Climbing is coming Home: Climbing World Cup Innsbruck 2023

From June 12 to 18, the WUB area in Innsbruck will be the venue of the IFSC Climbing World Cup will once again be the scene of top performances in climbing. Innsbruck has been a pioneer in hosting climbing competitions from the very beginning: Legendary events have been held in the Tyrolean capital since the 1990s. With the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck not only an internationally esteemed training facility was created, but also one of the most impressive locations in the World Cup.

Professional climbers from all nations will compete in seven days in the disciplines of bouldering, lead, paraclimbing and speed. While the bouldering World Cup series celebrates its finale in Innsbruck, the season in lead is just getting started here. In the Speed discipline, a European Cup will be held. The who's who of the scene is regularly on site to take advantage of the extraordinary training opportunities at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck. In this competition week in mid-June, the athletes not only have to prove their physical fitness, as always, they also need immense nerve strength to call up their personal maximum at exactly the right moment. The die-hard Innsbruck climbing community has already proven to be an extremely motivating audience at numerous events: It really heats up the athletes when it comes to tickling out that last decisive bit of strength.

All the stars have announced for the event. Olympic champion and last year's lead first-place finisher Janja Garnbret is expected in Innsbruck, she had to sit out the first World Cups with a broken big toe. Big favorites among the women are also Brooke Rabatou, Natalia Grossman and of course our Jessy Pilz, who wants to show her full potential in her king discipline lead climbing.

Exciting battles are also guaranteed in the men's event: Adam Ondra, Tomoa Narasaki and of course the local hero Jakob Schubert will be competing at the World Cup.

In Innsbruck, the athletes have the opportunity to test the new Olympic format - in Paris 2024, bouldering and lead will be held as a combined event, and speed will be a separate discipline. Most athletes are very happy about this, but this format is extremely demanding. According to head coach Fabian Leu, most of the Austrian Olympic squad will compete in both disciplines. This means four competition days in a row for the men in Innsbruck and also for the women only one day break between the bouldering and lead events.

For Jessica Pilz, who has chosen Innsbruck, the home World Cup is associated with mixed feelings. After a fabulous qualifying round last year and a slip-up in the first moves, the dream of lead gold in front of the home crowd was suddenly over - that's how close success and disappointment are in climbing. The level of the top athletes is getting closer and closer, which of course means potential excitement for the spectators, but also enormous pressure for the athletes. The smallest mistake can mean an exit even before the semifinals. For Jessy Pilz the anticipation of the upcoming World Cup in Innsbruck prevails, she feels fit, well prepared and wants to show this year in front of many familiar faces what she has got.

Live acts and tickets

While the athletes warm up for the finals, the audience can do so with live musical acts. On Thursday, Friday and Sunday BAIBA, DJ In-Style and Saltbrennt will perform in the arena before the final competitions. To be there live at this sporting highlight is something you should not miss.

Tickets are still available for all competitions and events around the World Cup! Get them HERE.

Here you get an overview of the PROGRAM.

All images: © Kletterverband Österreich