Build My Own FeedPatxi Usobiaga wins World Championship!
Our man Patxi Usobiaga is in top form once again, this time claiming the World Championship in Qinghai, China against the world's top competition climbers. Congratulations, Patxi! Check out the entry below that Patxi posted on his website and the video of him sending the finals route (check out the leg-shaking, fist-pumping stoke!).
First I want to apologize to Cesar Grosso because I forgot to tear out the top hold that I prosimed him. I was so excited when I was up there...
3 World Championships placing 2nd were too many for me, winning one had become an obsession for me during the last 7 seven years but, fortunately, the moment arrived last July 5th. When I won the World Cup for the first time I thought that a very beutiful objetive for a competition climber like me was to win all the most important international events, to have one trophy of each in my living room, and with this victory in Xining I finally got to fulfill this dream of mine. Now I am in the real TOP, I am happy because all the hard work has paid off.
I had prepared myself for this competion as much as possible. I tried to calculate every detail, even the smallest one. I was risking a lot, because I wasnt following the system I had used the previous years, I needed to improve it substantially. Two years ago, after the Aviles World Championship I marked an X in the calendar (July 5th, 2009). That was it, that was all, the objetive. And during the last few weeks I was visualizing it, dreaming about it, I was seeing myself in the highest spot of the podium, I couldnt think of going back home without the title.
You can see the picture of me holding the TOP in the final. I cannot describe how great I was feeling in that moment. I had never climbed so well, so fluid, so focused, so weightless...
I want to thank all of you who have sent me sms or email congratulating me. To the people who have put up with me, help me, and encourage me. THANK YOU ALL. Also, to my sponsors, without their confidence and support I would have never been able to do this, I really appreciate it. Thanks.
I promised my mother that I would quit competitions once I had won all of them, but I cannot retire now. I feel still young, full of energy and in the mood of fighting, of finding new objectives in competition. I was the grandfather in the final. Adam is 13 years younger than me, the new generation and despite the predictions I got to win because I really wanted to. Yes, I was the winner, but all competitors there deserved it. Only the fact of being there is an amazing sensation, which gets better and better as you are classificated in the the different rounds.
The biggest mistake I made is this World Championship was not to sign up for the Overall ranking, combining the results from speed, lead and boulder. If I had done it, I would have won, because the winner Sean Mcoll got 98 points and I would have had 110. Well, I have to say I wasn't expecting to do so well in boulder (I was 21st). I would have been nice to be proclamed winner in this too. Funny thing, next time I would surely go for this ranking too. I am such an nonconformist...
Now I have a long trip back home, there I will have to attend the media and celebrate with my people. After this short visit I will head towards Chamonis, to go for the 3rd World cup!!
I feel well, happy, a dream came true.
Patxi
United States / English 
28 Sep 2009, 4:26PM
well done, that is such an amazing accomplishment
14 Jul 2009, 1:04AM
bravo!!!!!!!