Sixteen events in thirteen countries form the provisional calendar for the 2020-2021 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour partnered by Outdoor Research.
Ranging from the pinnacle of the competition arm of ice climbing – the biennial UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships – through to Continental Cups, the calendar offers a more extensive World Cup programme than last season and increased opportunities for young climbers to establish a pathway in the sport.
The World Cup component of the season currently features five events. Starting with two competitions in Asia, repeating 2020’s visit to Changchun City (China, to be confirmed) and Cheongsong (South Korea). The first European stop sees a return to Champagny-en-Vanoise in the French Alps. The World Championships will be held in Saas-Fee, Switzerland the weekend after and for the first time with the inclusion of the World Championships in the Combined discipline in addition to the regular lead and speed events. The World Cup season resumes in North America with a potential date in Montreal and closes in Kirov, Russia home of the 2019 UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships.
The other major event – the annual UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships – will take place in Tyumen, the first Russian settlement in Siberia.
Continental competitions will be held in Asia, Europe and North America with new meets to be held in Canada, the Netherlands, the USA – these events are an ideal platform for young climbers and competition newcomers.
The release of the calendar provides athletes with the opportunity to start planning their own seasons and offers a timely incentive for their training preparations. Like many other athletes, they have had to adapt both their professional careers and training schedules during the Covid-19 pandemic. The video below provides an overview of the provisional calendar:
Certain dates in the new calendar are provisional and the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic will also have a direct impact on the feasibility of hosting, and travelling to, international competitions. The UIAA has put in place criteria for events to take place and is in regular contact with all stakeholders and following the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The UIAA criteria can be downloaded here. Please note that this document is subject to change.
Member federations will be able to register athletes from 1 November.
UIAA Sports Events Coordinator Rob Adie: “We are very happy with how the calendar has come together and the diversity of events. Any season with the World Championships has extra lustre and we are delighted that our blue ribbon event is returning to Saas-Fee which always offers such a special atmosphere, especially for the finals. We hope to provide athletes with a final confirmation regarding the calendar at the end of October and have exciting plans in place regarding livestreaming and expanding the reach of the sport.”
PROVISIONAL 2020-2021 UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD TOUR
2021 UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS & COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIPS
28-30 January, Saas-Fee, Switzerland
2021 UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
26-28 February, Tyumen, Russia (TBC)
2021 UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD CUPS
8-10 January, Changchun, China (TBC)
15-17 January, Cheongsong, South Korea
22-24 January, Champagny-en-Vanoise, France
12-14 February, Montreal, Canada (TBC)
5-7 March, Kirov, Russia (TBC)
2020-2021 UIAA ICE CLIMBING CONTINENTAL CUPS
North America
24 October, Michigan, United States
6 February, Montreal, Canada (TBC)
Europe
21 November, Bern, Switzerland
28 November, Brno, Czech Republic
5 December, Zilina, Slovakia
12 December, Utrecht, Netherlands
6 February, Malbun, Lichtenstein
20 February, Oulu, Finland
Asia
5-6 February, Tehran, Iran
For more information about the UIAA & Ice Climbing and for the 2020-21 Rules and Regulations – and changes from the past season – click here.
Main photo: The UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships in 2021 will take place in Saas-Fee, Switzerland (Photo: UIAA/Kaspar Kellerhals).
TITLE SPONSOR UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD TOUR
