Between lecture room, competition and rock

In the so called "Lichthof" in the main building of UZH

David learning in the so called „Lichthof“ in the main building of the university of Zurich (c) Ruben Firnenburg

We’ve contributed our first article to the thecircuitclimbing.com below which is run by Eddie Fowke. He is a well-known and very friendly photographer and writer in the climbing scene and travels to almost every IFSC World Cup around the world. He’s a friend to every athlete in the circuit of rock and competition climbing. We are happy to work with him more often from now on!

If you like the article, spread the word so that everyone can benefit from our thoughts about the dual task of combining performance climbing and education in life. There are more articles about more topics to come!

Anyone who wants to study psychology at the University of Zurich (UZH), has to undergo a packed program with a year-round average of 40 hours per week or sometimes even 60-70 hours during the lecture period – and this within the confines of a public university where there is neither integration nor support of the sports system or athlete’s commitments. This sets a pretty tough schedule for athletes like David where competitive sport training often depends on free space and individual design of the study course, and where training starts to amount to a full time job. “In fact the first year at the UZH in psychology is a screening year. Virtually, they want to clear out every second student. That’s what here is called the assessment year“, David explains. Weiterlesen

European Boulder Champion in Arco

(c) Eddie Fowke, The Circuit

(c) Eddie Fowke, The Circuit

Last weekend, the European Youth Championships took place in Arco (Italy). In my last youth boulder competition, before I definitely will move to the men’s class by next year, I was able to win the European Junior Championship and to secure the European Junior Cup after a previous victory at the Boulder EYC in L’Argentière (France) and a second place in Längenfeld (Austria ). I feel happy and proud. It was so much fun to climb to the bet with my strong friends Michael Piccolruaz (Italy), Alex Khazonov (Israel), Elias Weiler (Austria) and Gregor Vezonik (Slovenia). Thanks to all who have supported me and cheered me up the wall. In Arco my time at the international youth competition circuit has begun in 2006 with a silver medal at the Rock Junior in Speed climbing and now a circle is completed by winning the Junior European Championship. A beautiful time with many international youth podiums now has come to an end. For the next two weeks I once again will be on the road with Ruben for some rock bouldering in South Tyrol before on September, 19-20th I will finish my this year’s boulder competition season at the Adidas Rockstars in Stuttgart (Germany).

Cu David

Official Report