The world champion comes to the Marmot ICEFIGHT in Rabenstein

Everything indicates that the most important ice climbing competition in South Tyrol on January 28th and 29th will develop into an event of superlatives. Because this year the reigning world champion and his predecessor are taking part in the men's competition. Former world champion Markus Bendler won the ICEFIGHT three times in a row. Since this ice climbing competition began in South Tyrol, there has never been a winner among men other than the 27-year-old from Schwendt in North Tyrol.

This year, however, Bendler faces extremely strong competition. Hee Yong Park, the reigning 2011 world champion and overall World Cup winner, is at the start at the foot of the Timmelsjoch. Hee Yong Park took third place ten days ago at the first World Cup stage in Cheong Song in South Korea - so the Asian's form is also right this winter.

But that's not all, because the organizing committee is once again trying to attract as many athletes from the strong Russian team as possible to Rabenstein. Maxim and Alexey Tomilov, for example, who have already taken part in the Marmot ICEFIGHT and won the first two World Cup stages in Cheong Song and Saas Fee, Switzerland.

Strong field of women For women, Angelika Rainer would like to win the renowned ice climbing competition for the third time. The Merano native is currently in top form because she won the first two World Cup stages and almost outclassed the competition.

Rainer is also eager for revenge, because last year she narrowly had to admit defeat to Maria Tolokonina after two wins and missed the hat trick at the ICEFIGHT. Tolokonina is likely to be at the start this year, just like her compatriot Anna Gallyamova - she is also one of the best ice climbers in the world, but is more of a speed specialist. By the way, Gallyamova and Tolokonina finished second and third behind Rainer in Saas Fee at the weekend.

Dress rehearsal for the 2013 World Cup The organizing committee around President Reinhard Graf is doing everything again this year to offer the athletes, their coaches and also the spectators the best possible conditions. No wonder that people in the Passeier Valley are trying to get the ICEFIGHT 2013 included in the World Cup calendar of the international climbing association UIAA.

Climbing takes place on the ice tower in Rabenstein. The facility in the 230-person village at the foot of the Timmelsjoch is one of the most demanding artificial ice climbing facilities in Europe. In addition to a 25 meter high vertical ice tower, there are numerous overhangs, horizontal climbing passages and cross passages to overcome.

Qualification on Saturday, final on Sunday

The competition mode has proven itself and nothing will be changed. The supreme discipline is difficult climbing, in which every participant has to complete qualification routes in a given time on Saturday, January 28th. The semi-final, which will take place on Sunday, January 29th from 9.15 a.m. with the top 12 after qualification, will determine the eight starting places in the final for men (from 13 p.m.) and six for women (14.15 p.m.).

There is also the speed competition. The aim here is to overcome the 25 meter high ice tower in the shortest possible time. The eight fastest advance to the final, which is played in a knockout system. This final will take place on Sunday from 15.15:XNUMX p.m.

Video wall, helicopter tours and multimedia shows

In order to bring the many spectators - last year there were around 1000 - even closer to the ice climbers, a 3x2 meter video wall will be set up this year on which the competitions will be broadcast live. The supporting program is also impressive with air shows by the Lorit paragliding group or helicopter sightseeing flights. There will also be a multimedia show by the well-known South Tyrolean alpinist Christoph Hainz on Saturday evening from 20.30 p.m. Admission for the public is free.

Marmot ICEFIGHT 2012, the program:

Saturday, 28.01.2012/XNUMX/XNUMX 11.00 start number raffle (difficulty men + women) 11.30 visit 12.00 Closing of the isolation zone and start of the qualification competition (difficulty men + women) 18.00 p.m. Registration deadline for speed competition, training speed 19.15 p.m. Speed start number raffle – start of qualification 20.30 p.m. multimedia show with Christoph Hainz

Sunday, 29.01.2012/XNUMX/XNUMX 8.00 Opening of isolation zone (difficulty men) 8.30 Isolation zone closure 9.00 visit 9.15 start of competition semi-finals (12 athletes) 11.30 Closing isolation zone (difficulty men and women) 12.30 visit 12.45 show performance – paragliding demonstration by the Lorit group 13.00 Final Difficulty Men (8 athletes) 14.15 Final Difficulty Women (6 athletes) 15.15 Final Speed in the KO system (8 athletes) 15.45 show performance – paragliding demonstration by the Lorit group 16.00 p.m. Award ceremony

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The world champion comes to the Marmot ICEFIGHT in Rabenstein

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