Announcing 2014 Bozeman Ice Festival and Olympic-Caliber World Cup

Media Contact:
Theresa Blake
Treehouse Communications
theresa@treehousepr.com
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Registration Opens for 18th Annual Bozeman Ice Festival presented by Black Diamond Equipment

Bozeman, Mont. – (October 3, 2014) – Registration for ice climbing clinics at the 2014 Bozeman Ice Festival (BIF), presented by Black Diamond Equipment, is now available online at www.bozemanicefest.com. 

Starting Dec. 10th through Dec. 14th, thousands of winter sports and outdoor enthusiasts will descend on Bozeman to experience world-class ice and mixed climbing in Hyalite Canyon and to witness the inaugural UIAA Bozeman World Cup and North American Ice Climbing Championships.

Black Diamond Equipment and other BIF sponsors will be on hand to provide all the gear and expertise needed. Regardless of one’s ability level, each clinic presents a rare opportunity to experience Hyalite Canyon through the lens of the world’s top professional instructors and guides, including Barry Blanchard, Kitty Calhoun, Jack Tackle, Jim Shimberg, Yae Nagi of Japan and many more. Space is limited to 60 participants per day, ensuring a high quality, firsthand experience for all.

Less than one hour from a vibrant downtown Bozeman, Hyalite Canyon offers the most reliable concentration of accessible ice and mixed climbs in the U.S. This provides the ideal setting for BIF to offer unique clinics for all abilities and ages, including the largest ‘Women’s Only’ clinic in America, presented by Black Diamond Equipment. Participants can also choose from introductory classes offered in downtown Bozeman, two-day intensive rescue courses, or the country’s most sought-after full-day clinics in the beautiful wilderness setting of Hyalite.

BIF invites everyone, including families and children, to take part in the ice climbing tradition through four days of special events in downtown Bozeman, including the only UIAA World Cup event in North America. Over 50 of the world’s best competitive climbers from around the globe will battle it out, including the ‘Speed Climbing World Cup presented by Lowa Boots’ on Friday, Dec. 12th and the ‘Lead Difficulty World Cup presented by The North Face’ on Saturday, Dec. 13th. To conclude the events on Sunday, the public is invited to test their mettle on the World Cup routes, along with special introductory ice climbing clinics for all abilities and ages.

“It’s been amazing to see the festival evolve from a local event teaching a few clinics to hosting the only internationally sanctioned UIAA Ice World Cup in North America,” says Joe Josephson, Festival Director for BIF. “Bozeman is at the center of ice climbing in America and the forefront of developing an emerging Winter Olympic sport. It’s an honor and privilege to be part of this historical movement.” 

Surrounding the Olympic-caliber World Cup and clinics includes gear demos, food, and beer from Big Sky Brewing, activities, and fun for the whole family. All in-town events and UIAA World Cup are conveniently located in downtown Bozeman at the Emerson Cultural Center. The Festival and World Cup schedule of events, live broadcast times, evening films, community parties and registration details can be found online. 

For more information or to register for a clinic, please visit www.bozemanicefest.com.

About BIF and Friends of Hyalite
The Bozeman Ice Festival (BIF) began in 1996 is dedicated to promoting and protecting the world-class ice and mixed climbing in Hyalite Canyon and also promoting Olympic-caliber competition. For more info, please visit www.bozemanicefest.com. Proceeds from BIF directly support Friends of Hyalite, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to funding winter road plowing in Hyalite Canyon, home to the longest season of accessible ice in America. For more info, please visit www.hyalite.org. 

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