Canadian Sean McColl finished third in a lead-climbing World Cup last weekend in Imst, Austria, extending his remarkable season. McColl, 21, is one of the few North American climbers to compete in Europe, and after last weekend’s comp he is ranked in the top 10 in the World Cup standings in both lead climbing and bouldering. Only one other male climber can claim that distinction: David Lama from Austria, who won the Imst World Cup. 

McColl has competed in seven international events this year and has never finished out of the top 10. In addition to his bronze in Austria last Saturday, he placed third in a bouldering World Cup in Italy in June, and fourth in another bouldering World Cup in France a few weeks later. In September, McColl also was invited to the prestigious Arco competition in Italy, where he finished fifth in bouldering. 

McColl missed the first three bouldering World Cups of 2008, which makes his seventh-place ranking all the more remarkable. Ironically, his worst result in bouldering this season came in North America, when he placed10th at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. 

McColl, who calls British Columbia home, has been climbing since he was 10 and did his first 5.14 at age 12. He is a three-time world youth champion in lead climbing. 

Click here to watch video of McColl’s bronze-medal performance in the finals at Imst, Austria.  

Date of Event (Imst): September 19-20, 2008 

Sources: Icc-info.org, 8a.nu, Gripped.com

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