Domen Škofic is the youth world champion

Our youth national team in sport climbing will remember the FIRST youth European championship by the title of the FIRST YOUTH EUROPEAN CHAMPION FOR SLOVENIA, won by DOMEN ŠKOFIC. Today, November 4, the second final round of lead climbing at the 2012 youth European championship concluded in the French town of Gemozac, which was successful for our team and Slovenia.



The first youth European championship under IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) in lead and speed climbing started yesterday with morning qualifications and continued with evening finals in youth/junior and cadet categories as well as today's final for older boys/girls. Among competitors from across Europe, with 316 youths registered in total, 13 Slovenian representatives also competed, of whom 9 qualified for the finals - eight in yesterday's evening finals for youths/juniors and cadets, while Anže Peharc, the current world champion among older boys, competed in the older boys' final this morning.

Today, on the last day of competition, speed climbing is scheduled, but Slovenians are not participating.



Our competitors performed really well, with youth athlete Domen Škofic, the current youth world vice-champion, performing the best by climbing the highest on the final route among all competitors and deservedly WINNING.



18-year-old Domen Škofic, after last year's world champion title among cadets, is continuing his successful season this year in the youth European Cup in lead climbing as well as in the World Cup in lead among seniors. He pleasantly surprised at the senior World Cup lead event in Atlanta, where he qualified for the final for the first time and achieved his best senior placement with 8th place. At the Rock Master seniors in the Chinese city of Wujiang near Shanghai, he took an excellent second place, and at the penultimate senior World Cup lead event in 2012, he missed final qualification by just one position.



Among the youths, Sergej Epih was 5th, Jure Raztresen 8th. Junior female Tina Šušteršič achieved 9th place in the final, while the cadets earned the following results: Martin Bergant 6th, Gregor Vezonik 8th, Milan Preskar 11th, and cadet female Tjaša Kalan 14th.



In the qualifications, the following concluded their first youth championship in sport climbing/lead: older girl Julija Kruder (22nd place), cadet Tim Unuk (30th), cadet female Živa Ledinek (30th), and Anja Šerbinek (16th) among junior females.



FINAL PLACEMENTS:



Youths (24 competitors): Domen Škofic - 1st, Sergej Epih - 5th, Jure Raztresen - 8th.

Junior females (26 competitors): Tina Šušteršič - 9th, Anja Šerbinek - 16th.

Cadet females (36 competitors): Tjaša Kalan - 14th, Živa Ledinek - 30th.

Cadets (43 competitors): Martin Bergant - 6th, Gregor Vezonik - 8th, Milan Preskar - 11th, Tim Unuk - 30th.

Older girls (43 competitors): Julija Kruder - 22nd.

Older boys (42 competitors): Anže Peharc - 4th.



STATEMENTS:



BORUT KAVZAR (head coach of the Slovenian youth national team): "The youth European championship in lead is over. Feelings after our representatives' final performances are quite mixed. Although we had eight finalists today, the performances were slightly worse compared to other competitions this year. The event itself was excellently organized once again, and after all, we have the first youth European champion in history.

End of November brings the last European Cup event in Kranj (24 and 25 November 2012), where we can show what we're capable of in front of our home crowd."



DOMEN ŠKOFIC (WIN, first YOUTH EUROPEAN CHAMPION title): "I'm satisfied with the competition, it's a pity the format is the same as European Cup events. The world championship format, requiring good performances in qualifications, semi-finals, and finals besides qualifications, brings more competitive pressure, so the victory feeling is more intense.

I climbed the final to the best of my abilities; unfortunately, I didn't complete the route, but with the European champion title, it's not that important."



Anže Peharc (older boy, 4th place): "I'm satisfied with the climbing as I showed what I can currently manage. I didn't make major mistakes in the route and enjoyed the climb. Unfortunately, I didn't make the podium, but I'm completely satisfied with 4th place. I hope to demonstrate the consistent form of this year at the Kranj event and defend my lead in the overall standings."

Anže currently holds 1st place in the European series overall standings.



GREGOR VEZONIK (cadet, 8th place): "Good competition, excellent organization, top-notch final atmosphere, pity I didn't climb to my best abilities. But we have the Kranj event ahead, where I'll go all or nothing."



TINA ŠUŠTERŠIČ (junior female, 9th place): "My mental story repeats; the click in my head happens in a fraction of a second, and that doubt is enough for my climbing mistakes. I'm strong enough, I just need a moment of self-confidence and a bowl of courage. I hope to prove it this year in Kranj in front of the home crowd."



Viewers could watch and cheer for the first youth European championship via LIVE web stream as well.



Even more successful than the European was this year's youth world championship in Singapore for the Slovenian youth national team in sport climbing, from which they brought home 4 precious medals - gold, silver, and two bronzes. Anže Peharc from Kovor rightfully climbed to the world champion title among older boys, Domen Škofic achieved the youth world vice-champion title, while Martin Bergant among cadets and Jure Raztresen among youths took the bronze medals.

Our youth national team members are also very successful at the 2012 youth European Cup events both in lead and bouldering, where they repeatedly claim the noblest awards.