Canadians Podium at Ouray Ice Comp 2019

The 2019 Ouray Ice Competition took place this past weekend with a number of Canadian making their way to Colorado to compete.

Will Gadd, who’s won a number of Ouray Ice Comps finished in second behind Sam Elias and Ontario’s Rebecca Lewis finished in second for the women.

Men’s Elite Mixed Climbing Competition:
1st: Sam Elias
2nd: Will Gadd
3rd: Dennis Van Hoek
Women’s Elite Mixed Climbing Competition:
1st: Marianne Van Der Steen
2nd: Rebecca Lewis
3rd: Corey Buhay
Men’s Hari Berger Speed Competition:
1st: Liam Foster
2nd: Keenan Griscom
3rd: Dennis Van Hoek
Women’s Hari Berger Speed Competition:
1st: Marianne Van Der Steen
2nd: Catalina Shirley
3rd: Lindsay Hastings

Ouray 2019, @smileysproject. As always my main goal was to climb the route, done, but it finished on a trapeze bar so I just had to hang and flip, way too much fun! This year they added a wild swingy bits section at the end that had the strong field flying through space and saddling up to get it done. I finished only seconds behind my first place friend @bookofsamuel, who @nerd_in_nature and I warmed up with in Ouray’s warm sun. The route, set by @andresmarin22 and @icevince was excellent—four tops, not too sketchy, just good cranking and some techno route finding at the end. This year wasn’t easy for me as @huens is on the injured reserve, more on that later, so second place feels like a huge win to me. Very impressed with the younger Durangotangs coaches by @mgclimber1. I feel really lucky and inspired to be competing against the grown children of my friends. I’m also happy to climb well in a place that feels like home after more than 20 years of competing here. Long live the @ourayicepark and the Ouray Ice Festiva community! Thanks to all the volunteers who make it happen!#iceclimbing #ourayicefestival

A post shared by Will Gadd (@realwillgadd) on Jan 27, 2019 at 7:52am PST