In reply to UKC News:
Too bad they didn't make it.
The euro-centric feel was even greater than normal this year. A complete lack of competitors from outside Europe: no Alex Puccio, no Akiyo Noguchi, no Sean McColl, no James Kassay. I seem to remember some mention of Kim Jain entering the bouldering events too this year but there was no one from Asia, the US or Australia at all from what I could see.
Presumably it's just too expensive for climbers to go jetting around the world to all the comps. Alex Puccio was trying crowdfunding to get money to go the last I read. It definitely mars the event when so many top competitors are out. Only 2 of the top 5 women entered (though admittedly one was coz she was injured).