The Russian city of Kirov played host to the UIAA World Youth Ice Climbing Championships this past weekend (6-8 March) and it proved to be a highly successful one for the home nation who took home all but three of the medals across all age categories. Athletes from eight countries competed at one of the staple venues of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour. There were some familiar faces back in action to defend their titles, while some new, exciting talents emerged.
Fresh from a bronze medal on the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, Switzerland’s Sina Goetz repeated her victory in the Women’s U21 lead event, having also taken the title in Oulu, Finland last year. The speed event saw the continued emergence of Russia’s Irina Dubovtseva. The 18-year old recently beat the formidable Maria Tolokonina into second place during the World Cup event in Saas-Fee and won the lead event as well as taking silver in the speed category at the U19 World Youth Championships last year. Compatriot Valeriia Bogdan, the defending champion had to settle for second place as the host nation enjoyed a clean sweep of the medals.
In the men’s U21 events, the Russian athletes ultimately proved too strong. Ilia Kurochkin and Anton Sukharev winning the lead and speed events respectively. The reigning UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour Champion, Louna Ladevant of France had to settle for fourth place in the lead event.
The women’s U19 events were dominated by another rising star of the sport, Russia’s Daria Glotova. Having won both events in Oulu in the U16 age category, the step up to the next level posed no problems for Glotova who repeated the feat in Kirov.
The host nation’s stranglehold on the medals was broken in the Men’s U19 lead event. Having won bronze in Oulu, Liechtenstein’s Linus Beck took gold this time around, beating Keenan Griscom of the United States into second. Russia’s Danila Bikulov took the speed title. Normal service was resumed in the U16 events as Zakhar Novoselov of Russia won both the men’s lead and speed events, while Polina Bratukhina won the women’s lead before finishing second to compatriot Olga Vylegzhanina in the speed event.
The event concludes the 2019-20 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour partnered by Outdoor Research. Details on the calendar for the 2020-21 season will be published this summer.
REPLAY THE ACTION
URL: https://youtu.be/vBjahdWYdUI
URL: https://youtu.be/Ht6nO2-NMUQ
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktUw5qpdWng
Results
U21 – Men’s Lead, Women’s Lead, Men’s Speed, Women’s Speed
U19 – Men’s Lead, Women’s Lead, Men’s Speed, Women’s Speed
U16 – Men’s Lead, Women’s Lead, Men’s Speed, Women’s Speed
All Combined Rankings
Team – Individual
Photos – Flickr
TITLE SPONSOR UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD TOUR
