It’s official: Climbing Technology is the exclusive technical partner of “The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival”, which will be held 9-12 October on the Greek island that for several years has been one of the symbols of world sport climbing.

With more than 50 crags and the possibility to climb all year round, Kalymnos is a must for climbers, wherever they come from. That is why, 3 years ago, it was chosen as the location for the international climbing festival with the participation of the world’s top climbers.

The 2014 edition is notable for the presence of climbing legends from the 80s and 90s. Names like Jean-Baptiste Tribout, Yuji Hirayama, Gerhard Hörhager, Patxi Arocena, Boone Speed, Ben Moon as well as the Italian Maurizio Zanolla (better known as Manolo). They, together with today’s athletes, will entertain us on the island’s overhanging yellow limestone walls. Also will be at the event The North Face athletes: James Pearson, Eneko Pou, Iker Pou, Hansjörg Auer, Matt Segal, caroline Ciavaldini, Jacopo Larcher, Hervé Barmasse, Simone Moro, Tamara Lunger and Emilio Previtali.

Four days’ full immersion in the world of climbing, for which we supply the hardware necessary (not just the hardware) to ensure the event’s success. We will be present at the Climbing Village with a stand and a number of knowledgeable representatives – technical staff and alpine guides – to let people not only see the full range of new products, but also try them out on the islands best crags. Each day, three crags will be chosen (they will be identified with a CT flag at the start of the path leading to the crag and CT test station at its base) where you will find our staff ready with equipment for trying out:

Click Up, Be Up, Quickdraws, Harnesses e Helmets.

For those who participate in trying out the equipment…

there’ll be a pleasant surprise at the end!

There will be the traditional Marathon Competition (two-day competition, self-certified and open to everyone) and the new Pro Legend Competition (where the “climbing legends” will try to make the FFA of new routes at a new and for the moment super-secret crag). For this we are supplying bolts, stances and quickdraws, as well as offering the possibility to use harnesses, helmets and the Click Up. The already-known  Summit Series Specialist Competition will take place – a competition between the biggest TNF European resellers invited to the event and for which we will supply all the climbing hardware). Climbing Technology will supply part of the prizes for all three competitions.

Climbing Technology is technical partner for another two important projects:

• “starting climbing project”: to promote sport climbing among young people with a minicourse for kids from one of the island’s secondary schools. For them as well we’ll make available our best quickdraws, Click Up, harnesses and helmets, as well as specialised staff for teaching and ensuring safety.
• “one climber = one Bolt”: a percentage of each single entry fee will be given to buying a bolt for the maintenance of existing routes and those which need rebolting.

“Our decision to sponsor such an important event is proof that we are ever more present on a global scale. It is in addition a chance to get feedback from the people who use our products, on what they like but also to give us constructive feedback on how our products can be improved”.

Stay tuned!

We’ll keep you updated step-by-step on the The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival.