On the new climbing wall – Pic by Marita Bünger

Since my return from the Rämibühl Zürich in Switzerland and the World Youth Championships in Canada in August I attend a new school near Hanover, the CJD Elze, which has set itself the goal to meet the specific educational needs of young athletes.

Together with my climbing base Hanover, that recently won the „Grüne Band“ (Green Ribbon) of the German Olympic Sports Federation for outstanding work in youth development, a cooperation agreement was signed at the beginning of this school year, which includes also other agreements in addition to the educational aspects.

These are screenings of talents for climbing, which are to be done at the CJD, support for the training of sport teachers and instructors at the newly installed climbing wall, which could be funded through the parents’ support association, as well as the implementation of training groups or training hours at this climbing wall and generally in climbing.

The school, in return, is supposed to indemnify the athletes for the required training and competition times, to provide the necessary training opportunities and to offer as much assistance as possible for missed lessons or in the planning of replacement services. Moreover, the students can stay in a boarding house.

I am the first climbing athlete having moved to the CJD Elze. I am in the 11th school class now and I want to do there my high school diploma („Abitur“) in 2015. It is important to me that I can arrange that many good training sessions with school. In addition the newly installed climbing wall in the school gym gives me also the opportunity to some training sessions in Elze beside my training in Hanover.

According to the already existing cooperation with Eintracht Hildesheim (handball), Hannover 96 (soccer) and the State Canoe Association the CJD Elze offers now with this new cooperation in climbing another way for young athletes to combine their sport and academic ambitions.

Our blog provides more basic information on the topic in Germany on climbing and school.

I have to say special thanks to Tom Brenzinger for his support in the procurement of holds and volumes for the climbing wall in Elze.

Cheers Rubi