Monthly Archives: November 2012

EYC Kranj (24-25/11/12)

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My very last competition of the season: the European Youth Cup in Kranj. The Belgian team aboard of a plane and here we go!

Saturday was a day of getting up early and having a record-breaking speedy breakfast for me. We went to the climbing hall where I immediately began warming up for the first qualification route. After this I watched the demonstration by Maja Vidmar. The beginning of the route was quite tricky and I was very happy when I reached the final hard part of the route and managed to top out. My friend Celine Cuypers who climbs in female youth B, had the same route as me and climbed really well.

The second route was demonstrated by Klemen Becan. Chloé Caulier climbed before me and she topped out. She explained me the moves and holds of the route and after having warmed up again it was my turn. There was a difficult part in the middle and a strange volume, but I liked the route. I did the last move a bit too dynamic and I missed the hold, but I was very happy that I could go to the final.

It was great that Celine, Chloé, Loïc (male youth A) and Nicolas Collin (male youth B) were qualified as well! For Sébastien Berthe it was his last youth competition, but unfortunately he was ill during the week.

All the female age groups had the same final route, so we could discuss it together. There were some points which were not so clear for us, but it looked ok. I was very satisfied that I fell some moves before the top! Jessica Pilz (AUT) climbed after me and she fell at the same point. She became first because of the time rule, but she was already leading after the qualifications, so she really deserved to win. A lot of girls fell on a hard move in the middle and it is a pity that they had to be split up by their climbing time (especially for Andrea Pavlincova who was leading after the qualifications). I ended up 2nd and Ana Tiripa (GER) 3rd. I also won the European Youth Cup for this season which is really great!

Chloé was 9th and Nicolas 6th. Celine ended up 9th and she did very well in her first international year. Loic was again very strong by winning this competition and also the cup!

It was a nice competition with some great sight-seeing in Kranj and Ljubljana afterwards, which I really enjoyed.

I want to thank everyone for this season! My parents, coaches, sponsors and of course: all the friendly people I met again at the competitions this year!

European Youth Cup 2012 (Photo: Denis Timmermans)

European Youth Championship Gémozac 2012 (3-4/11/12)

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This year it was the first time in the climbing history that a European Youth Chamionship was held. It took place in Gémozac (France) and our cheerful Belgian team was present with not less than 17 climbers.

On Saturday the qualifications of the A and Junior categories started early in the morning. My first route was  technical with very small holds. I found it difficult and tricky and I was very happy that I managed to top the route. To my surprise the other one was built on the speed wall which made it very technical as well. Together with twelve other girls I could top the route.

Photo: Thibaud Caulier

Five Belgian climbers  made it to the finals: Chloé Caulier (female youth A), Émilie Guérit (female Juniors), Loïc Timmermans (male youth A), Sébastien Berthe (male Juniors) and me! That was already a great achievement! Unfortunately our youth B climbers were not able to reach the finals. My friend Celine Cuypers (female youth B) had to climb the same qualification routes as me. They were both very technical on vertical walls which was not nice for a competition. She was nervous because of the routes and it is a pitty that she ended up 19th although she is an incredibly strong climber.

The finals were on the same day in the evening. When waiting in the call zone we could hear the cheers of the public for Ana Tiripa (GER) which meant she climbed super well and topped the final route. Just before me Jessica Pilz (AUT) topped too and then it was my turn to climb. Although I did not find a rest in the middle of the route, I managed to top out! I ended up 3rd because of the new time-rule for European youth competitions, but I was still very happy and thankful with my place. Ana was 2nd and Jessica was 1st! Congratulations!

Photo: Thibaud Caulier

Loïc Timmermans climbed a fantastic final and became European Champion! Émilie and Sébastien both ended up 10th and Chloé 9th. The Belgian team had a 5th place in the teamranking!