Patxi Usobiaga is at the Top of His Game
In 2011, Patxi Usobiaga was in a car accident that badly injured his back. Before then he was one of the world’s best climbers, but regaining that title hasn’t been easy.
While he was one of the the best competition climbers ever, he also made history with the first ever 5.14c onsight of Bizi Euskaraz in Etxauri on the route’s first ascent. Watch this spring 2017 film about his rise back to the top.
When did you start climbing? I was 10, but I started going to the mountains with my parents a lot before that. We didn’t know any rock climbers at that time. My parents learned how to belay and I got hooked right away.
What do you like the most about climbing? When I started, every route was special, every trip was amazing and I could see myself progressing. Then I got into comps, specific training programs and I could feel I had reached a new level. I enjoyed that every day I could climb one movement more. Now, I try to make a living out of climbing by sharing all I have learnt through the years.
What is success to you? Success is reaching a goal while enjoying every part of the process that gets you there.
Who are your heroes? The people who never give up and try to develop their full potential.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Cheese, ham and a glass of wine, which usually leads to more cheese and ham, two or three more glasses of wine.
Favourite places to clim? I would say that Cornudella del Montsant in Tarragona is a place that I visit year after year. It’s a perfect combination of rocks and waves.
What’s a perfect day? Wake up at 7 a.m. and jump in the van. At 7:15 be surfing glassy waves. At 9 at big breakfast with a good coffee. At noon, off for some climbing with good friends and a great project. In the evening, a tasty dinner with a good glass of red wine.
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