Ice Climbing World Cup Saas Fee

Yesterday I just got back from the second round of the Ice Climbing World Cup. The competition was held in a 11 floor car park in Saas Fee Switzerland.

On Friday afternoon was the men's qualifiers which I was competing in. We had to go into isolation at 12pm, then route preview at 12.30. I was first out to climb at 12.45.

Three members of the UK team sussing the moves out.
Tim giving me some info.

I managed to get on to the swinging ice block and put my axe thought the rope, I got pumped trying to get the axe out of the rope and hit my axe into the ice and tried to do a figure of four but I never hit the axe in deep enough and it came out.

Next out to climb from the UK team after me was Tim Emmet. He done really well but a few holds short of making it into the semi final.

Then it was Malcom Kent, Andy Turner And Rob Gibson go.

The next day was the semi finals and the final. So Dad and I decided to go up a gondola to 3000m and get some pics whilst the semi final was on.

We got back just in time for the men and women's final.

Markus Bendler on the last move of the final route.

Ice Climbing World Cup

Last weekend was the first round of the Ice Climbing World Cup 2009 in Val Daone, Italy.

On Saturday I had to get up at 7.00am for the briefing of the comp. The Isolation started at 8.30am so I went in With Andy Turner and Rob Gibson into isolation. I was in Isolation for about 45 min before I got called out to climb.

This year I managed to reach the starting hold easier!!.

I managed to get about 4 metres up the wall before I fell off. The moves were really far apart from each other, the move that knocked me off was about a metre away on a really sketchy hold. I was really happy because I set my self a target to try and get better than last year. And I achieved it!! came 27th out of 31.

Rob Gibson on his qualifying route.

Andy Turner starting his route.

All the other results can be found Here.

Ice Climbing World cup 2009

Tomorrow I am going away to Italy to the ice climbing world cup again this year (and I can't Wait) I have been training for ages trying to get stronger and practicing on long moves. Scott Muir has very kindly giving me a shot of his Boreal fruit boots that I used last year (only need two pairs of socks this year!).

Extreme dream

Last Friday we went down to Extreme Dream to do some climbing. I done some warm up Routes then went on the roof with Jamie Murry trying to get a 8A route that is there. I have been trying the route for ages and really want to get it.

Me attempting the crux move.

After a few goes on the roof I went and done some dry tooling with Malcom Kent.

After doing some of the circuits, I went on the roof and done some tooling.

Best Bits of 2008

One of the best things I done last year was going to Italy and Switzerland in January and competed in the Ice climbing World cup.

Competing in the BRYCS Scottish round of competitions and finishing in 2nd place in the three regional rounds 2nd in the Scottish final and 6th in the British final.


Climbing with Steve McClure at a training session at Extreme-dream climbing wall.

Doing lots of trad, sport and bouldering.

Achieving my goal of leading an E1 out doors.

Going to Tunnel wall with the British climbing team.

Extending our home boulder wall.

Getting my own Ice axes.

And Competing in all of the Scottish dry tooling League rounds and coming in 1st place.