by Raúl Revuelta
From 14 to 21 January 2012, ice-climbing and ski-touring freaks from across the globe will once again flock to
Saas-Fee. Again "
Ice on Tour" will take place in the glacier village, a week-long
programme of action-packed sporting events and legendary iceclimbing parties in the multi-storey car park.
This
January the renowned ice-climbing competitions will draw athletes and
fans from all over the world. The decision to create an exciting events
programme to accompany the Ice Climbing World Cup was made in 2010 – and
it has proved to be a very good idea. In 2012 Ice On Tour, including
the 13th Ice Climbing World Cup to take place in Saas-Fee, will once
again provide both spectators and contestants with thrilling competition
and wild parties right through from Saturday to Saturday.
This
year’s Ice on Tour week kicks off with the SAC Swiss Ice Climbing Youth
Swiss Masters in Saas-Grund. Climbers will compete in two categories
(U22 and U18) in the disciplines Lead and Speed climbing. Everyone is
welcome to join in, although a certain degree of ice-climbing experience
is recommended.
There will also be musical entertainment and a bar serving drinks and light snacks to ensure the event has a party atmosphere.
Exciting
night-time ski-touring races will take place on the Wednesday, when
around 150 athletes will compete in three different disciplines. All
races will start and finish on the village square in Saas-Fee. The "Race" discipline is aimed at those looking for a real sporting challenge; the "Fun" discipline will appeal to those who take the Olympic approach and believe it’s the taking part that counts; while in the "Kids"
category keen youngsters can take on their own special course equipped
with snowshoes. Before, during and after the races, spectators can enjoy
hot drinks, Swiss raclette and "Icespaghetti" on the village square.
Registration
for the Ice Climbing World Cup takes place on the Thursday and, in
accordance with tradition, all participating athletes are invited to
come and gather their strength at a big pasta party.
The action
starts in earnest on the Friday and Saturday, when the spectacular
ice-climbing competitions get underway on the 30-metre ice wall in
Saas-Fee’s multi-storey car park – with up to 3,000 spectators.
Afterwards, if previous years are anything to go by, there’ll be no time
for resting as the hugely popular ice climbing parties are known to
continue until morning!B
Bächli Ice Climbing World Cup; European and Swiss MastersThe
ice-climbing competitions in Saas-Fee’s multi-storey car park are a
great opportunity to see top Swiss and international athletes in action
and to experience the party spirit of the ice-climbing scene. The
competitions take place in a distinctive, one-of-a-kind location:
Saas-Fee’s ten-storey car park.
With its spiral access ramp, this
indoor venue provides spectators with shelter from the elements and an
ideal vantage point to watch the action. Each year some 3,000 spectators
get close enough to the climbers to see almost every detail of their
ice axes and gripping fingers. Deep down at the bottom is the party zone
where guests can let their hair down, hit the dance floor and celebrate
the climber’s amazing performances. To make sure no one misses out on
any of the sensational action on the ice wall, the climbs are also shown
on various large and small screens throughout the venue.
The disciplines: Lead and SpeedIn
Lead climbing, competitors have to master a long, difficult and
unfamiliar route in a given amount of time. Routes can be anything up to
35 metres in height. Besides the ice wall itself, climbers must contend
with obstacles such as overhangs, hanging ice blocks and tricky rock
sections. Ice climbers consider this discipline the ultimate challenge.
The winner is the competitor who covers the greatest distance in the
allotted time. One way of measuring
this is by counting the number of carabiners that the climbers manage to clip the rope through.
As
its name suggests, the competition’s second discipline is all about
speed. As soon as the starting barrier falls, the competitors leap onto
the 15-metre vertical wall of ice and scramble to the top at a
breath-taking pace – just like Spiderman! Top athletes can complete the
course in an incredible 13 seconds. In 2012 this discipline will be run
in parallel for the first time.
A legendary party atmosphereWhen
night falls, the ice-climbing parties get going in Saas-Fee’s
multi-storey car park, ten floors below ground level at the foot of the
competition ice wall. These parties have become the stuff of legend for
the spectacular performances given by the pros that attend. Ice-climbing
holds are fixed to the ceiling of the party zone especially for these
shows. As the party gets later and crazier, more and more climbers start
lining up for another opportunity to show off their prowess. Dangling
upside down, they make their way across this unique course, once again
reminding us of Spiderman. The spectators, who prefer to keep their feet
firmly on the ground, look on in incredulity as the climbers appear to
stick to the ceiling like glue. Alongside the main party zone, which
pumps out the latest chart and club hits, the Bacardi Bar offers the
ultimate après-ski party atmosphere. For those who need to come down a
little, the heated food tent with its wide variety of cuisine is a great
alternative – as is the tavern, which serves a selection of fine Valais wines.
Program 201214.01.: SAC Ice Climbing Youth Swiss Masters, Saas-Grund
18.01.: Ice Night-Time Ski-Touring Race (Swiss Cup), Saas-Fee
20.01.: Bächli Ice Climbing World Cup, European & Swiss Masters, Saas-Fee Ice Climbing Party
21.01.: Bächli Ice Climbing World Cup, European & Swiss Masters, Saas-Fee Ice Climbing Party
