling boil, and getting hotter all the time.
This Thursday and Friday’s action will round up the season and it is sure to be one of the best yet. We are expecting Max to rage 🔥
As if that wasn’t enough, and in the off-chance you have any popcorn left n the house, the event ends with a start; the start of this season’s lead events. Jim Pope, Max Milne, Molly Thompson-Smith, Emily Phillips and Thea Cameron are among the ten GB Climbing athletes who will be tying in at the weekend.
🎤 Tom Greenall , GB Climbing head coach, can’t wait:
“The team is really stoked for the lead season to get underway, capitalising on the momentum that we've gained through the boulder events. The guys are in great shape, we're motivated!”
Get ready to cheer on our paraclimbers, boulderers and lead climbers. Roar till you can roar no more! 🦁
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