Caroline Ciavaldini

Interview by Karina Hillestad

Caroline Ciavaldini (21), is #2 in the ICC world ranking, has onsighted several 8b's and 8a's, finished third in the world cup in 2005 and won the french championship 2004-2006. Phew! That´s a lot of achievements for being only 21 years old, Caroline!

Do you enjoy competitions?
Yes, it´s good fun and I like the challenge and the concentration I have to put up to do my best. Also, I get to visit a lot of different countries. I do wish I had more time to explore them though.

Caroline´s home is in Aix en Provence in France, but her first experience with climbing was already at the age of 12, in the Reunion Island where she grew up. Now, she trains with the the Pôle France in Aix, and is supported by La Française des jeux.

What do you think makes you such a good climber?
First of all I really LOVE climbing, and as a consequence of that I climb often - a lot on natural cliffs in southern France (Pellion, St Léger, Orgon, Lormarin, Destel). I enjoy the diversity of the movements in climbing, and what I like most is hard onsights, where I really have to fight the routes!

Caroline thinks one of her benefits is a strong mentality. We might have to agree on that. (She onsighted 8b in Peillon a couple of weeks ago!) When she doesn´t climb, she´s studies biology and likes to read. Maybe too much, she says.

What does your future look like?
I have so many nice souvenirs both from competitions and from the cliffs. I just want to carry on living this way, and hope to realise my goals in the upcoming competitions.

In other words: Caroline is living her dream. And show me one climber wouldn´t want to live it. Caroline Ciavaldini is sponsored by Edelrid, Kong, La Sportiva and Carrefour les milles.