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IFSC Pre-Comp Coverage Continues: Introducing Canucks Elise Sethna and Sebastien Lazure, and a Shoot-out for First Place Shaping Up

We continue our coverage of the IFSC Canadian World Cup scheduled for Hamilton on June 1 and 2 by introducing two of Canada’s tenacious competitors, Banff’s Elise Sethna and Quebec’s Sebastien Lazure.

We continue our coverage of the IFSC Canadian World Cup scheduled for Hamilton on June 1 and 2 by introducing two of Canada’s tenacious competitors, Banff’s Elise Sethna and Quebec’s Sebastien Lazure.

Lazure, who will be turning 23 during the Hamilton World Cup, is a strong outdoor boulderer with numerous V11 and V12 ascents to his credit, and repeated the classic Hueco test piece Slashface V13, earlier this year. Lazure is also a seasoned competitor, making regular appearances at competitions from Tour de Bloc locals to Nationals. He was also the overall Tour de Bloc Champion in 2012, showcasing his consistency and maturing ability. This student’s reputation as a quiet dark horse focussed on training and lifestyle has made him an intense competitor in his competition career thus far. Lazure will be hoping to have a good performance and make it into semi-final, though if the stars aligned, he may get the best birthday present of all and qualify for the finale.

Sebastien Lazure
Sebastien Lazure

Sethna is an 18-year-old from Banff now studying business at Queen’s University in Ontario. She has been a keen competitor on the Junior circuit since she was just 12 and from 2009 to 2012 was the national youth bouldering champion. Sethna had a break out year in 2012, claiming both the overall Tour de Bloc title and the MEC Bouldering National Championships held at Vertical Escalade in Montreal, Qc. She was also ranked 33 out of 103 women in the IFSC year end ranking despite limited participation at the World Cup level. On the rocks, Sethna has also climbed up to 5.13b.

These young competitors will be gaining important experience for the Canadian team this season and are sure to give an exciting performance at the upcoming world cup on their home turf.

In other world cup news Austrian Kilian Fischuber, whom we profiled earlier in our coverage, was bumped from first place overall to tenth in the latest ranking, by failing to make it into the final at the last two Bouldering World Cup, including the most recent held at Log Dragomar, Slovenia, where Canada’s own Sean McColl took his maiden WC bouldering victory.

Strong performanced by Russia’s Dmitrii Sharafutdinov in Kitzbuhel(3rd) and Log Dragomar (3rd), along with McColl’s win, means the pair have leap frogged Fischuber in the standing, sitting in first and second overall respectively.

Elise Sethna working on her heel hooks at True North in 2011. Photo Miguel Bonuel
Elise Sethna working on her heel hooks at True North in 2011. Photo Miguel Bonuel

Sharafutdinov will be looking to defend his ranking with another strong performance in Hamilton against both Fischuber, who will now need to at least podium at his remaining World Cups to have a shot at first; and Canadian crusher Sean McColl, currently ranked second and clearly coming into form. Tomorrow, we will profile Sharafutdinov, who will have every reasons to be one of the most dogged competitors in Hamilton.

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