Huge crowds gather for the World Climbing Championships
For the past 3 days, Chamonix has been host to the world cup climbing competition, an event which is held in resort each year in mid-July. The competition is split into two categories; speed and difficulty. Both are great events to watch and at the same time young up and coming French climbers battle it out on a world class climbing wall for the French cup.
The first day was relatively quiet compared to the others, with the qualifying rounds for the French cup. This was followed by the registration for the world cup and a very interesting day with some technical and fast climbs on display by the aspirant climbers.
The event is held just outside the Chamonix ice hockey rink on the running track across the road from MBC. As well as the climbing there were many other activities going on to amuse the crowd, such as a mini climbing wall for those wanting to try out some of the moves performed by the pro's, a trampoline for the kids with support so they could spin around, and of course a lot of great music leading up to the Bastille Day celebrations!
On Sunday we saw the qualification round for both the speed and the technical events. Some great climbing was witnessed and some very technical moves were thrown down. Over on the speed wall, the entrants were getting their times down to 7 seconds! The competition is an absolutely amazing event and climbers in both categories were putting all their effort in to stepping up the game for a chance at winning the cup. Day two drew to a close with the final of the French cup and again, there were some truly amazing climbs performed so close to the same ability level of the world cup climbers. Who could blame them with a place like Chamonix as a practice ground for the event!
Yesterday was the culmination of the event – the semis and finals of the world cup for both the speed and technical climbers. All competitors displayed incredible skill and for the audience it was just amazing to see the different techniques they used to get that little bit further up the pretty impossible looking wall. Especially in the heat of the day it must have been hard work! The speed climbing event showed just how quick this sport can be done, with the fastest time of the day being recorded at 6.97 seconds in the semis! It was a great adrenaline rush for the competitors with loud music and a huge crowd cheering their every move or fall! With no Chinese competitors at this year's event (notorious demons on the speed wall!), it was Poland who eventually took the women's speed title (11 secs) and Russia the men's (7.35 secs). In the difficulty category, Spain topped the men's podium and last year's winner, Johanna Ernst from Austria, retained her crown in the women's competition.
An absolute mass of people descended upon Chamonix for the finals and some roads were closed off to accommodate the sheer size of the crowd moving between MBC, the Pompiers beer tent and the climbing event itself. After the competition was wrapped up, there was a live rock band and an amazing firework display to round off the climbing, and also start the celebrations for Bastille Day – France's National Day – 14th July. It's definitely one of the best nights of the summer and with such a beautiful balmy evening, there were more people out and about on the streets of Cham than at New Year.
MBC was serving welcome meals to the masses outside and many, many beers from their selection of brewed ales. As the crowds started thinning around the climbing wall, those who weren't partying outside MBC descended upon rue des Moulins where the fun continued well in to the night. At Bar'd Up, their newly appointed DJ IRK was throwing down some great party tunes and afterwards Soul Food kept the party going and the crowds out in the street, giving a kind of carnival feel to the end of an amazing day.
The World Climbing Championships take place every year in Chamonix, always culminating on the 13th July in time for the Bastille Day celebrations to begin. If you missed it this year, put it in your diary for next and come on over and join the fun!
Watch our bonus video report from the 2009 World Climbing Championships here >>
