Europeans dominated the 2004 Ouray Ice Festival competition in southwestern Colorado last weekend, although, as usual, the Canadians also made a strong showing. Swiss climber Simon Anthamatten won the men’s comp on a wild-looking mixed route with big blobs of ice pasted to an overhanging wall. German Ines Papert, climbing the same route, was the top female competitor and nearly stole the entire show — her performance placed her second overall. Anthamatten and Papert were the only climbers to complete the route, said to be very sustained and pumpy M9 or M10.

Stephane Husson of France finished second in the men’s comp, only failing to flash the climb because he dropped one of his leashless tools on relatively easy ground near the top. Slovenian Aljaz Anderle was third. Canadian Rob Owens, second at the 2003 Ouray Ice Festival, was the top North American finisher, finishing fourth, and Coloradan Rich Purnell was the top U.S. climber, in sixth place. Notably, Canadian Raphael Slawinski, who won this competition in 2002 and 2003, did not come to Ouray this year.

Abby Watkins, an Australian native living in the Canadian Rockies, finished second place among the women and 11th overall. American Kim Csizmazia, also living in Canada, was third.