The Swiss ice climbers took part in the UIAA World Cup and the European Championships taking place at the same time in Champagny-en-Vanoise made a strong showing: Vivien Labarile won two gold medals in the Speed discipline, Petra Klingler won gold and silver and Benjamin Bosshard secured a silver and a bronze medal.
At freezing temperatures and in a wintry atmosphere, in Champagny-en-Vanoise The second UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup of 2023 as well as the European Championships will take place in the French Alps.
Emotional rollercoaster for Petra Klingler
Petra Klingler confidently won gold at the season opener in Cheongsong. "This gave me the confirmation that I'm fit and can be up there." However, she was well aware that Sina Goetz and Woonseon Shin would not simply give her a second win.
For a long time, however, the World Cup in France seemed to be very different from Korea. After a successful qualification, a surprising fall in the semi-finals endangered the reigning world champion's entry into the finals.
With a lot of luck, Petra Klingler made it to the final. "I then realized that the cards were being reshuffled and that I concentrated on finding my focus and my rhythm," she says.
Being the first to climb in the final wasn't that easy, since you had less time to discuss the route in the iso with the other athletes. Nevertheless, Petra Klingler made it to the top, but was unable to clip the last quickdraw.
"It's so different when you don't have time to think about the movements after seeing the route and don't know whether you need to speed up or not."
Petra Klingler
It was clear to her that it would be a timed race due to the rather easier route. Her teammate Sina Goetz took thirty seconds from her, the Korean considerably more. However, Goetz was later devalued for standing on an illegal kick.
This was to her advantage, as she moved up one place and was able to win the European Championship title, says Petra Klingler. “At the same time, the victory is negatively affected. Sina was better and clearly beat me."
World Cup Champagny: Ranking Lead Women
- Woonseon Shin (KOR)
- Petra Klingler (SUI)
- Eimir McSwiggan (IRL)
Time as a crucial factor
The Swiss Benjamin Bosshard conquered the entire route in the final of the World Cup and distanced himself from his opponent Heeyong Park from Korea by a good half a minute. Only one was better that day: The Frenchman Louna Ladevant. He climbed fast, aggressively and purposefully and completed the route 45 seconds faster than Bosshard.
World Cup Champagny: Ranking Men Lead
- Louna Ladevant (FRA)
- Benjamin Bosshard (SUI)
- Heeyong Park (KOR)
European Championship Champagny: Ranking Men Lead
- Louna Ladevant (FRA)
- Virgile Devin (FRA)
- Benjamin Bosshard (SUI)
Fast, faster, Vivien Labarile
After sixth place in Cheongsong squeezed Vivien Labarile at the second stop of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup. She needed just 12,01 seconds in the last of the three rounds. This brought her the gold medal in the speed discipline, the European championship title and the current lead in the tour ranking.
World Cup Champagny: Ranking Speed Women
- Vivien Labarile (SUI)
- Lorena Beck (LIE)
- Olga Kosek (POL)
European Championship Champagny: Ranking Speed Women
- Vivien Labarile (SUI)
- Lorena Beck (LIE)
- Olga Kosek (POL)
The next chance to put their skills to the test comes next weekend. Then the assembled ice climbing elite meets for the World Cup in Saas Fee. Petra Klingler is not only looking forward to the home game motivated because of her starting position in the overall classification: "The home World Cup, the cool location and the audience that encourages you to get the last reserve, that's the greatest thing."
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Credits: Cover photo UIAA