SKYLOTEC Sports Climbing Athletes' Team
SKYLOTEC now supports a few adventurous and talented climbers who love both recreational and competitive climbing. To introduce the team, we put together a questionnaire. Read on for yourself!
Martin Schehl.
Successfull tour.
Martin Schehl
Date and place of birth: 15 March 1969 Dahn, Germany
Wohnort: Dahn
I have been climbing since 1979.
What has been your biggest/highest success up to now?
After a big motocross accident 10 years ago, today again to be able to climb in the eighth French degree of difficulty. And who knows, maybe on the “old days” I'll make it to a 8c still...
Danger/fear—important feelings in climbing. How do you personally handle them?
As the father of three children, fear is always present for me. Climbing has a lot to do with responsibility, toward my climbing partner and my family. You learn to deal with the fear, to gauge what works and what doesn't. However, fear can also hamper your health or even save your life. I climb according to the motto: Climb for yourself, not for the others, and always listen to your inner voice.
Which tips and tricks do you have for beginners in climbing sport?
Don't run after the pure numbers and pay careful attention to your health. In our sports studies at the university, a smart man told us once that we ought to teach the children to enjoy their sport a long time. Since then, I have noticed that I have seen many come and go.
Jennifer "Jenny" Rosenberger.
Successful tour.
Jennifer Rosenberger
Date and place of birth: 29 January 1992 Landau, Germany
Residence: 76831 Billigheim, Germany
I have been climbing since 2004/2005.
My highlights: Climbing vacations/holidays with friends.
Who is or are your role model(s) in professional mountaineering?
I prefer finding my own way myself and getting things started myself. I would rather develop my own personality and not copy or imitate anyone, so in this way, I don't have any role models.
Which tips and tricks do you have for beginners in climbing sport?
Always take one step at a time, don't overdo anything, and always remember that having fun is first and foremost.
Climbing, climbing, and more climbing. What else do you do in your free time?
I'm never bored and most of all I like to paint the town red. When the weather's nice, you can find me playing frisbee and volleyball at the local bathing lake. I also go snowboarding when the season is right.
Kathrin Schierl.
Kathrin Schierl
Date and place of birth: 1984 in Graz, Austria
Residence: Neufahrn bei Freising
I have been climbing since 2003.
My highlights:
Prost Gambrinus 7c+/8a
1st place in the Munich City Championships
How did you start climbing? What's the most fun thing about climbing for you?
My husband introduced me to mountaineering and from the beginning, I was so excited that I abandoned everything else to be active outdoors as much as possible. Climbing means to me enjoying nature, experiencing adventure, hanging out with friends, meeting people, making goals, reaching them, and working on oneself. So as you can see, climbing is simply so much more!
What is your biggest/highest goal in mountaineering?
Every little goal met brings me further to the dream of better climbing.
What are your favourite climbing areas?
Oh, gosh, where should I start? Almost every region has its plus points and there are still so many that I have never seen. I think Foutainbleau is really super—even light bouldering is incredibly fun there, because the motions are just so wild. Zillertal/Ötztal and the granite—there are so many aesthetic routes there and then Frankenjura with its “powerful” lines ... makes me want to get out there and climb again.
Marion Mannheim.
Adventurous tour.
Marion Mannheim
I have been climbing since December 2001.
My highlights:
Various routes on sight to 7c
A 7c+ on sight St. Léger
8a+ - Witchcraft - August 2008
What's the most fun thing about climbing for you?
When on a beautiful day in a top region I can climb as many long, different routes as possible.
Danger/fear—important feelings in climbing. How do you personally handle them?
Fear is, for me, a positive factor, too. In connection with being able to estimate myself in a healthy way, it can help me to recognize dangers in time and so avoid them.
Freedom—what does that mean for you in connection with climbing?
I had never experience the feeling of freedom so intensively as during my current six-month trip through Europe. On this trip, I have a lot of time to climb, but also the chance to experience intensively other things outside of climbing and to try out new things.
Markus Grünebach.
Steep crags, dangerous cliffs,
his world.
Markus Grünebach
Date and place of birth: 1984 Dachau, Germany
Residence: Bruck-Pienzenau
I have been climbing since 2004.
My highlights:
2006 First 7c Meme pas male (Orpierre)
2007 First 8a Mrakan (Paklenica)
2008 First 8a+ Leninakan (Achleiten)
2008 Bavarian Master Lead (Bayerischer Meister Lead)
2009 First 8b+ Remigius (Achleiten)
Sponsored by SKYLOTEC—how did it happen?
I heard about the new brand, looked at the big and well-rounded range of products, and then applied after that.
What does that mean to you?
I am happy to have a new equipment supplier with so much to offer! I get only the absolutely best products and that makes climbing even more fun!
What is your biggest/highest goal in mountaineering?
To enjoy the beautiful nature and to climb the “King Lines”. The dream routes there have to be not only 10s and up, but can also be a few 9s, simply because the routes in the wall are so wonderful.
Where do you see the difference between recreational and competitive climbing? What do you prefer? What do you see as the big draws for each?
For recreational climbing, fun should always be the number one thing. Too much ambition and doggedness take away from the relaxation that you are looking for and need in your free time. For competitive climbing, a certain degree of ambition and doggedness have to be there, or else you don't reach anything. But with too much ambition and too high of expecations, you often experience very depressing steps backward.
At these events, I was present for SKYLOTEC in 2009:
Placing bolts in contest 2009
21–23 May 2009 - High East Bouldercup
Contest judging 2009
23 May 2009 - High East Bouldercup
18 July 2009 - Bavarian Youth Championship (Bayerische Jugendmeisterschaften) Rockgames Coburg
17 Oct 2009 - Soulmoves South Ingolstadt
21 Nov 2009 - Soulmoves South High East
Wettkampfergebnisse 2009
1st Place - in the Overall Ranking Oberlandcup 2009
1st Place - Munich City Championships (Münchner Stadtmeisterschaften) - 20 Jun 2009
1st Place - Ingolstadt City Championships - 25 Apr 2009
2nd Place - Climb FREE - 28 Feb 2009
2nd Place - Soulmoves South High East - 21 Nov 2009
2nd Place - in the Overall Ranking Soulmoves South 2009
Patricia Lihs.
Steep crags, dangerous cliffs,
his world..
Bouldern every time you like.
Patricia Lihs
Date and place of birth: 09. 07.1982 in Tarnowitz
Residence: Landshut
I have been climbing since: 2005
My highlights:
7c+ in Rodellar (Spanien)
7c+ Wunderbaren Jahre (Altmühltal)
7c/7c+ Minefield (Donaudurchbruch)
7c Pipeline (Sizilien) 7c Stargate (Sizilien)
How did you get started in climbing? What is the most fun about climbing for you?
My boyfriend at the time showed me how to do it; I was so taken in by it from the start, had so much fun, that I could hardly wait to climb again. This feeling has stayed with me to this day. In the meantime, it has become so large that I cannot imagine a life without climbing sport.
What is your greatest/highest goal in climbing sport?
Giving as many people as possible something of my thinking and feeling for this sport. They also ought to get infected with the climbing bug and recognize the true pleasure of climbing.
Danger/fear—decisive feelings in climbing sport. How do you personally cope with them?
Estimating dangers ahead of time is important. But you should not be afraid. That inhibits your own ability to perform. It is important never to lose respect; otherwise, dangers can no longer be sized up realistically.
Freedom—what does it mean for you in connection with climbing?
Having air under your feet. Stop time for a moment, no rush, no stress, only you and the rock.
Who is/are your role model(s) in professional climbing sport?
Chris Sharma - He is so relaxed, does his thing, and doesn’t let people tell him what to do, and he has so much courage for new projects.
Favorite climbing areas or regions—what are your favorites?
I have already been in half of Europe and everywhere, climbing is incredible; each climbing area has its own fascination. But I always return happily time and time again to Franconia, the Altmühl Valley (Altmühltal), Laaber Valley (Laabertal) and Arco, where I spend the most time every year.
Which tips and tricks do you have for newcomers to climbing sport?
Don’t frantically chase after any levels of difficulty, try out new things, and most importantly, have fun climbing.
Climbing, climbing, and climbing again. What else do you do in your free time?
To be really honest: Not much. When I myself am not climbing, I am instructing our up-and-coming new talents in Landshut or organizing competitions for the kids at the district or regional level! Twice a week I go running and in the saunauna.
Competitions are a topic for you. How do you prepare yourself for them?
Competitions are secondary for me. I would like to experience nature and actually always go up higher. So 20 lengths of rope would be really wild.
