Interview

Last weekend Bart van Raaij and Arnold Pippel were over to interview me for the Dutch climbing magazine BL.O.K. They had planned to interview Micky (Page), but Mick was too busy so had to cancel the interview. Which meant Bart and Arnold had to find someone else (in England) to write about. I must admit that it left me with mixed feeling, hearing I was actually second choice. But I still feel honored they are willing to write a whole article about me.

I’ve had interviews before, but this interview was slightly different. They wanted to talk about the changes in my life and how they’ve affected me (both personal and in my climbing). Having to think about my life, made me realize how much it actually has changed. And how much I’m still part of those changes in progress. It also made me realize the meaning of climbing has changed. It’s not the driving force anymore, it’s the force that keeps me going.

Their interview was an eye-opener (and it gave me a good excuse to allow myself to climb outdoors).

So thanks for coming over boys (I’ll try and finish the Nadser and I’ve ordered 1Q84).

Body Tension

Me testing one of the new pink problems at Climb Newcastle

(The two holds on the steep, have been taken off after Springer made me do the problem without them)

....or maybe the title of this blog should of been, ‘ A lack of body tension’.

Yesterday Chris and I set the pink circuit at Climb Newcastle (which is one of my favorite circuits). Because Chris is suffering a cold he decided to mainly make some video’s of me testing the problems. See : http://news.climbnewcastle.com/index.php?id=552.

Note the difference between my body tension now and that of 3 years ago: http://articles.climbnewcastle.com/bodytension.html. Pfew, I really think I need to start training properly again.

Winter days

Compared to many other cities, it has been relatively (and pleasantly) warm in Newcastle the last few weeks. Lets say that, unlike the Dutch, we wouldn’t be able to run an ‘Elfsteden tocht’ this winter.

When I was driving to the wall, however, the car attended me on the low temperature outside, -7C (nice grade ;)). At this point I probably should of decided to go to the gym instead of to the wall, which I didn’t. For those who aren’t familiar with Climb Newcastle, its like a fridge in winter because of its solid 19th century walls and its glass roof.

With frozen fingers, numb toes and red nose I ended up having a really good session. Maybe because it reminded me of climbing outside on a cold Swiss day.

Driving home, I realized how much I miss climbing outside on these cold and crispy winter days but also how lucky I am for still having the opportunity to enjoy them if I want to.

Bring on the winter (but let’s keep the snow away).

Yesterday: Amber on a sunny winter afternoon in Newcastle. No hat, No gloves.

New Shoes

Left: (Vegan) Instinct lace-ups, Right: (Vegan) Boostics

Just arrived: my new (vegan) Boostics and Instinct lace-ups. Can’t wait to try them out.

Thanks Scarpa!