With the amount of stamina and skill required to make it to the top, competitive climbing can be an exciting event to view from below.
For the first time Denver, Colorado will be hosting the grand finale of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup Finals in February.
Competition ice climbing is a sport that blends both artistry and determination. Wielded with ice axes and nerves of steel, the climbers use their prowess to ascend icy columns dozens of feet of the ground. It’s becoming increasingly popular, so much so that the sport may even be added to the lineup of events for the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics.
This is the first time the Ice Climbing Cup will visit the mile high city, and it will bring over 200 athletes from 26 different countries. It’s free to the public, so spectators can watch top ice climbers compete at Denver’s Civic Center Park on February 23rd and 24th.
“We are proud to support our U.S. ice climbing athletes and bring this impressive event to downtown Denver," explained American Alpine Club CEO, Phil Powers in a press release. "Competitive ice climbing is one of the most exciting things I've ever watched; the stamina, skill, and seeming impossibility of it all makes for an outstanding spectator experience. They’re up there doing crazy moves, wielding sharp tools and they hang on forever.”
Considering Colorado’s terrain has long served as a playground for ice climbers, with iconic routes in Vail and Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s fitting for Denver to be hosting such an event.
“We’re thrilled to help host this exciting international event in Denver’s historic Civic Center Park and expose this amazing sport to a larger population than ever in North America,” said Scott Robson, Executive Director of the non-profit Civic Center Conservancy in a press release, “Civic Center Park is the heart of Denver and has hosted iconic events for over a century. Hosting the 2019 World Cup Ice Climbing finale in such an urban setting will not only make this competition accessible to multitudes of new fans but will also be visually stunning to watch.”
About The Author
stash member Katie Lozancich
TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.