World Cup Puurs (21-22/9/12)

When I was younger I had always looked forward to the world cups in Puurs because it was so much fun watching the strong climbers and being there with other kids. But this time I was going to take part in the competition!

The qualifications were on Friday and I had no idea  how well it would go. In the first route I was very happy that I managed to climb high. The second route went well and I fell some moves from the top. It was very nice that I was qualified for the semifinal. Ana Tiripa (GER) who is my age was also qualified!

World Cup Puurs 2012

My first qualification route (Photo: http://www.worldcuppuurs.com)

On Saturday I read the semifinal route with Ana. The climbing went well but at a certain point I hesitated a bit and I was too pumped to do the next move. I ended up 15th and I was really satisfied! It was so great that all the people from the club cheered me on!

World Cup Puurs 2012

In the semifinal route (Photo: www.worldcuppuurs.com)

The finals later that evening were amazing! Jain Kim (KOR) and Ramón Julian Puigblanque (ESP) became the winners!

Movie Qualification Route A
Movie Qualification Route B
Movie Semifinal Route

More pictures on the worldcup site!

See all the results on the IFSC site

 

World Championship Paris (12-16/9/12)

My first adult World Championship and my first time in Paris! We arrived on Tuesday 11 September and the qualifications were on Wednesday. The qualifications went very well and I was really happy that I placed for the semifinal (tied 13th place). Julia Chanourdie (FRA) from my age category was also qualified! On Thursday we had a rest day and time to visit Paris!

On Thursday Loïc Timmermans (37th place) and Jurgen Lis (71st place) climbed there lead qualifications. Chloé Caulier climbed really well in the boulder qualification (29th place).

Somehow I didn’t manage to warm up properly for the semifinal on Friday. When I started climbing the route I got pumped very fast. I think I did not climb so well and I ended up 22nd. I was a bit disappointed but the route was quite hard and the top climbers are super strong!

The World Champions lead are Angela Eiter (AUT) and Jacob Schubert (AUT)! In boulder Mélanie Sandoz (FRA) and Dmitrii Sharafutdinov (RUS) and in speed Yuliya Levochkina (RUS) and Qixin Zhong (CHN)!

Movie Qualification route A
Movie Qualification route B

Full results on the IFSC site

 

World Youth Championship Singapore (29-31/8/12)

I was grateful that I could go to Asia for the first time! The competitors in the Belgian team were Chloé Caulier (female youth A), Loïc Timmermans (male youth A) and Sébastien Berthe (male Juniors) and me. Tijl Smitz and Christophe Depotter were our coaches. We travelled from Belgium to Zurich on Monday August 29 and then on to Singapore where we took the metro and a train early in the morning to Sentosa island. In the evening the opening ceremony took place at the climbing wall which was on the beach.

The climbing wall looked special because the panels were made of plywood without any friction.

The climbing wall (Picture: teamspore.com/global-sports)

The climbing wall (Picture: teamspore.com/global-sports)

The next day all the competitors climbed their first qualification route. All the routes were very hard. I could pass a super difficult part in the beginning and I fell in the overhang near the top.

On Thursday I had to climb 2nd after Salomé Romain (FRA). She climbed super and topped the route! I could top it too and so did Jessica Pilz (AUT) and Ana Tiripa (GER). In the middle of the day it began to rain very hard and the competition had to be stopped. It felt really sorry for those who still had to climb and the qualifications ended late in the evening.

Everyone of our team was qualified for the semifinal!

The next morning there was again heavy rainfall so the semifinal was delayed by a few hours. It was a great experience to be in an isolation zone on a beach with palm trees.

WYCH Singapore 2012

Photo: Garick Bay

In my semifinal route there were some long moves in the beginning and also a technical part on slopers. I was really thankful that it went well and that I could top the route.

The semifinal (Photo:  Garick Bay)

The semifinal (Photo: Garick Bay)

I heard that Chloé had climbed very well and fell at hold 25+ (a crux move where 10 girls fell). She placed 16th. Loïc had a semifinal route which was not nice and unfortunately he placed 13th. It’s a pity because we are used to see him in the finals. Sébastien placed 24th in male juniors.

In the finals I had to climb just after Jessica Pilz (AUT) and in the call zone I knew that she had topped the route because of the speaker and the public. I knew I had to top too, so I was quite nervous. The beginning went well although I was not so confident. At a given moment I made a mistake and I hesitated a bit. I became pumped and fell some moves later. Jessica had climbed super well and won gold! Congratulations Jessy! I was still very happy with a silver medal! Salomé Romain (FRA) won bronze, she did exactly the same as me in the final but I was better placed in the semifinal. Ana Tiripa (GER) was very strong and placed 4th!

Podium female youth A (Photo: Garick Bay)

The next day we visited Marina Bay and on Sunday we grouped up with Belgian families to make a nice walk through the jungle. They also showed us China Town and Little India! I am really happy that I could go to Singapore!

 

Some pictures of our visit:

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands

Belgian Team visiting Marina Bay

Belgian Team visiting Marina Bay

 

Monkeys!

Monkeys!

China Town

China Town

Drinking coconut milk in Little India!

Drinking coconut milk in Little India!