“What I've learned from mountaineering is: the best gifts you give yourself and the more you have to give in return, the more you get back!”

Simon Gietl

    With "EYWA ”, Simon Gietl and his long-time climbing partner Vittorio Messini have already achieved their third first ascent on the Pordoi. After “Pandora” (2019) and “Avatar” (2022), “EYWA” followed in November 2023 - “a well-rounded ascent”, as the alpinist aptly remarks. Just as Eywa in the film Avatar connects the Na'vi to their world and gives them life energy, Simon feels that his passion for climbing connects him to something bigger.

    Ice climbing is all about being in the right place at the right time. Just a few days are often enough to change the quality of the ice to such an extent that previously accessible routes become inaccessible. Simon and Vittorio were all the more delighted with the gift that Mother Nature gave them on the Pordoi at the beginning of November. Heavy rainfall and cold temperatures in autumn, as well as the optimal location of the wall, provided exceptionally good conditions for ice climbing in 2023 - a rarity in the Dolomites at this time of year.

    “It was clear to us on the very first day that the route had the potential to become a new classic.” And that's exactly what happened: During the approximately three-month window in which the line was covered in climbable ice, numerous imitators enthusiastically followed in Simon and Vittorio's footsteps. The duo managed the first ascent of the mixed route (570m, WI6, M6), a combination of several old rock routes, in just two days. On November 9, the two friends climbed from the base of the wall to the ledge. A week later, they traversed directly into the ledge to conquer the upper part of the line to the summit.

    “It was an honor to make the first ascent of this beautiful ice line,” says Simon, who is passionate about opening up new routes. “That special feeling when you know that no one has climbed here before and you can share this experience with a friend is simply priceless.” Even if the lines eventually fall into summer hibernation and the traces of the climbers are thus fleeting, the memories of a great adventure remain. And with them comes the humility of being at home in such a unique place and having an inexhaustible canvas full of new lines right on your doorstep in the Dolomites.

    True freedom lies not only in the peaks we conquer, but also in the courage to follow our heart - wherever it may lead us. That is why there is not much more to say than: Dare to go your own way!

    Simon's equipment for EYWA

    •
      sports
      RAGE
      Ice tool for demanding mixed and ice routes | precise and effective
    •
      sports
      DEMON AUTO
      High-end crampons | for the ultimate bite when ice climbing
    •
      sports
      ACE
      Ultralight climbing harness for demanding tours on rock and ice
    •
      sports
      SKIMMER ECO DRY 7,1MM
      Thinnest and lightest half rope on the market | PFC free | Climb Green
    •
      sports
      MISSION SET
      Ultralight quickdraw for alpine climbing

      About Simon

      Simon Gietl is a passionate climber and mountaineer from South Tyrol. The Dolomites are his home and his canvas. He has been drawing new lines on rock and ice since he was 18 years old. His style and ethics are traditional. His reputation in the climbing community is controversial. He is known worldwide for his positivity, but is criticized for pursuing his dream at home.

      More about Simon

      Be part of the Vivalpin Ice Climbing Weekend

      Win two tickets for you and your climbing partner with EDELRID and train your ice climbing skills together with Simon Gietl!

      Are you a passionate ice climber or have you been climbing all your life and would now like to take the plunge into the fascinating world of ice climbing? Then the Vivalpin Ice Climbing Camp is just right for you. Led by experienced alpinist and passionate mountain guide Simon Gietl, you will experience an icy adventure in the Ahrntal Valley. You can also try out the EDELRID ice climbing equipment including the latest generation of ice tools at the training camp.

       

      Where, when, what? - All information at a glance

      • Procedure
        • 18 - 19.01.2025: Ice climbing course weekend in Ahrntal (incl. 1h online training three days before the course starts)
        • Supervision by Simon Gietl and experienced Vivalpin mountain guides
        • EDELRID test equipment with the 2024 generation of ice tools and the new PINCH belay device
        • Accommodation and meals are not included in the ticket
      • Location
        • In the Ahrntal (Simon's home)
        • Difficulty: routes in difficulty levels WI 3 to WI 5+, plus mixed routes up to M6
      • Program
        • Improve your personal skills, especially crampon and ice tool technique
        • Top rope and lead climbing training
        • Stand construction
        • Attaching fixed points
        • Economic and tactical climbing
      • What you bring along
        • Experience in ice or sport climbing
        • Mastery of belaying techniques required
        • Minimum age: 18 years
        • Language skills: German, English or Italian
      • T&Cs

        Vivalpin Ice Climbing Camp competition

        Participation in the competition organized by EDELRID GmbH & Co. KG, Achener Weg 66, 88316 Isny im Allgäu, hereinafter referred to as the operator or organizer, is free of charge and is governed exclusively by these conditions of participation.

        Procedure of the competition
        Entries for the Vivalpin Ice Climbing Camp competition can be submitted from 07.12.2024 to 29.12.2024 at 11:59pm CET. The winner will be announced on 30.12.2024 via DM on Instagram.

        How to enter
        To take part in the competition, the form linked on this website must be completed in full with your name, Instagram profile name and email address and submitted. Participation is only possible within the participation period. Entries received after the closing date will not be considered in the draw.

        Only one submitted entry per participant will be entered into the competition.

        Participation in the competition is free of charge.

        It is not possible to transfer the prize to a third party, make a cash payment of equal value or change the prize.

        If the winner does not respond within 3 days of the announcement, the prize will be forfeited, and a replacement winner will be chosen.

        Eligible participants
        Natural persons who have reached the age of 18 are eligible to participate. Participation is not restricted to customers of the organizer and is not dependent on the purchase of goods or services.

        All persons involved in the conception and implementation of the competition are not eligible to participate.

        All persons involved in the design and implementation of the competition and employees of the operator and their family members are not eligible to take part in the competition. In addition, the operator reserves the right, at its own discretion, to exclude persons from participation if there are justified reasons, for example

        • in the event of manipulation in connection with access to or execution of the competition,
        • in the event of breaches of these conditions of participation,
        • in the event of unfair trading or
        • in the event of false or misleading information in connection with participation in the competition.

        Winning, notification and transmission of the prize
        The following prizes will be awarded:
        1x two tickets for the Vivalpin Ice Climbing training (18.-19.01.2024)

        The draw will take place on 30.12.2024. The winner will be determined by a random draw among all participants and informed of the prize via direct message on Instagram. If the competition is subject to conditions, only those participants who have correctly fulfilled the conditions will be included in the draw. The prize - exclusively to the winner - will be handed over by e-mail by Vivalpin GmbH & Co. KG. An exchange or cash payment of the prize is not possible. Any additional costs associated with claiming the prize shall be borne by the winner. The winner is responsible for paying any taxes on the prize.

        Termination of the competition
        The organizer expressly reserves the right to terminate the competition without prior notice and without giving reasons. This applies in particular to any reasons that would disrupt or prevent the competition from running as planned.

         

        Data protection

        Data protection for competitions
        In the event of a win, the winner agrees to the publication of his/her name and photo/video in the advertising media used by the organizer. This includes the announcement of the winner on their social media platforms.

        By participating in the competition, consent is given to the collection and use of personal data (name, Instagram profile name, email address). The operator collects, stores and processes this personal data to carry out and process the competition and to notify the winner in the event of a win. Furthermore, consent is given that the operator may inform the participants about products and news by e-mail in the future. The data will not be passed on to third parties. Consent can be revoked at any time by sending a message to the operator. In this case, the data will be deleted by the operator.

        Instagram disclaimer
        This promotion is not affiliated with Instagram and is in no way sponsored, supported or organized by Instagram.

        Applicable law
        Questions or complaints in connection with the competition should be addressed to the operator. Contact details can be found in the legal notice section: Legal Notice | EDELRID

        The operator's competition is subject exclusively to German law. Legal recourse is excluded.

        Severability clause
        Should any provision of these conditions of participation be or become invalid in whole or in part, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these conditions of participation. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a legally permissible provision that comes as close as possible to the economic meaning and purpose of the invalid provision. The same applies in the event of a loophole in these conditions of participation.

        The EDELRID team wishes you good luck and success!

        Enter the competition