On the 2^nd November 2008 at World Shoot XV in Bali, Eric Grauffel retained his title as International Practical Shooting Confederation World Champion in IPSC Open Division. He added this championship title to the previous three World Championships that he has won in Philippines 1999, South Africa 2002 and Ecuador 2005. The pistol he used was the Tanfoglio Gold Custom Eric, which is a full Open Division race gun, single action pistol especially designed for IPSC Open Division competition. In addition to his four World Championship wins, Eric has also won the last five European Championships as well.

By the 1930’s the great northern facing slopes of the European Alps had all been conquered, with one exception. Deemed as being unclimbable, it was 1938 before the Eiger North Wall was finally scaled by a four man Austrian and German team. In its history the Eiger has claimed the lives of over 60 experienced climbers. Many a time I have stood at Kleine Scheidegg and ran my eye over the traditional route that climbers take to the summit. From the Starting Point to the First Pillar, Shattered Pillar and Difficult Crack.