In the rustic and ancient village of Hall, in the Austrian Tyrol, sits the Salzlager warehouse. This impressive building, once used to store salt mined from the near by hills, is held up by twelve massive salt pillars.

But this past weekend it was the Worlds best boulderers and 1000 spectators that raised the roof at the season opener of the IFSC bouldering World Cup.

The Austrians are known for their top level climbing and they showed it by taking the top podium spots. Killian Fishubber, the raining World bouldering champion and 19 year-old Anna Stohr came away with wins.

But nipping at the heals of the Austrians were the Russians, Yulia Abramchuk & Dmitry Sharafutdinov both coming in at 2nd place. Sharafutdinov was the only climber to dispatch all problems in the men’s qualification round.

Daniel Woods (US), came in 3rd and looks to be making a comeback after his dismal performance at last years World Championships in Spain. Jerome Meyer (FRA) toped out all four in semifinals but it was not enough for a podium and instead came in 5th.

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