The XXI Rock Master is about to take place in Arco, Italy, this weekend on 7-9 September 2007 with participation of Czech climbers: reigning World champion Tomas Mrazek will compete in the lead competition, Silvie Rajfova the bouldering and Libor Hroza the speed climbing.

This competition for the champions will be preceded by the II Arco Rock Legends, the climbing oscars which assign the Salewa Rock Award and the La Sportiva Competition Rock Award. Among the nominated for the Rock Legend is Czech young climber Adam Ondra (more about the award in article: Adam Ondra nominated among Arco Rock Legends 2007.

These two world class events draw thousands of spectators to Arco and its Climbing Stadium to witness the world's most desired vertical Trophy.


Rock Master climbing stadium Arco, Italy 
photo by © Giulio Malfer

Some facts about the Rock Master and Arco Rock Legends:
- The Arco Rock Master is the oldest and most famous climbing competition in the world. It dates back to 1987, when the first ever organised climbing competitions started to take place.
- since 1988 the competition has always been held on the artificial Climbing Stadium wall, directly beneath the rock faces which hosted the first Arco competition
- Almost 5000 Rock Master spectators come to Arco for the two non-stop competition days.
- The competitions: the classic Rock Master takes place on Saturday and Sunday on the 20m high and 16m overhanging wall reserved for the best 10 athletes in the world ranking. The Sint Roc Bouldering Contest is a bouldering competition on 4-5m high extremely difficult boulder problems.
The Speed competition is a head-to-head sprint against the fastest in the world. The 18m high vertical wall is recognised by the IFSC International Federation of Sport Climbing as the official world record piste.
- Arco Rock Legends: for the second year running Kay Rush will present the Arco Rock Legends with the Salewa Rock Award (for the climber who distinguished himself most sports climbing or bouldering) and the La Sportiva Competition Award (for last season's most Impressive competition climber). A Jury comprised of 14 specialised climbing magazines has already nominated 5 rock climbers and 3 competition climbers and on Friday they will select the winners
- Climbing: a sport for youngsters. 14 year old Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic, the future of sports climbing, has been nominated for the Salewa Rock Award, while 17 year old Austro-Nepalese David Lama has been nominated for the La Sportiva Competition Award. Taking part in this year's Rock Master, Lama surprised all last season in his first ever senior competitions.
- The 2006 Arco Rock Legends was won by Josune Bereziartu from Spain (Salewa Rock Award) and Angela Eiter from Austria (La Sportiva Competition Award). Eiter has therefore been nominated for the second ear running.

ROCK MASTER TEAM
Institutions: Comune di Arco, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Regione Trentino Alto Adige Sud Tirol, Ingarda Spa, Azienda Municipale Sviluppo Arco, Cassa Rurale Alto Garda
Sponsors: Cassin, La Sportiva, Salewa, Seat, Sint Roc & Ecogrips, Vertical World Sport
With the support of: Soccorso Alpino Guardia Finanza, Ass. Sportiva ArcoClimbing, Guide Alpine Friends of Arco.
Media Partner: Pareti, PlanetMountain, Radio Cortina


Detailed info including the list of competitors and time schedule is at
www.rockmaster.com/files