Youth World Championships and Ice Climbing World Cup both offer thrills this month  

By the Thirst Team

This weekend, Ouray hosts the ice climbing World Youth Championships, which is in the United States for the first time.

The event runs from Friday through Sunday at the Ouray Ice Park, and includes difficulty (also known as lead) and speed competitions for male and female athletes in Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 categories. Athletes as young as 13 from eight countries will compete. 

The Ouray Ice Park is the largest ice park in the United States. It has more than 200 man-made climbs for all skill levels and a 150-foot competition wall over the Uncompahgre Gorge. 

The opening ceremony is at 6 p.m. Friday. Qualifying runs are on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday brings speed finals from 9 to 11 a.m., lead finals from 1 to 4 p.m., and an awards show and closing ceremony at 4 p.m.

World Cup in Longmont

Competitive ice climbing also is coming to Longmont Feb. 22 and 23. An estimated 150 athletes from more than 25 member associations will vie for UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup lead and speed titles (the UIAA is an acronym for the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation in French). 

The event is part of a tour that includes six venues on three continents. The Colorado stop is hosted by the Climbing Collective, a Longmont rock climbing gym.

Longmont has built WinterFest around the competition, with climbing walls, a kids zone, ice climbing tool tryouts, food, beer and vendors. Admission is free, and the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

The Saturday contest schedule is as follows:

• Men’s lead qualifying from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

• Women’s speed qualifying from 9:30 to 11 a.m. 

• Women’s lead qualifying from 1 to 4 p.m. 

• Men's speed qualifying from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

• Women's speed finals from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

• Men's speed finals from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Sunday events are:

• Men's and women's semi-finals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Men's and women's finals from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

• Awards ceremony (approximately) at 7 p.m.

General admission spectator tickets are free with registration. VIP tickets also are available, which include front-row seating, heaters and tents, VIP restrooms, snacks and drinks. Click here for VIP tickets or to register for free admission.

Volunteer opportunities also are available, and include punch passes to the Climbing Collective.

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