American Alpine Club Announces 2019 US Team for the UIAA World Cup Ice Climbing Competition in Denver, CO

December 5, 2018

Golden, CO (Dec 5, 2018) —The American Alpine Club (AAC), America’s oldest non-profit organization for climbers, is thrilled to announced the 2019 USA World Cup Ice Climbing Team. The team of 21 male and female athletes is set to compete at the upcoming UIAA World Cup Ice Climbing Finals, taking place in Denver, CO February 23 – 24, 2019.

The AAC led the application process and final selection of the 2019 USA Team. Criteria was based on national rankings from recent competitive ice climbing seasons and events, and a preference for athletes who compete in cross-disciplinary ice competition (e.g. athletes that compete in both the Difficulty (Lead) and Speed competitions). The AAC also provided “developmental” spots on the team for less experienced competition climbers who demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment to the sport. Equal team positions were available for men and women in the performance (6) and developmental (2) categories.

The final 2019 USA Team consists of 21 adults and 10 youth members.  Phil Powers, CEO at the AAC said “These athletes represent the cutting edge of one of the more wild versions of the climbing craft. I am astounded every time I witness their gymnastics and delicate skill all performed far off the ground with ice axes and crampons.”

The 2019 event is the first time the Ice Climbing World Tour has come to Denver, Colorado and the first time a World Cup Finals event has been held in the USA. The weekend event will be held in Denver’s Civic Center Park and is free to the public. The ice climbing competition will take place over two days with qualifying rounds on Sat, Feb 23, and semi-finals and overall finals on Sun, Feb 24. The event is expected to attract over 200 athletes from 21 countries around the world to compete for the overall World Cup in both Difficulty and Speed categories.

Competition ice climbing combines formidable over-hanging walls of ice with artful technique and sheer power. In the lead discipline, ice climbers require great technique, tactical mastery and nerves of steel to execute complex moves in seemingly improbable positions dozens of feet above the ground. The speed discipline is almost a vertical take on the 100m sprint in the sport of athletics. In 2014, competitive ice climbing debuted as an exhibition sport at the Sochi Winter Olympics and is hopeful for a full-scale Olympic debut in the near future.

2019 USA World Cup Ice Climbing Team: 

Denver World Cup Finals:

Mens Lead:
Tyler Kempney
Thomas Gehrlein
Aaron Montgomery
Grant Kleeves
Kevin Lindlau
Wesley Fowler
Carter Stritch
Troy Anger

Womens Lead: 
Corey Buhay
Catalina Shirley
Claire Poppendeck
Mikayla Tougas
Angela Tomczik
Angela Limbach
Kendra Stritch

Mens Speed:
Tyler Kempsey
Thomas Gehrlein
Kevin Lindlau
Wesley Fowler
Marcus Garcia
Jake Bourdow
Troy Anger
Carter Stritch

Womens Speed:
Corey Buhay
Catalina Shirley
Claire Poppendeck
Angela Tomczik
Angela Limbach
Kendra Stritch
Lindsay Hastings

2018/2019 International World Cup Events:

Mens Team: 
Tyler Kempney
Thomas Gehrlein
Kevin Lindlau
Carter Stritch
Troy Anger
Liam Foster
Cody Stevenson
Andrew Lamb
Marcus Garcia
Carter Stritch

Womens Team:
Angela Tomczik
Angela Limbach
Kendra Stritch
Lindsay Hastings

World Cup Youth Team:
Keenan Griscom
Calvin Daugherty
Kylie Cullen
Georgia Witchel
Aubrey Palmer
Maija Fox
MaKenzee Van Buren
Liam Foster
Cody Stevenson
Mikayla Tougas
Katie Seymour
Lindsay Levine
Christopher Atchison
Catalina Shirley

Read more about the 2019 USA World Cup Team here:
https://americanalpineclub.org/world-cup/2018/11/26/2019-usa-world-cup-ice-climbing-team 

2019 Denver Ice Climbing World Cup Schedule:

Friday, Feb 22                  Opening Ceremony
Saturday, Feb 23             8AM – 8PM // Lead Qualifiers, Speed Qualifiers
Sunday, Feb 24                    8AM – 5PM // Lead Semi-Finals, Lead Finals, Speed Finals,

Closing Ceremony, After Party (hosted by the AAC)

About American Alpine Club
The American Alpine Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose vision is a united community of competent climbers and healthy climbing landscapes. Together with our members, the AAC advocates for American climbers domestically and around the world; provides grants and volunteer opportunities to protect and conserve the places we climb; hosts local and national climbing festivals and events; publishes two of the world’s most sought-after climbing annuals, the American Alpine Journal and Accidents in North American Climbing; cares for the world’s leading climbing library and country’s leading mountaineering museum; manages the Hueco Rock Ranch, New River Gorge Campground, Samuel F. Pryor Shawangunk Gateway Campground, and Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch as part of a larger lodging network for climbers; and gives $100,000+ annually toward climbing, conservation, and research grants that fund adventurers who travel the world. Learn about additional programs and become a member at www.americanalpineclub.org