For the first time ever, Denver will be hosting the 2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup Finals at Civic Center Park. While Colorado has hosted an event in Durango in 2016, this is a unique event to be held in the metro area and is being hosted by the American Alpine Club. It will be free and open to the public and will mark the sixth and final circuit of the Ice Climbing World Cup. Other stops have included destinations from far across the world like China, Switzerland, and Italy.
The event will feature over 200 athletes from 26 countries competing in both Lead and Speed categories and will take place on February 22-24. The actual event starts on the 23rd with a day of qualifying for both categories and Speed semi-finals. On Sunday the 24th, a new world champion will be crowned.
During the competition you can expect athletes making technical moves while wielding sharp tools and dealing with the difficulties of climbing up an ice face. In the Lead category athletes will climb icy pillars far above the ground, while showing mastery of their technique on the seemingly impossible walls of ice. In the Speed category, climbers will have to sprint up the wall with ice axes and crampons.
Denver Ice Climbing Worlds Event Details
Location
Civic Center Park
101 W. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80202
Price
Free
Schedule
- Feb 22 – Registration
- Feb 23 – Qualifying for Lead and Speed
- Feb 24 – Semi-Finals and Finals for both events
For more information, visit the UIAA site: https://www.theuiaa.org/ice-climbing/denver/
