The city of Oulu, in central Finland, hosted the final official competition of the 2025-2026 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour. Following the granting of the World Tour titles in Edmonton, Canada last weekend, the European Continental circuit came to a conclusion on Saturday 7 March.
Athletes from the following countries – Canada, Czechia, France, Great Britain, Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United States as well as from host country, Finland – took part in the Continental Cup, organised by FINICE in partnership with the Climbing Club of Oulu.
On the line were the final Continental Cup medals of the season as well as the Continental titles.
Medal winners in the women’s event (l-r) Ilona Serrer, Aneta Louzecka, Weronika Wieczorek. Credit: Karim Pinter/FINICE
Women: A silver medal in Finland following a gold and two bronzes, granted France’s Ilona Serrer the Continental title. The 21-year is one the emerging talents on the circuit. Fittingly the gold medal went to Aneta Louzecka of Czechia. Louzecka, reigning world champion in speed, has featured in almost every world and continental level event this season. Across an impressive campaign she has won two World Cup silvers and two bronzes in speed as well as a Continental silver in difficulty (lead). This also guaranteed her second place in the Continental Tour ahead of World Tour champion Marianne van der Steen who did not compete in Oulu. There was also time for a new medallist, Weronika Wieczorek from Poland. The 24-year crowning her debut season on the circuit with a bronze.
Men: There was no surprise in the men’s competition. Like Louzecka, Spain’s Jorge Veiga Rodriguez, has been one of the most active climbers on the World Tour. A brilliant season for the 20-year has seen him take his first World Cup medals (two silvers and a gold) as well as dominate the Continental series. After starting the winter slowly, he has now claimed four straight Continental gold medals. Silver in Oulu went to another stellar talent in Liechtenstein’s Linus Beck. More notably a speed climber (two World Cup golds in 2026), this performance showed his versatility. An incredible season for Team Liechtenstein was sealed both with the bronze medal going to Samuel Eberle and the Gantner brothers, Andreas and Florian, finishing on the Continental podium.
Final Continental Season Rankings
Women: (1) I Serrar (FRA) 348 points; (2) A Louzecka (CZE) 341 pts (3), M Van der Steen (NED), 317 pts;
Men: (1) JV Rodriguez (ESP), 431 points; (2) A Gantner (LIE), 268 pts; (3) F Gantner (LIE), 250 pts
France won the team ranking ahead of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Details on the calendar for the 2026-2027 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour will be communicated in due course.
Further Resources
Results
Event programme
Registered athletes
Photos
Main photo: Credit: FINICE / Mikko Tolonen
