The sixth international Melloblocco will take place in Val Masino, Italy from 07 - 10 May 2009.

This bouldering meeting has quickly developed into one of Europe's largest happenings and last year more than 4000 people gathered in Val di Mello, of which 1500 officially registered for the event from 33 different nations.

This year's edition, organised and promoted by the Val Masino council, promises to be even bigger and we would be most grateful for your help in making 2009 even more successful with your press coverage before, during and after the event. Also because the meeting takes place immediately after the decision to render Val di Mello a Natural Reserve, an objective always considered of utmost importance for the Masino council, the Melloblocco and all climbers.





The organisation has reserved a limited number of accommodation places for the press and we would obviously be more than happy to have you as our guest during the event. If you are interested in representing your media please contact us as soon as possible.

PRESS RELEASE

Val di Mello, Val Masino. Mark this date in your calendar: Thursday 7th of May to Sunday the 10th. Now login to www.melloblocco.it.
Click Pre-registration and fill out the form. Done? Great, now you too are 
part of the Melloblocco tribe... To tell the truth this pre-registration process doesn't need much advertising, the Melloblocco is a ball in motion. So much so that more than 1200 climbers have already signed up 30 days before the rendez-vous.

One of the reasons for this may be that if you chose to go to the Melloblocco, you know what you're in for. You know for example that Val di Mello never disappoints - there are few places like this that unite the wandering spirit of the boulderers with their desire to climb together, wedged between the sky and the rocks. Perhaps it's also because climbers need to gather together and meet up... what is certain is that the Melloblocco has been a reality for 6 years, and all boulderers know this perfectly well! Mello No. 6 will greet them with summits, waterfalls, meadows and a thousand and one boulder problems, as well as a tribe which continues to grow in number. The tribe of boulderers who, once a year, all become Melloblockers.

In this edition the valley celebrates its recently gained official status as a Natural Reserve. This success was yearned for by the Melloblockers, the climbers and the Val Masino town council. It's no chance therefore that once again the meeting will strictly be "Mello no car", which means that to go climbing you'll travel on foot or with the legendary Mello shuttle buses. This simple yet important awareness has worked well from the outset and involved all, because the Mello tribe has proven it loves nature without the need for impositions from 
above.

Just like last year, the meeting kicks off with the MellobloccoBaby, the special program dedicated to school children and young climbers to go climbing and discover nature. On Friday 8 May the classic meeting begins with the launch of the hardest boulder problems, set once again by Simone Pedeferri's team. The vertical marathon continues on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May and finishes in the afternoon on Sunday with all, as usual, exhausted but happy.

There will obviously be more in store other than just the bouldering, such as the Saturday night's La Sportiva Party (as always a surprise), and the evening shows on Thursday and Friday at the Mountain Centre with plenty of videos and top climbers. Boulder clinics are scheduled, too. And as usual it'll be exciting to find out who are the big  climbers who will join the Mello tribe in 2009. What is certain is  that they will be scores and scores of Melloblockers

Pre-registration: The event is open to all and pre-registration is now  possible via the official website http://www.melloblocco.it

Evening program:

Thursday 7 May - Presentation of the new guidebook "Daone prog" ed. Versante Sud, ERSAF and LEGAMBIENTE introduce the Val di Mello Natural Reserve.
Friday 8 May - meeting with The North Face Climber Team, screening of the film "Pure" by Chuck Fryberger, presentation of new climbing shoe Speedster La Sportiva, viewing of new short film by Mauro Calibani.
Saturday 9 May - The "La Sportiva Party" highly anticipated La Sportiva Slackline Contest.




Info: http://www.melloblocco.it

SPONSORS:

MELLOBLOCCO is organised by the VAL MASINO COUNCIL
Main Sponsor: LA SPORTIVA
In collaboration with: THE NORTH FACE, ENEL, CREDITO VALTELLINESE
Endorsed by: PROVINCE OF SONDRIO,VALTELLINA DI MORBEGNO MOUNTAIN 
COMUNITY, ERSAF, LOMBARDY REGIONAL SPORT, LOMBARDY FORESTS, VALMASINO 
ASSOCIAZIONE OPERATORI, PORTE DI VALTELLINA TOURIST CONSORTIUM, BIM, 
LOMBARDY MOUNTAIN GUIDES, IFCS, VALTELLINA
Communication Partners: PLANETMOUNTAIN.COM, VERSANTE SUD, PARETI, 
KLETTERN, ALP
The following will also participate in the Sponsor Village: DF-SPORT 
SPECIALIST, E9, STERLING ROPE, CASSIN, PETZL, REVOLUTION, SHERPA ON 
LINE, BLURR, LEGAMBIENTE.

ATTACHED: Melloblocco factsheet


 melloblocco_09 - download