Come swing some tools, make friends, try new gear, learn something new, and maybe even change your life – it happens every year at the Arc’teryx Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival! Our full day On-Ice clinics run Thursday, December 6th, Friday the 7th (Women Only), Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th.

On-line sign up for all clinics will go live at 12:00 noon (Mountain Standard Time) on Monday, October 1, 2012

Athletes scheduled to appear in 2012:
Will Gadd, Jason Kruk, from Arc’teryx; Jim Shimberg from Sterling Ropes; Gord McArthur, Kyle Dempster, Jason Nelson, Graham Zimmerman, Sarah Hueniken, Margo Tabot, Jeannie Wall from Outdoor Research; Kris Erickson, Conrad Anker from The North Face; Whit Magro from Mammut; Pete Tapley, Aaron Mulkey from RAB; Mattie Sheafor, Kendra Stritch AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

Clinic Price Includes: Demos of the best dang gear on the planet including boots, crampons, axes, harnesses, helmets and clothing (pick up the night before). 5+ hours of on-ice instruction by world class climbers. Included is: Free admission to Thursday and Friday Shows and a discount to others, a raffle ticket for free gear, a bunch of additional swag, discounts on ice climbing gear at local retailers, and the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

So why the limited numbers? Despite 160+ routes within two miles of the parking lot, we work hard to keep the guide:student ratio low and plenty of opportunity to catch another lap and hang with your peers and heroes.

2012 CLINIC DESCRIPTIONS

Women’s Only Clinics – Friday, December 7, 2012

Clinics designed for women of all abilities by some of the top women athletes in the sport. Learn to climb like a girl, set up your own anchors, and blow away all the boys with your new found skills. The women’s clinics are catered specifically to the way women learn and climb with an emphasis on camaraderie and hard core ice climbing in a supportive environment that is only intimidating to the men who are envious of your new techniques.

The Fire Starter: Intro To Ice Climbing 101

Everyone has to start somewhere and this clinic is the spark new climbers need. We will discuss the basics of climbing gear, talk about knots and harnesses, discuss basic climbing technique, and then delve into ice climbing specifics skills like crampon use and technique, body position, and axe placement and techniques. “I’m a firestarter, terrific firestarter. You’re the firestarter, twisted firestarter. Hey… Hey… Hey”

Lumber Jack: Beginner Ice Climbing 102

Climber? But never swung and axe before? This one’s for you. Paul Bunyan’s sponsor wouldn’t cough up the dough for him to come to the Bozeman Ice Festival, but Arc’teryx, Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Petzl, Mammut, Scarpa, Patagonia, and Sterling Ropes are sending the best lumber jacks in the business to BIF’s 16th annual event. In tree chopping, horseshoe and hand grenade throwing or ice climbing, all the pros say, “success is in the fundamentals.” So join us at the Bozeman Ice Festival and be taught by the best instructors in the world. That way you can spend all your waking hours climbing ice and blow off your chores; like chopping wood? Who wants to be warm anyway? Learn from the best as they introduce you (or remind you) how to start things right on easy stuff all the way up to Grade 4 (intermediate). This clinic will cover everything from basic equipment introductions to fundamental body position, to swinging your axe like a pro, and curing the “Screaming Barfies.” TIMBER!

Milking the Goat: Intermediate Ice Climbing 202

No this isn’t a Montana joke. In many respects, ice climbing is about managing strength resources and mitigating pump, regardless of how many pull ups you can do, or not. What does this have to do with Milking a Goat? Well ice climbing is really about milking your strength and endurance so that you can climb more pitches efficiently. With the generous support of our sponsors we have the world’s best milkers coming to Bozeman to teach you about goats and how to climb with better style and efficiency. The morning will be spent on steep ice (WI4-5) where you will learn the tips and techniques on how use body position and strategy to milk your strength and endurance.

The second half of the day at G1 (102 & 202 Classes) will be split into specialty mini-clinics introducing mixed and rock climbing with ice tools, anchors, and other secrets of the pros. Anyone from the 101, 102 and 202 classes can participate (see descriptions).

• Mini Clinic – “Mountaineer” i.e. Rock Climbing with Crampons

  Want to take your climbing to the snowed up and iced over mountains but not up for M 10, then this is the clinic for you. Most of the classic “mixed” climbs found everywhere from Granite Peak to Gasherbrum don’t require figure fours and one arm pull ups. In fact, more time is spent balancing on crampons with your hands doing more pushing than pulling. Learn and practice the skills you need to travel fast and efficiently in the mountains. This mini-clinic will be taught near Genesis I on several different rock features from low angle stuff (M3) to quite steep (M6).

• Mini-Clinic – “Anchor Therapy” i.e. Anchors Assessment & Protection Placement

  We all know piece of mind comes from feeling secure. This half day clinic will be taught by some of climbing’s top therapists hoping to improve your relationship and trust levels of ice screw and natural gear placement as well as anchor construction, all without having to talk about your mother. Learn the tricks used by the pros to stay quick, efficient and safe from Hyalite to Patagonia. Sanity is Subjective.

Step it up: The Vertical Runway Clinic

 201

It is no secret the most important thing in leading ice is looking good and if you are scared just imagine the audience naked! That just gave me the chills. Join some of this nation’s top ice models in perfecting your own flawless style on challenging ice from WI3 up to WI5. This clinic will emphasize safe and efficient protection placements, recommended equipment, lead climbing practices, how to keep looking good even if you hang on a screw, and of course important fashion tips. For those aspiring to improve their climbing confidence and look great doing it, this full day clinic is designed for you. So come put on some miles, vertically and horizontally, and really polish your skills.

Full Value Meal: Rock and Ice Mixed Master 301

This menu includes a bit of everything served up on one of Hyalite’s most diverse venues with no name. This clinic is designed to challenge the intermediate to advanced climber determined to improve their skills on everything from naturally protected mixed climbs, to moving quickly on fatty flows, to thin intricate ice smears. Don’t forget to save some room for a burly mixed cave route for desert. Use of really cool toys included in price of purchase. Offer may not be good in the South Fork, Ouray, Frankenstein, the U.P., or the Junkyards. Purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Leaving the Nest: The Mountain Master 302

This full day clinic is designed to teach a wide array of skills preparing the inexperienced climber to ditch the classes/guide/instructor, show you around Hyalite and gain more climbing independence. Starting in the parking lot, learn everything from terrain assessment and clothing recommendations, packing your pack, to safe top roping, belaying and anchor construction. Of course, lots of climbing is included.