The European climbing elite competed for five days from May 1st to 5th at the European Youth Championships (EYCH) in Perm / Russia. Athletes from 19 nations started. Among them was Ländle climber Andreas Hofherr from the Feldkirch Alpine Club.
“I wanted to get into the top 15 in both disciplines. I managed that, ”reports the 17-year-old while he was returning from Moscow airport. With eleventh place (lead) and 15th place (boulder), he achieved his set minimum goal – which he previously revealed to the “Krone”.
In the lead, Andreas was eliminated in the semifinals on the 25th grip. In the bouldering discipline, the semifinals were also over after he got off to a good start in qualifying with two tops and four zones. Andreas knows that he can do even more: “It could have gone even better, but I made a few stupid mistakes,” said the Frastanzer after the competition. In the unpopular speed discipline, only 19th place was possible.
Ariane Franken (U18) from Feldkirch and Naima Gringl (U16) from Bürs, who achieved fifth place (lead) and sixth (boulder), were also well on their way. The best Austrian was Timo Uznik (U16), who won gold in the lead.