The Rab CWIF is over for another year, after the usual mix of suspense and excitement. Both the men's and women's were tightly fought, with men's competition being decided on number of attempts and the women's not being over until the last problem. In the end, Kokoro Fujii and Alma Bestvater took gold.
© Band of Birds
There were lots of surprises in the Semi-Finals, as some big names didn't make the cut; Jan Hojer, Jernej Kruder and Tyler Landman were all knocked out. The Semi-Final problems were extremely well judged by the international team of route setters and every problem had an ascent.
The men's title was fiercely contested by Kokoro Fujii (JAP), Alex Khazanov (ISR) and Tim Reuser (NED). Fujii and Reuser were neck and neck until the final problem, where Reuser's fatigue from two days of climbing finally caught up with him. Fujii managed to climbing problem 4 on his second attempt to win the CWIF. Brit's Matt Cousins and Aidan Roberts both put in fantastic performances coming 4th and 5th, with two tops each.
In the women's competition the problems were hard and not one of the competitors managed a top until problem 3. Until problem 3, Michaela Tracy (GBR) was in the lead as she took the least number of attempts to get the 'zone' holds. It was still anyone's game on the last problem and Bestvater (GER), Tracy (GBR) and Crane (GBR) all had one top under their belt. Bestvater was clinical though and flashed the final problem which gave her the gold. Tracy and Crane both put in fine performances and came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
© Nick Brown - UKC
© The Climbing Works
© The Climbing Works
The IFSC Boulder World Cup circuit is the next big event on the calender. The first round kicks off in Meiringen, Switzerland on 13th April.
The full replay of the Final can be watched here:
Comments
Good final, though would have been nice to have a few more female tops.
Also: https://youtu.be/py4i6dhulvA?t=1h23m11s
More of floor-smear than a dab?! Surprised he didn't get restarted, unless there's a dip in the matting just by the wall?
I thought the same. Was almost a direct opposite in terms of tops between men and women. Regardless though it was close to the end as to who'd make the podium.
I was one of two judges for the men's final. Although the link you gave doesn't work I know exactly which problem you are talking about and can assure you he didn't weight the mat.
Interesting - so contact is allowed as long as it's not weighted?