Anna Stöhr

ANNA STÖHR

By Ignacio Sandoval Burón

In the isolation area right before competing in the bouldering final of the 2011 World Championships celebrated in Arco.  Pic: Ignacio Sandoval Burón.

Anna having some fun slack-lining during the party at the 2012 The North Face Kalymnos Festival.  Pic: Ignacio Sandoval Burón.

Competing in the bouldering final of the 2011 World Championships celebrated in Arco.  Pic: Ignacio Sandoval Burón.

Her reaction once she knew she was the 2011 bouldering World Champion.  Pic: Ignacio Sandoval Burón.

Receiving the La Sportiva Competition Award during the Arco Rock Legends 2012. Pic: Ignacio Sandoval Burón.

none;text-autospace:none">We had this interview with Anna when the bouldering World Cup season in which she had a spectacular performance (6 victories out of 7 events so far) had almost came to an end (only the last leg in Münich was left) and just when she returned home from Rocklands where she broke some standards with a couple of 8B’s sent. none;text-autospace:none">

Days after it, the austrian just confirmed her great shape with a new victory in the last World Cup event and with her second European Championship title.

First of all, congratulations for your last achievements in Rocklands as well as for the fabulous WC season you had.

- How long did you stay in Rocklands? Was it your first time?

I stayed from the 16th of July until the 9th of August in the Rocklands. It was my secondtime. My first trip was in 2009.

- Tell us a little bit more about those two 8B's you sent.

"The Power of One" is a beautiful boulder, and it is very powerful and not very long. It took me two days to finish "The Power of One". Whereas "TheVice" is a rather long problem and I needed more time to figure out the perfect beta for me. Ittook me four days to climb "The Vice". 

- Any other remarkable sends from you or Kili during this trip?

We climbed a lot of cool boulders which we have not climbed during our first trip. For me, e.g "Black Velvet", "The Shark", "Barracuda", and maaaany more...

-Any unfinished business by either of you?

In the Rocklands there are so many boulders and lots of potential, therefore there is always business to come back to :)

- I heard you guys are opening a new area in Rocklands... Is that true? Could you, please, tell us where it is, how many problems you have developed.

Yes it is true. It is around Kraaibos pass and we have opened around 50 problems on superb rock from 6a-8a+.

-You had a great 2013 World Cup season. Did you train more than previous years or was it the same as usual? How do you think that allthis training for comps has transferred into real rock performance?

I did not train more this year, but I have a lot of training experience as well as comp experience, so this definitely helps me a lot. I have always climbed a lot outside, since this gives me a lot of motivation. I do not think that you have to transfer the training to rock performance.  I go outside and have fun climbing, I love the sport and that is why I do it.

-Have you tried any 8B+ so far? If so, how did it go? If not, do you have any in mind?

No I have not.

- I think you'll assist to the TNF climbing festival in Kalymnos. I guess that's cause you liked it last year. How was it last year and what do you expect for this year's?

Last year's event was fun. For me it was also cool to return to Kalymnos after many many years. I spent a climbing holiday with my family in Kalymnos when I was 12 years old and it was interesting to see how much has changed since then. 

- What is your (Kili and you) plan for the rest of the year.

We'll compete in the European Championship in Eindhoven this weekend. In September we have time to travel, since university starts in Octo

ber. I do not know yet where exactly we'll be heading, but we will definitely stay in Europe this time.

Check Anna's nice website: www.anna-stoehr.at

Anna in one of the two 8B's she sent during her last trip to Rocklands, 'The Power of One'. Pic: Reinhard Fichtinger.