Athletes Ask Athletes - An Interview Series With Professional Climbers

As part of the interview series “Athletes ask Athletes”, professional climbers have their say. You are directing a question to a colleague. The nominated person answers the question and in turn nominates another person - and so on. Stay tuned.

The series started with a question from the Swiss professional climber Petra Klingler an Adam Ondra, This article will be continuously updated and with the interview questions and answers we publish on instagram.

Petra Klingler asks Adam Ondra

What is the most important thing/object you will take with you to the Olympic Games in Tokyo?

Petra Klinglers question to Adam Ondra

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We're happy to launch the interview series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. Our first episode is with @petra_klingler and @ adam.ondra: Petra asked: "Adam, what will be the essential object / thing you will take with you to Japan for the Olympic Games and why?" Adam Ondra answers: "I will bring a fan, because it helps a lot. It's a game changer, when it's hot! "Adam nominated @sebbouin. Stay tuned for Adam's question and Seb Bouin's answer in our next episode of "Athletes Ask Athletes". . #athletesaskathletes #aaa #rockclimbing #climbing #klettern #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbinglife #climbing_is_my_passion #climbinginspiration #timetoclimb #happyclimbing #theclimbinglife #iloveclimbing #climbinglover #climbinglife #climbing_lovers #timetoclimb #climbing_is_my_passion #doyouboulder #boulderinglife #bouldering #boulder #bouldern #extremebouldering

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Jul 12, 2019 at 6: 27 PDT

Adam Ondra asks Seb Bouin

"Why do you rate your routes so difficult?"

Adam Ondras question to Sébastien Bouin

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NEWS: Second episode of our series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. Our first episode was with @petra_klingler and @ adam.ondra. . Now Adam Ondra asked french climber Sébastien Bouin the following question: “Why do you grade your routes so hard?”. Sébastien's answer: “I want to be sure to be on the real grade! It's hard to put a grade, the routes are evolving with the time. And I prefer to see my routes upgrade than downgrade. ". Seb nominated climbing legend Ben Moon (@moonclimbing). Stay tuned for Seb's question and Ben Moon's answer in our next episode of "Athletes Ask Athletes". . You will find the constantly growing number of interviews on www.lacrux.com. Go check it out! . ? @raphaelfourau. #rockclimbing #climbing #klettern #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #athletesaskathletes #aaa #interview #climbers #adamondra #sebbouin #sebastienbouin #climbinglife #climbing_is_my_passion #climbing_is_my_passion #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbing_climbinginspiration #climbing_climbing #climbinglife #climbing_lovers

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Jul 25, 2019 at 2: 42 PDT

Sébastien Bouin asks Ben Moon

How do you keep the shape after 30 years of hight level climbing?

Sébastien Bouins question to Ben Moon

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? NEWS? Third episode of our series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. Our first episode was with @petra_klingler and @ adam.ondra. The second episode with Adam Ondra and french climber @sebbouin. Sébastien then nominated climbing legend Ben Moon (@moonclimbing) and asked him: How do you keep the shape after 30 years of hight level climbing? Ben's answer: "The secret to staying in shape in your old age is to keep climbing or training. Although this might sound obvious it's not always easy to do and life can easily get in the way. But with so many good climbing gyms around it's much easier than it used to be. If you are motivated then climb or train 3 times per week but 5 is better! If you are unmotivated then try and climb at least once a week until your motivation returns. But whatever you do and however you feel you must keep climbing. It's also really important to look after your body, especially as you get older. Eat a healthy and balanced diet, don't drink too much, maintain your flexibility and accept that you need more recovery time between training or climbing. Train hard, climb harder! " Ben Moon now nominated the Basque training machine Patxi Usobiaga (@patxiusobiaga_pucseries) Stay tuned for Ben's question and Patxi's answer in our next episode of "Athletes Ask Athletes". You will find the constantly growing number of interviews on www.lacrux.com -> searching for athletes ask athletes. Go check it out! . ? @moonclimbing

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Aug 27, 2019 at 12: 33 PDT

Ben Moon asks Patxi Usobiaga

"If having a good mental attitude for redpointing is the key to success, what are your top tips for getting in a good mental attitude?"

Ben Moon’s question to Patxi Usobiaga

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? NEWS? Fourth episode of our series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. Our first episode was with @petra_klingler and @ adam.ondra. The second episode with Adam Ondra and french climber @sebbouin. Sébastien then nominated climbing legend Ben Moon (@moonclimbing) and Ben now asked Patxi Usobiaga (@patxiusobiaga_pucseries the following question: “If having a good mental attitude for redpointing is the key to success, what are your top tips for getting in a good mental attitude? ”Patxi's answer:“ It is impossible to always be motivated, always up. But knowing yourself and knowing how to take advantage of those moments of downturn, are the ones that make you take off higher and it is right there, at that moment when you can do everything you want. "Patxi Usobiaga now nominated the Japanese climber Yuri Hirayama (@stonerideryuji) Stay tuned for Patxi's question and Yuri's answer in our next episode of" Athletes Ask Athletes ". You will find the constantly growing number of interviews on www.lacrux.com -> searching for athletes ask athletes. Go check it out!.? @javipec.. #rockclimbing #climbing #klettern #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbinglife #climbing_is_my_passion #climb inginspiration #timetoclimb #happyclimbing #theclimbinglife #iloveclimbing #climbinglover #climbinglife #climbing_lovers #timetoclimb #climbing_is_my_passion #athletesaskathletes #aaa #adamondra #petrakletes #prayber #climbingler #sebbouin #petrakletes #prayber-view #sebbouin #petracletes

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Oct 17, 2019 at 12: 58 PDT

Patxi Usobiaga asks Yuji Hirayama

"What is your way of staying healthy and fit?"

Patxi Usobiaga's question to Yuji Hirayama

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? UPDATE? Fifth episode of our series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. Our first episode was with @petra_klingler and @ adam.ondra. The second episode with Adam Ondra and french climber @sebbouin. Sébastien then nominated climbing legend Ben Moon (@moonclimbing), followed by @patxiusobiaga_pucseries. Patxi now asked Japanese legend @stonerideryuji the following question: "What is your way of staying healthy and fit?" Yuji's answer: "It's pretty simple: I just don't want to be unhealthy, because if you are not healthy you can ' t enjoy much your life or you enjoy less. I'm always motivated to go climbing and if you motivation is high, you energy level is high too. And because of all that, I'm still climbing a lot and therefore keep myself healthy. So: motivation is key! “Yuji now nominated German pro climber Alexander Megos (@alexandermegos). Stay tuned for Yuji's question and Alex's answer in our next episode of "Athletes Ask Athletes". You will find the constantly growing number of interviews on www.lacrux.com -> searching for athletes ask athletes. Go check it out! >>? @deloprojet>> #rockclimbing #climbing #klänke #multipitch #laragedadam #hosanna #verdon #france #sebbouin #juliacassou #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbinglife #climbing_is_my_passion #climbing_is_my_passion #climbing_inspiration #climbingclimbingclimbing #climbinglife #climbing_passion #climbing_overclimbing #climbing_passion #climbing_overclimbing #climbing_passion #climbing_climbing #climbing_passion #climbing_lover #climbing_passion #climbing_lover #athletesaskathletes #aaa #interview #yujihirayama #alexmegos

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Nov 19, 2019 um 12: 11 PST

Yuji Hirayama asks Alexander Megos

You focused on the Olympics this year and I know it’s not over yet. What do you learn from this Olympic preparation/focus for your daily life and for you life in general?

Yuji Hirayama's question to Alexander Megos

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? UPDATE? Sixth episode of our series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. In todays episode Yuji asks Alexander Megos the following question: "You focused on the Olympics this year and I know it's not over yet. What do you learn from this Olympic preparation / focus for your daily life and for you life in general? " Alexander's answer: "Yes my focus is on the Olympics at the moment and on indoor climbing in general. I think in some ways training for comps and got outside is very similar. You work towards a specific goal you want to achieve. But at the same time the two are completely different. In rock climbing the goal is clear when you are redpointing a route and you know what to expect. In competition climbing though it never is as clear what to expect, because every comp is different. What I'm learning through my preparations for comps is that you need to be able to focus on one single moment and one single day. It doesn't matter if you don't feel great on the day of the comp, you still need to try your hardest because there is no second chance. And that's how it is very often in daily life too. In daily life and in so many situations you can't wait for the perfect day to come. You need to try your hardest when you get the opportunity to, no matter how you feel. " Alexander now nominated Austrian pro climber Kilian Fischhuber (@kilifish). Stay tuned for Alexander's question and Kilian's answer in our next episode of "Athletes Ask Athletes". You will find the constantly growing number of interviews on www.lacrux.com -> searching for athletes ask athletes. Go check it out! >>? @margojain>> #rockclimbing #climbing #klettern #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbinglife #climbing_is_my_passion #climbinginspiration #timetoclimb #happyclimbing #theclimbinglife #iloveclimbing #climbinglover #climbinglife #climbing_lovers #timetoclimb #climbing_is_my_passion #athletesaskathletes #aaa #interview #kilianfischhuber #alexmegos @petra_klingler, @ adam.ondra, @sebbouin, @moonclimbing, @patxiusobiaga_pucseries, @stonerideryuji, @alexandermegos @kilifish

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Dec 16, 2019 at 11: 46 PST

Alexander Megos asks Kilian Fischhuber

"If you compare the bouldering world cup of the two last seasons with the beginning of your career, would you say our sport did an logical evolution or was it a development that came from the media to make our sport 'higher - better - faster' because we are a consumer society? Would the sport have developed in the same direction without social media or do we need spectacular things, because otherwise we don’t watch for more than 15 seconds?"

Alexander Mego's question to Kilian Fischhuber

Kilian's answer

“When I started climbing in 1995, the sport was actually very different than it is today. When the first bouldering world cup took place in 1999, I was just old enough to start. Back then the boulders were rather short routes or imitations of difficult rock climbing movements. Small handles, small steps and lots of pulls. That has now been reversed. The handles are getting bigger and the trains are getting less. Today, the discipline of bouldering also influences route building in the lead, for example when short passages are strung together with spectacular trains.
Bouldering and route building has emancipated itself from rock climbing and has developed in a direction that tends to move away from rock climbing. But I don't think that this development has primarily to do with social media. At least it has its origins before the FB and IG were founded. The "creative, modern, unconventional" bouldering and route construction has become independent, through the search for new movements and movement sequences as well as the use of new materials, shapes and surfaces. Social media have spread this trend, made it accessible to a wide audience and thus accelerated it. 
In principle, I am a fan of this development, but I think that you have to think about how you can steer diversity in ways without restricting creativity. "

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? UPDATE? Seventh episode of our series "Athletes Ask Athletes", where professional climbers ask one of their fellow climbers a question. In todays episode Alexander Megos asks Kilian Fischhuber the following question: “If you compare the bouldering world cup of the two last seasons with the beginning of your career, would you say our sport did an logical evolution or was it a development that came from the media to make our sport 'higher - better - faster' because we are a consumer society? Would the sport have developed in the same direction without social media or do we need spectacular things, because otherwise we don't watch for more than 15 seconds? » You will find Kilians answer - along with all the other athletes Q & A's - on www.lacrux.com searching for athletes ask athletes. Go check it out! Kilian now nominated routesetter Manuel Hassler from flathold (@flathold). Stay tuned for Kilian's question and Manuels answer in our next episode of "Athletes Ask Athletes". ? #reinifichtinger>> #rockclimbing #climbing #klettern #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbinglife #climbing_is_my_passion #climbinginspiration #timetoclimb #happyclimbing #theclimbinglife #iloveclimbing #climbinglover #climbinglife #climbing_lovers #timetoclimb #climbing_is_my_passion #athletesaskathletes #aaa #interview #kilianfischhuber #alexmegos @petra_klingler, @ adam.ondra, @sebbouin, @moonclimbing, @patxiusobiaga_pucseries, @stonerideryuji, @alexandermegos @kilifish, @flathold

A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Jan 20, 2020 at 12: 14 PST

Kilian Fischhuber asks Manuel Hassler

“The style of route construction and the choice of walls (slopes) can be decisive for the results in competitions. How will you deal with it in the future, also to avoid the appearance that you have 'screwed' for or against a certain person? "

Kilian Fischhuber's question to Manuel Hassler

Manuel's answer

The inclination of the different wall profiles usually defines a certain style. The flatter the profiles, the easier dynamic problems can be made. 

It is always very difficult to set an undynamic style in a gently slopy wall that is spectacular at the same time.

That is why I am of the opinion that steep walls should definitely be present at every competition in order to create a natural diversity of styles in route construction. 

This would allow the diversity of movements in route construction to be regulated automatically and much more easily, in order to present the competition in a “fairer” way for all athletes at the same time.

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A post shared by LACRUX climbing magazine (@lacruxmagazin) am Jan 29, 2020 at 12: 46 PST

Next episode of our interview series Athletes Ask Athletes

Manuel Hassler nominates British climber Johnny Dawes, known for his dynamic climbing style and bold ascents, and asks him a question. More on that shortly. Stay tuned!

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Credits: Titelbild IFSC / CMA