All News will be on my new website www.iandory.com

Arco Italy is full of two things, gelato parlors and climbing shops, If your not a climber your a gelato connoisseur. There is something special about the gelato here in Italy, I was not much of a Gelato (Ice cream) person in the States but, here its amazing! The mela(apple) flavor being my favorite but, every shop has something amazing and unique to its apperance and taste.

Italy Might be in the past as far as food and technology, but the fashion sense and styles are todie for, not to mention the amazing climbing 20min walk for our apartment. I amcurrently working a route called Underground with Matty Hong which is this amazing roof thatoffers some of the hardest climbing around.

Massone is a unique area because by the looks of it it could have been a quarry before it was aclimbing area? There are large limestone pilers that line the caves and far as you can see designed for support but, they now look like the runes of an Ancient Civilization.

The curate crew is myself Jes D'Emilio, Matty Hong and Lilly Ridgely, we are in Arco, Italyclimbing and will be competing in the World Championships in 5 days see www.IFSC.tv/ for live feed.

My goal is to take down the mighty underground but, being July in Italy its going to take every thing I have to climb to the top in this gross humid heat. Underground is an unusual sport climb because it never gets very high off the ground, and a ground fall is possible if one was to fall clipping. The massive roof holds three hard boulder problems separated by good holds, the hardest one is at the top. Sending this climb would be a stepping stone in my sport climbing abilities and I hope I have the time to send it. More to come.

World Cup update

Every climb in every Cup from Canada to Sheffield has taught me something about how to and what to do in Cup situation from the warm up to the five second count down before go time each Cup has been a learning experience. All this experience has brought me closer and closer to one day standing with the best of the best. With only one comp let for me in the tour I am getting psyched to preform at the best of my ability in the Arco World Championships.

I need to give a big big thanks to Jes/love of my life for helping me every step of the way making sure I have the logistics all worked out, and I have to say that she is a pro and deserves a big party at the end of this for all her efforts.

Climbing World Cups are very unique because the problems that are presented for us are not "hard" its just the Ora, the crowd, and the tricky setters that make the climbs difficult to send. World Cup climbing is more of a Head game when your at that level of competition then any thing else. From my start in Canada when I did not even send one climb to now, I know I have learned so much and every Cup I do a little better and make less and less mistakes. I did not put too much perisher on my self this go around, but still wanted to do well, So for me making it past the first round was a big step and one I hope to continue doing. Moving closer and closer tell one day I'm on the top spot with the best is my goal.

World Cup

From the first day I started training for competitions I have always DREAMED about becoming a World Champion and as each year passes, I get closer and closer. Each year, every single comp, teaches me something about how the system works and every time I make a mistake or miss something I learn something new. I replay each moment in my head to try and make my self better as a person and as a competition climber.
(Thousands of people showing up for Finals!) Canmore, Canada has to be as close as you can get to being in Switzerland, yet you're still in North America. The unbelievable tall mountains that surround this little town Canmore, an internationally known hot spot for many training mountaineers. No matter in what direction you look, you are surrounded by some of the most amazing faces, cliffs, and peaks that I have ever seen. As for the World Cup, the first day was a total white out, of course, it was dumping snow most of the day "typical Canada" I was told. During the comp, I was not able to get past the first round. Each go and every problem, was a learning experience and a chance to gauge for whats yet to come. Vail, Colorado was the last competition I attended, which I did significantly better at then in Canmore and for me was a confidence builder! The Teva Mountain Games is one of the largest events of the year and if you were not there, then mark it on your calendar for next year because you're missing out!!!! Vail might be one of the most expensive places to visit, the fast food has the 5 dollar menu instead of a dollar menu. The Teva Mountain games are so much fun, with many, many events to see from Eukanuba dog retrieving competition to BMX bikers. There is something for everyone and free stuff for everyone that comes. This World Cup attracts some of the best climbers from around the world, Germany, Russia, Austria and Japan! This Event is amazing and inviting for every one. There even is a citizen comp, after the World Cup so even if your not a pro you can come and climb on the walls that the pros use.LOOK for photos from James Hickey and Ben Dory Next up is Barcelona, Spain. so stay posted..... DBM