Get ready for the 2012 IFSC Lead World Cup!
This Thursday the annual IFSC Lead World Cup begins, bringing together world’s best lead competitors in the picturesque scenery of French Chamonix. As always, the participants will have to face long and demanding routes set by a dedicated team of routesetters, once again with Adam Pustelnik of Poland as a chief routesetter. This year the IFSC has prepared 9 editions of the WC plus World Championship in Paris, scheduled for the mid of September. Out of 9 preplanned events, 5 will take place in Europe, 3 in Asia and one in the U.S.
What can we expect? In the women’s category it seems like a fierce struggle is bound to happen between super strong Mina Markovic of Slovenia, the first lady of elegance – Jain Kim and the extraordinarily talented Pink Girl, Sasha DiGiulian. Obviously, one cannot forget about the Austrians, who are always capable of messing up the final standings (it is enough to mention Johanna Ernst, unbeaten in the seasons of 2008-2009, Magdalena Röck – 3rd during last year’s Arco Rock Master World Championship, or Angela Eiter, who is the current female World Lead Champion).
Mina Markovic during last year's World Champioship in Arco (phot: Piotr Dro¿d¿)
Johanna Ernst - one of the bright stars of the Austrian Team (photo: Piotr Dro¿d¿)
Technique and elegance - the art of Jain Kim
(photo: Piotr Dro¿d¿)
In the category of men it seems like indeed it will be the Austrian who is going to call the shots the same way as he did last year. Jakob Schubert won the 2011 overall ranking after taking the gold medal during 7 out of 11 WC editions. But despite the fact that he looked strong and invincible, it was Ramón Julian, who thanks to his brillant performance in the final round took the crown of the 2011 World Lead Championship. Among other male competitors who definitely deserve to be taken into account as far as the podium standings are concerned, we should mentioned such names as Sachi Amma of Japan, Sean McColl of Canada, Magnus Midtboe of Norway or Manuel Romain of France.
Ramón Julian - one of the most experienced lead competitor (photo: Piotr Dro¿d¿)
One could suggest that we forgot about one more, in fact the one that should not be ommited at all. But as it has been officially confirmed, Adam Ondra is not going to compete regularly in this year’s lead season and the only event he’s goint to take part in is the IFSC World Championship ta king place in France in the mid of September. Adam’s current place of residence is the cave of Flatanger, Norway, where he’s been focusing on the establishing of new hardcore routes as well as sending the already existing classics.
Adam Ondra - the great and the absent (photo: Piotr Dro¿d¿)
The live broadcast from Chamoix is as ustal available at http://www.ifsc.tv/ starting from Thursday, 9.30 am .
For the complete 2012 IFSC calendar click here: http://www.ifsc-climbing.org/?category_id=230
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