10,30: go! At the Ice climbing stadium of Daone with a temperature of -3° C the qualifications of Ice Master World Cup 2008, first competition of Ice Climbing World Cup Championship start. Thanks to the low temperatures of yesterday and of past night, the artificial structure ha refrozen perfectly - after the high temperatures of the past days that made us fear the worst.

The climbers were deeply moved in admiring the new competition area of Ice Master 2008. This morning, they took part into a technical meeting with the judges and during the briefing they expressed their gratitude to the organizers with lengthy applause, while Riccardo Milani gave the regards of the organizing committee and wished a "happy competition" to everybody. All the volunteers really appreciated the nice

gesture by the climbers.

66 men, divided into two groups, 23 women, ready for the competition.

Every group must face on sight two different itineraries. The first itinerary provides a first part in dry tooling that crosses the two central overhanging panels (with an inclination of 70°), a series of mobile stalactites hanged to the huge frozen ceiling, then the athletes will have to cross a very technical dry zone with delicate movements, a technical itinerary really interesting, also thanks to the innovative holds created by the technicians of Climblock. The second itinerary provides a dry tooling overhanging panel, then the climbers will have to overcome two frozen columns to have access to the last long panel to be crossed with the dry-tooling system, but with very technical passages and slipping holds.

The climbers have many expectations: because today they have the opportunity to enter the semi-finals; once again, the organizing system of Daone Valley has demonstrated to be able to improve and manage at the best such an important event. There is ice enough and the artificial structure is simply fantastic, above all for the two towers that take to the overhanging panels at the top, at a height of 26 mt, a passage that will surely emotion us during the finals of Sunday.

At the moment, the extraordinary "COLD" temperature, favours the first day of the competition. Mr Winter has been indulgent this time...

And, at the moment, luck is prizing those that are fearless...and Daone Valley!

Hurrah Ice Master.