Rise Up - speed climbing and deep water solo

Relaxed social events are always great to be with friends. Millet Rise Up Tour in Arco is one of a kind happening where all climbers without distinction of age or skill can have good time together. Two days event started in Arco's climbing Arena and continued at the following morning with a deep water solo climbing event at Lake Garda.

This year I was lucky to get in the speed climbing competition. For me speed climbing is a new experience so I was climbing the route on-sight. I don't know if it is luck or Finnish mentality that let me push up to the 3rd semifinal round where I accidentally slipped and fell. After that round my next opponent for the finals would have been our ice-climbing couch from last winter's Marmolada adventure, Alessandro Beber. Well maybe it was better that I fell, he would have been too fast for me ;) Great fun thou.

Young power!

My 1st round speed climbing.

And after the competitive evening the following day started as an early morning wake-up with a paddle boat trip to the deep water solo wall. Climbing there was good but at some stage I started to wonder why I feel so cold all the time. I'm a Finn after all and cold water shouldn't be an issue and I was climbing on reasonable difficult routes. The reason for the cold became clear when I got back to home, my body temperature was 39,1 Celsius degrees, oh boy!


See the official video about the 2 days event.

I'm heading towards Madonna.

My brother Juha learns to be a superman.

Learning balance.

Late night picnic at the climbing arena.

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Deep water solo climbing at Riva del Garda

Click here if you just want to see the photos

Just a few days a go our first climbing instructor and mountain guide Stefano Angelini / Mountime Group invited us to visit the Millet's Garda Climbing Challenge 2014 event to the Arco Climbing Stadium. An excellent opportunity to see top notch Millet Team International climbers and enjoy a casual evening with local fellows. Millet's two day event included climbing competition, relaxed evening  party and deep water solo climbing day at Riva del Garda for the 2nd day.

After the relaxed evening at the climbing arena we decided to participate for the next day's deep water solo climbing event. The great opportunity came with a price of an early wake-up. Our alarm clocks rang at 6:45 for the misty and cold morning. After sleepy and slow morning we decided to carry on with the initial plan and head towards the climbing arena where the climbing crew gathered. Once all eyes were finally open we headed to Riva where pedal boats were waiting for eager climbers.

Weather wasn't too promising when we arrived to Riva del Garda. But it doesn't matter when you have the right spirit and enthusiast climbers with one goal, get up to the wall as high as possible.

In  just about 15 minutes from Riva del Garda all the climbers had their pedaling boats at the climbing wall that is located just below the old via Ponale road. Once first accents were on their way the unexpected happened, as a surprise the sky became clear and sun started to shine. That was the final thing needed for a perfect deep water solo climbing morning.


The only limiting factor for the schedule was the midday when Péler winds turn to the more stronger Ora wind. Ora is great for windsurfers but too strong for pedal boats heading back to Riva. Still the return wasn't that bad because the perfect morning. On top of that Millet invited all of us for the final gathering lunch and social event back to Arco Climbing Arena.

Great and definitely a different day with the Millet Team International climbers, this time extended by the amateur Finns for the very first time;) The rock was hard and the water was cold!

See all photos:

Riva del Garda, Deep water solo, 25.6.2014

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