International ice climbing competition hosted in Edmonton

A competitor crosses a ga between two walls during the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup in an undated file photo. (Courtesy: UIAA) (Slobodan Miskovic)

The best ice climbers from around the world are gathering in Edmonton for the 2025 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup this weekend.

Edmonton will host the competition after four international World Cup rounds were held overseas leading up to the event. Louise McKinney Park will be the last stop for the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour.

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Adam Luciuk, the owner and operator of Offbeat Entertainment, told CTV News Edmonton ice climbing is quickly becoming a popular sport.

“Ice climbing is an emerging sport right now,” Luciuk said Thursday. “We can grow the sport here, not only in Edmonton, but across Canada, and make Edmonton a destination for ice climbers to come to train.”

Luciuk said there were some challenges to face leading up to the World Cup, including warm weather, which can cause the ice wall to melt.

“When we’ve had a week of plus 10 C, plus 12 C weather and sunny conditions. If it was cloudy, (it) might be a different conversation, but it poses challenges for the sport as a whole,” he said, adding that his team would regularly be out on the wall at 4 a.m. maintaining the structure during the melt.

Alongside the competition, the family-friendly YEG Ice Fest event will be in full-swing throughout the weekend.

The free festival features vendors, food, live entertainment, workshops, ice climbing and other winter activities.

The ice wall made for the event will be operational after the winners are crowned for Edmontonians to enjoy in any weather.

The World Cup and YEG Ice Fest runs from Feb. 27 to March 2, with the first climbing competition scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m.