Canadians to Compete at Chamonix Lead World Cup

Gripped Magazine July 9, 2015

Chamonix will hosting the first stop of the IFSC Lead World Cup Series 2015, with Lead and Speed competitions.

Nearly 229 years after the first ascent of Mont Blanc by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard, some of the world’s best competition climbers will be gathering at the small town beneath its French glaciers.

Climbing beneath the famous Mont Blanc in Chamonix at a lead World Cup. Photo IFSC — Climbing beneath the famous Mont Blanc in Chamonix at a Lead World Cup. Photo IFSC

For the women, Jain Kim will be defending her title against a strong field of competitors, including Delaney Miller from the U.S.A and Anak Verhoeven from Belgium.

For the men, the 2014 Lead and Bouldering Word Champion Czech climber Adam Ondra will be facing all-time favourites Sean McColl from Canada, Ramón Julian Puigblanque from Spain and local climber Romain Desgranges.

In Speed, hometown climber Anouck Jaubert will likely be setting the bar high for a great competition. For the men’s speed, China’s Qixin Zhong has been unbeatable this season after his three gold medals in a row. Czech climber Libor Hroza was only O.O1 seconds away from breaking the current World Record in Chongqing, China and he will be gunning for top spot.

IFSC Lead and Speed Worldcup Chamonix 2014 France. Photo IFSC

Other Canadians who will be competing in lead are Elan Jonas-McRae, Kyle Murdoch, Allison Stewart-Patterson and Francis Bilodeau. In speed climbing, Robert Stewart-Patterson, McColl, Bilodeau will be competing for the men and Allison Stewart-Patterson for the women. Good luck to all Canadian competitors!

France will have the biggest team at the event with over 25 competitors. For the full list of starters, see here.

We will be streaming the event live from June 10 to 11, but for now here is last year’s Chamonix World Cup: