2011 ICE WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA

I came back some weeks ago from Russia where I participated in the 2011 Ice Climbing World Cup.

This was my 3 time competing on the World Cup, representing US and Colombia on it.

This time I had the pleasure to travel with a good friend of mine Sam Elias.

Our adventure start starts at the DIA where Emily H (Sam's girl friend) drop off.

From it was on.......

At 4:20 our flight is departing directly to Moscow. We are super psyched since neither of us have been in that country before.

Their we go in our way.. 10 ours flight that end up been more like 14 since we had a emergency land in Canada due a passenger got very sick.

finally in our final destination Moscow!!!!!! what a cool City in its own way.

We had the opportunity to do some site seeing in red square. Pretty cool history.
After a night in Moscow we had the chance to do last minute training. Our friend Pavel who it was our Russian connection /translator/ Coach. Took us to a place where we were able to do some climbing and hang out. At this point we are trying to change time since it is almost 10 our difference in time zone.

That same afternoon it was time for us to head North East to Kirov, the place where the comp is taking place. We will be in the train for the next 14 Hours.

This train ride it was one of the most interesting part of our trip.
After a long night and a long train ride we are finally in Kirov.
We had a pretty cool opening ceremony with some important people from Russia.

all the competitors were divided by countries, and here we are the US team.!!!!

It was about 18 different countries participating here in Kirov.

After the ceremony the comp starts. The time that we have to expend on the isolation room it was little much. Once they call your name is on time to send. The route is about a artificial M11 and you just 6 min to complete the route in my case I run out time before I even start getting pump :( I guess my lesson is to climb faster.

In the end we all had great time don't matter were you place it was a great event and a very cool competition where you can see the best mixed climbers in the world climbing, competing and having great time.

After all the fun in kirov, it was time for us to head back to US.

Many thanks for the UIAA and the Russia Climbing Federation for helping and facilitating our trip.