Piztal ICE WORLD CUP 2003   The first of the three stages of the Ice World Cup was Piztal (Austria).   To be honest, I had no intention of taking part in the IWC. I was too busy organizing my next expedition to Patagonia at the end of January. It was a last minute decision. On the Thursday morning before leaving for Austria, I gave my equipment a last minute touch up - actually, it was more like getting rid of the rust that had formed over the past year.   One of the reasons I decided to do it was that I really wanted to meet up with the group of friends I'd been getting together with since 1999. I don't know what it is, maybe I've changed, but to me the group of athletes now seemed more serene and there's a sense of harmony like never before. Maybe this year there's less pressure and possibly less interest, it could be that everyone's just a bit scared that this lovely toy will get broken. It's this sense of tranquillity that makes the three days wonderful.   Seeing that I've never made it past the first round because of my snail-like pace, I didn't think I'd pass the opens on the first day. As soon as I got down, Stefan Husson complimented me on my progress and improved speed. He was particularly impressed because it was the first time he had seen me make a dynamic move; but then again, the last hold was so far off I didn't have much of a choice.   The day after the semi-finals the first movement I make is long. Then, midway up the drop, a long precise movement. I must have kept that hold for about five minutes until with a "janiro" I managed to grab hold of that little hole about a metre and a half up. But then, the usual story: "Stop! Time's up! Time's up!"   I was lucky though, most of the others had actually fallen and so I finished in seventh place and got through to the finals that same afternoon.   There were only seven finalists this time as so many had tied for eighth place.   I started off first and after a couple of metres I made a serious mistake. In order to pass the rope in the carabiner, I pulled on the ice axe that was badly planted and it fell out, ending my climb prematurely. No one else made it either. In the end I placed sixth. If I hadn't made that mistake, I might have finished further up in the ranks, but it would've been impossible to beat those other incredibly strong athletes.   The last trial was at the end of the day, late at night with the usual gang, loosening up with some beer, music, dancing and... Bubu
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				° Photos by www.ice-time.com            * Photos by Dmitry Bychkov            ^ Photos by Paddy