I had an absolute blast this weekend in Innsbruck. After the Prague event, I felt no pressure and really wanted to have a great time on the wall. I wasn't really planning to do Innsbruck at the beginning of the season, but the Arco crew psyche got me a few weeks ago and I decided to participate, since the drive isn't very far indeed. I felt physically better than in Prague and ended up even topping one qualification route (let's ignore the fact it was almost vertical, unlike any other comp route).
Final route was a cool climb, but mostly only about managing the pump in your forearms, not really the style I would normally excel, but I truly enjoyed the route and the crowd. I climbed exactly the way I would like to and what I was training for. Unlike in Prague, it felt possible to be back on the podium in the future again.
It was so much fun to share the psyche of finals with my training buddy Gio Placci, true dedication from this guy, so well deserved! Thanks to Jakob Schubert for giving me hope I am not too old yet, showing once again what kind of machine he is. Congrats to Neo Suzuki and Janja Garnbret for being absolutely phenomenal.
Moving to Arco made the training for comps so much more fun and possibly even more efficient, especially from a motivational point of view. Now it is time for a little break from comps, but I will be back in late August for the European Championships in Laval!
Photos here and in the gallery by World Climbing.
