December 22, 2018
A year delivering diverse projects, initiatives and events at the UIAA witnessed significant activity across the federation’s three pillars of safet...
UIAA ROCK CLIMBING FESTIVAL AWARD:
UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award
Rewarding the true spirit of rock climbing
Since 2015 the UIAA has organised the annual UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award. The awards is offered to climbing festival organisers in recognition for meeting the criteria of the UIAA Rock Climbing Working Group. Each year the focus of the Award switches to a different continent, to ensure the impact of the UIAA’s commitment to rock climbing is truly global.
During the assessment process for the Award, festivals are reviewed and a shortlist is drawn up of those which meet UIAA criteria and support the development of climbing in a particular region. It is an opportunity for the UIAA to offer support in the development of climbing and offer advice to organisers in terms of safety, sustainability and sport. It is also an opportunity to showcase diverse climbing styles and the points of the UIAA Climbers Manifesto.
Festival Selection
Each year the Award focuses on a special region, or continent, where nominees can apply via the UIAA online registration system. In 2019, the Award will target solely festivals in Asia. The following criteria applies:
- The festival is organized or approved by a national member federation of the UIAA. Development festival projects may also be recognised where there is no UIAA member federation present in the country.
- The festival is held in accordance with UIAA values.
- Contribution is made to sustainable development of rock climbing in their country and/or continent.
- UIAA Safety label equipment must be used in any workshop held.
- Prominent climbers from that country or region participate.
The host events are published and promoted on the UIAA website at least two months in advance.
The festival must include a sustainable action plan with, at least, one of the following projects:
Promotion of Rock Climbing for All
- Rock Climbing for Youth
- Para-Rock Climbing or diversity in climbing
- Rock Climbing workshops and promoting safe practice in all styles of climbing appropriate to the region or venue
- Evidence of sustainable climbing initiatives
Preservation of the environment
- Environmental education around rock climbing
- Protection of the fauna and the flora
- Environmental sustainability and good practice
Contributing to economic development
- Creation or development of Rock Climbing community
- Promotion of climbing tourism in a sensitive manner
- Sustainable job creation, support for clubs or rescue organisations
2018 UIAA ROCK CLIMBING FESTIVAL AWARD – THE CANDIDATES & RESULTS
The fourth annual UIAA Rock Climbers’ Festival Award was open to events held in Central or South America. The following three events made the final shortlist and were awarded the following prizes.
OVERALL WINNER: Festival de Boulder de Mar del Plata (ARGENTINA)
Prize: 1000 USD
DEVELOPMENT PRIZE: BLOQUEando (Bolivia)
Prize: 1000 USD
RUNNER-UP: Capixaba Climbing Festival (Brazil)
Prize: 500 USD
Latest News
November 12, 2018Two of the three South American festivals recognised as part of the annual UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award recently held their 2018 editions. In thi...
November 02, 2018Winner of the UIAA prize at the 2018 Trento Film Festival, The Dawn Wall, a film which charts Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s epic attempt to sc...
October 11, 2018During the Gala dinner which concluded the 2018 UIAA General Assembly, the winners of the 2018 UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award were announced. U...
Award Allocation
In addition to prize money being allocated, the benefits of winning these Awards are tangible, notably promotion within the UIAA’s international network (see testimonials below). The UIAA will contribute to other prizes at the festival/s in agreement with the organiser.
Prize money: Up to 2,500 CHF (maybe shared across different candidates)
For 2019 the UIAA welcomed applications from Asian festivals only. Application will open early 2019. The Award winner(s) will be announced at the 2019 UIAA General Assembly in Cyprus on 3 November.
Past Award Locations
2015: Africa – South Africa
2016: Europe
2017: North America
2018: Central/South America
Upcoming Award Locations
2019: Asia
2018 UIAA ROCK CLIMBING FESTIVAL AWARD – PAST WINNERS
7-9 October Kalymnos Climbing Festival (Greece)
13-14 June Original Climbing Festival (South Africa)
14-16 August Aggtelek Climbing Festival, Hungary
Award Team
Anne Arran
A former British climbing champion, international competitor and junior climbing team coach. Anne has been on expedition to many countries and is familiar with local climbing scenes. She is still a keen climber and runs an accommodation/outdoor activities business mainly in the French Pyrenees.
Peter Farkas
Peter comes from Hungary and is Vice President of the UIAA and a civil engineer. He began at the UIAA in 2002 as journal editor. He is an active rock climber and a former member of the Hungarian Youth National Team and was once President of the Hungarian Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation.
James ‘Marc’ Beverly
Marc is a member of the American Alpine Club and part of the UIAA Executive Board. He is an IFMGA Mountain Guide, DiMM, Physician Assistant, and is pursuing a PhD in Exercise Science. He is also a UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup competitor and sits on the International Commission of Alpine Rescue.