Hee Yong Park and Anna Gallyamova win the Marmot ICEFIGHT 2012

The South Korean world champion Hee Yong Park only finished 12th in qualifying on Saturday and was last in the semi-finals. The Asian survived this in third place on Sunday morning. In the final of the Marmot ICEFIGHT, Park was the only ice climber to reach the top and won comfortably ahead of the two Russians Alexey Dengin and Maxim Tomilov. Markus Bendler from Schwendt in North Tyrol, who had won all three previous editions of the most important ice climbing competition in the Alpine region, had to make do with fourth place. “It was a very spectacular competition and of course I am very happy about the victory. The conditions were really great and the ICEFIGHT is in no way inferior to a World Cup stage,” said Hee Yong Park after the award ceremony.

Angelika Rainer from Meran was the big favorite among the women. On the one hand, because she had already won two editions of the ice climbing event in the lower Passeier Valley (2009, 2010). On the other hand, because she also won the first two World Cups in Cheong Song (South Korea) and in Saas Fee in Switzerland. Rainer only managed third place on the ice tower on Sunday.

The 25-year-old lost a lot of time when she made a grab and didn't make it to the end of the final route. Only one athlete made it there, the Russian speed specialist Anna Gallyamova, who this time also excelled in difficult climbing. Maria Tolokonina (Russia), who won the Marmot ICEFIGHT 2011, came second. “After two second places in the World Cup this year, I am very happy that I was finally able to celebrate a victory and defeat Angelika Rainer. I've also been on the podium here in Rabenstein, but it's never been enough to win. The competition was at a very high level and I have to pay a huge compliment to the organizers,” said the beaming winner Gallyamova.

In the speed final, which eight ice climbers from Russia reached, Alexey Tomilov prevailed. In the final, Maxim's younger brother climbed to the top of the 19,00-meter-high ice tower in 25 seconds, setting a new record. The other podium places were taken by Kirusha Kolshegochev and Stanislav Lobzov. A total of 45 ice climbers from ten different nations took part in Rabenstein.

On the sidelines of the Marmot ICEFIGHT, a meeting also took place between representatives of the international climbing association UIAA, the AVS and the organizing committee of the Rabenstein Ice Tower. It is possible that next year's ICEFIGHT will already be a World Cup stage - in 2015 the Ice Climbing World Championships will even take place at the foot of the Timmelsjoch. “There were very constructive discussions today. We will continue to consult over the next few weeks and then make a decision. Organizing a World Cup and the World Cup would of course be extremely exciting for us,” said OC boss Reinhard Graf in conclusion.

Marmot ICEFIGHT 2012, Roll of Honor: Difficulty men: 1. Hee Yong Park (South Korea) 2. Alexey Dengin (Russia) 3. Maxim Tomilov (Russia)

Difficulty women: 1. Anna Gallyamova (Russia) 2. Maria Tolokonina (Russia) 3. Angelika Rainer (Italy/Meran)

Speed men: 1. Alexey Tomilov (Russia) 2. Kirusha Kolshegochev (Russia) 3. Stanislav Lobzov (Russia)

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Hee Yong Park and Anna Gallyamova win the Marmot ICEFIGHT 2012

World champion Hee Yong Park from South Korea and the Russian world-class ice climber Anna Gallyamova won the fourth edition of the Marmot ICEFIGHT on Sunday. Three-time winner Markus Bendler (Austria) had to settle for fourth place, while local hero Angelika Rainer came third.

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