Ignacio

Ignacio was the first local editor that started with 8a.nu and thanks to him the Spanish site is the second most popular after the swedish. Editors like Ignacio are essential to the spreading and maintanance of 8a.nu since far from everyone is fluent in english. Ignacio has probably put in about 5 hours a week for about six years now with no real payment besides from climbing gear. Jens thinks that Ignacio deserves credit for what he has done and 8a will start paying him in the future. Last year he was invited to Göteborg with his friend Diego (who is covering the Dima Rock Master the next weekend) but the trip did not fully turn out as expected due to a sudden love afair... Here is the interview with one of 8a's real heroes.

Ignacio at his real job

Why do you do it?
Some 6 years ago, I was surfing on internet anxious for climbing news, and when reading at Desnivel’s webpage, I realized that the source they mentioned was unknown for me; that was www.8a.nu. I immediately took a tour on it and could see that they were looking for collaborators in other countries and languages. At that time I returned home from living in U.S.A. and U.K. so I could manage with the English language. Next thing was looking for the contact and sending Jens Larssen an e-mail with my disposition to start working besides of a sample of my capacities with the last news translated from English into Spanish. Then Jens agreed, upgrading my account after some more samples. For me, working in 8a.nu is a good way to refresh my English everyday besides of doing it with one of the things that more have meant to me and still does: climbing. On the other hand, I do fulfil my interest for journalism.

Who are you really?
I’m Ignacio Sandoval Burón. I was born in León, a small city at the north-west of Spain, 31 years ago. I started climbing with a pair of regular sport-shoes when I was 14 at the back wall of a famous hotel in my city, trying to don’t get caught by my parents who forbid me to climb because it was dangerous and because I was supposed to be studying… I got my peak performance some 4 years ago with the redpoint of a couple of 8b’s and one 7c onsight. After that, I practically stopped climbing the last three years, converting myself into a party animal… luckily, motivation is starting to flow in my veins again. Nowadays I live in Madrid just because this is the place where I got my job as an Infant and Primary school teacher. I’m pretty much okay here, but I’m eager to return to León where I have my family and friends besides of much more rock in a closer range.

Ignacio during his comeback

Future with 8a.nu?
To keep on working on my leisure time trying to bring a better webpage to all the readers, so as to they can profit all our system to get informed and to interact in order to always improve our passion. Apart from that, I hope to start earning billions of euros, hahaha. No, just getting some payment for the work I’ve done and I’ll keep on doing for the community.

What would you like to say to the community?
Enjoy climbing and nature with friends and try to improve everyday, but don’t do it to the point where it ruins other important things in life. Be wise and honest!

Can we tell the story when you guys were sick and were fooled to walk 50 km to get aspirin?
For sure you can tell it but I’d ask you to let me read your narration before it gets on-line, just in case you do it wrong!

8a thinks that censuring might destroy a good story, so here's the true uncut version:
Last year Ignacio and a friend came to Gothenburg to climb. First day they were transported up to the "Granitgrotta", an area under development by Jens Larssen. Here, in the middle of nowhere, they were promised free accomodation if they helped the farmer with relocating some of his harvest. This meant shuffling several tons of seeds from one place to the other. After about 10 minutes of this they realised they were in trouble. While the farmer went about his buisness as usual Ignacio and his friend were totally f..ked. Surprise, surprise, next day they were both sick. At this point Jens had gone away on a "love weekend" with his new girlfriend and the two Spaniards were left alone in the countryside with nothing but a phonenumber to 8a's editor Jonny banana.

Calling Jonny and asking for directions to a pharmacy they were instructed that there was one in Torp about 5 km away. Great, they thought, let's walk. After about a kilometer they met the farmer who asked them where they were going. -"Torp" said Ignacio. The farmer, who knew this was 50 km away, asked them if they wanted to borrow his car, since they were sick and all. -"It's ok, we'll walk", said Ignacio. Bloody strong these Spaniards, the farmer thought and drove home. After about 5 km of walking in a delirium Ignacio and his friend reach a place called Brodalen, a small village with nothing but five houses and a minimarket. Here they asked for Torp and desperately realised that they were way off and would have to walk back to the farmer withouth any aspirin. They bought some "natural" remedies in the minimarket, such as honey and lemon, and started walking back. Half way they collapsed on the side of the road and slept for about three hours before dragging their sorry asses the last kilometers home. Well back in the cottage they realised that Jens had left them some aspirin and other remedies, just in case, rendering the whole walk unnecessary. Dissapointed and exhausted they filled their bodies with pills and slept for two days before they could start climbing...welcome to Sweden!