Canadians Will Gadd and Kim Csizmazia hammered their way to victory over the strong field of Europe's top ice climbers to win the inaugural 2000 Ice Climbing World Cup. The Ice Climbing World Cup traveled through six different countries on a two-month tour, starting in Austria before moving to France, Italy, Switzerland, Russia and finally Sweden.

The 33-year-old Gadd won two of the competitions outright and made the podium in four events to best Francois Lombard, the two-time World Cup sport climbing champion, and over 60 other top climbers. Csizmazia prevailed for the season title over a field of more than 20 women.

"It was the toughest competitive experience of my life. The field was incredibly strong, and the travel schedule punishing," said Gadd.

Gadd, the winner in the 1998 and 1999 X-Games Ice Climbing competitions, also repeated many of the hardest climbs in Europe between the World Cup competitions, including the hardest mixed route in Europe: Stevie Haston's "The Empire Strikes Back," rated M11.

— Matt Stanley, MountainZone.com staff