Great success at Arco for the European Youth climbing Festival

If
Arco equals climbing, then the Rock Junior is its future. The second
day of the great European Youth climbing meeting, or rather, the
European Youth Climbing Days – Rock Junior, turned out be a great
party. This fantastic youth climbing festival was fueled by the
enthusiasm of more than 2500 participants, from young and even younger
climbers to their parents, all of whom participated in two days of
climbing and games. And, of course, the European Under 14 Cup, reserved
for the best young European climbers who competed on the impressive and
mythical Rock Master wall.

For two days the climbing Stadium was transformed for these young
climbers, who came in all different shapes and sizes and spoke a myriad
of different languages. 14 different nationalities were represented on
the green lawn beneath the Colodri wall which, for the occasion, was
transformed into a great amusement park for the young. Climbers from
Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium, England, Sweden, Hungary,
Czech Republic, Russia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine
were all united by one common passion: climbing both as a sport and a
game. All, from the youngest to the oldest, released their incredible
energy, and immense desire to climb.

All found their own, personal dimension. Starting with the impressively
determined and able athletes who travelled here for the European Under
14 Cup, and finishing with the youngest climbers taking part in the
Kid’s Rock, climbing lines which resembled nature such as
crossing tree trunks, the river or the sweets climb.

The bouncy castle and slide were a particular favorite and the children
literally assaulted this ascent. And many continued with the fun,
crossing the River Sarca on the Tyrolean traverse and, for the
smallest, drawing in the arts laboratory. Many mini climbers chose to
test their physical capacities and plan their training programs under
the supervision of the University of Perugia professors Paola Gigliotti
and Prof. Francesco Coscia.

The
second round of the European Under 14 Cup was won as follows: category
A (1992/93) Arman Ter-Mynasyan from Russian and Johanna Ernst from
Austria; category B (1994/95) Domen Skofic and Vita Osolin from
Slovenia, while category C (1996/97/98) was won by Julija Kruder from
Slovenia and Markus Ladurner from Italy, the best Italian athlete
together with Jessica Morandi from Arco who won the Italian trophy
yesterday and European Speed.

But
what really counts at the Rock Junior, more so than anything else, is
taking part. And so this great open air festival came to a close with
an event shared by both parents and children, the Family Rock. 50 pairs
of parents and their young ones took part in this exciting relay on the
speed wall. Pairs “passed the baton” at half height and, at the same
time, took part in a game which has few equals in other sports and
which was perhaps the most interesting aspect of these two beautiful
climbing days at Arco. Two days of happiness and joy, documented also
by Disney Channel, which prepared two showings of the event and the
climbing.

The 4th edition of the Rock Junior was a great success therefore,
thanks to the participants and the impeccable organisation. This was
headed by the Associazione Rock Master di Arco, with the indispensable
collaboration of the Associazione Sportiva Arco Climbing, the FASI
(Federazione Arrampicata Sportiva Italiana) and the help of the Guardia
di Finanza, the Polizia, the Carabinieri, the SAT mountain rescue
service and the mountain guides Friends of Arco, who all worked to
guarantee the participant's safety. Once again their help contributed
in making Arco the world's climbing capital.

Thanks also go to the institutions, the Autonomous Province of Trento,
the Comune di Arco, Cassa Rurale Alto Garda, Ingarda Spa, Azienda
Municipalizzata Sviluppo Arco, and the technical sponsors The North
Face, La Sportiva, Cassin, Sint Roc & Ecogrips, Pareti and
PlanetMountain who all made this festival for young climbers possible.

Press Office Rock Junior
Vinicio Stefanello
Tel. +39 049 8808423
Stefanello@planetmountain.com

ASSOCIAZIONE ROCK MASTER
C.P. 60 38062 ARCO TN
TEL 0464 516830
FAX 0464 517691
mail@rockjunior.info
www.rockjunior.info

Siehe auch:
www.planetmountain.com

QuelleText & Fotos: Vinicio Stefanello (Planetmountain)