(22.04.2005)

EUROPEAN YOUTH CLIMBING DAYS

ARCO JUNE 18.19 GIUGNO 2005

European Youth Climbing Days 2005 – 4th edition Rock Junior in Arco

The Rock Junior 2005 will take place in Arco from 18-19/06. Since 2002 this happening has been the event not to be missed for all children and young climbers who, together with their parents, wish to explore nature and the climbing world in a playful festival open to all.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June 2005 at Arco, Italy, the European Youth Climbing Days 2005 return to the world’s climbing capital with the fourth edition of the Rock Junior. This is the biggest climbing festival dedicated to the young generation of climbers aged between 5 and 14 years who, together with their families, wish to discover the climbing game in complete safety, but also get to know the splendid nature of the small town located close to Lake Garda, in the Trentino region of Northern Italy.

Once again this unique occasion is promoted by the Association Rock Master di Arco and headed by the FASI (Italian Sports Climbing Federation) to teach the game of climbing to the young, but above all to combine sport and education. In doing so, it exploits the mix of sport-nature and the naturalness of this sport.

As usual the green lawn at Arco will await the young climbers and their families, and it will be a true festival and fun. It will be a two-day full immersion of games and playful sports that will enable all, newcomers and experts alike, to explore the fantastic climbing world through the dimension of enjoyable games. And, at the same time, develop the knowledge and respect for the natural habitat via a series of educational activities.

And so, in the extraordinary Climbing Stadium transformed for the occasion into an enormous Park for games and climbing, children will be able to climb on bouncy castles and towers, test their balance on rope walks and across the Sarca river or race up the climbing pole. And to get to know the rocks, to learn about this vertical environment, respect and frequent it in complete safety, children will be able to take part in the Climbing Campus. Lessons about how to climb on limestone boulders will be carried out, together with lessons about the life and world of rocks, and how to move in complete safety. These will obviously be carried out under the watchful and competent eye of mountain professionals.

But Rock Junior also means competing for fun. Children are subdivided into four age categories and compete in climbing agility and speed events at the Kid's Rock. Or they can take part in the Family Rock together with their parents, a relay composed of parents and children. And, last but not least, the Under 14 Cup, where you can applaud the young climbers that belong to the European Youth teams while they take part in a true competition on the mythical Rock Master wall. Just like the Rock Master itself, the ancient and prestigious sports climbing competition that takes place every year here at Arco. As always it will offer a small "athletic" dream insight for the young athletes and the hundreds of families that every year take part in the Rock Junior, a meeting in which nature and true, spontaneous sport come first and foremost.

So the date is Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2005 at Arco. It is worth bearing in mind that everyone can participate at the Rock Junior, even those who have never climbed before. And also those who do not have the necessary climbing equipment, because this is made available by the organisation and sponsors. Safety is not an issue as this is guaranteed by the Mountain Guides, the Mountain Rescue services (SAT and Guardia di Finanza), the Moena Police Alpine Training Force (Centro Addestramento Alpino della Polizia di Stato di Moena).

Taking part in the Rock Junior is simple: all you have to do is sign up on the website http://www.rockjunior.info. We look forward to seeing you!