Introducing Emily Phillips…
Emily Phillips is a Welsh climber and the newest member of the Scarpa Climb Team. We spoke to Emily just after she won the British Bouldering Championships to get to know her and find out about life in climbing and plans for the future!
Hi Emily, welcome to the Scarpa Team! Firstly, can you tell us a bit about you and how you got into climbing?
I discovered climbing at a festival on the Isle of Wight. There was a mobile climbing wall set up and 5-year-old me decided that looked far more exciting than any of the fairground rides. I remember racing my dad to the top and winning, I think that’s what initially made me want to go back.
When did you decide that you wanted to pursue climbing?
The Youth Climbing Series was the first competition I entered at age 9. After winning my first Welsh final I was hooked on competitions and that feeling of being the best. Even at that age, I knew I wanted to pursue climbing to the highest level.
What made you choose to join the Scarpa team?
The Dragos! They’ve helped me so much in improving my slab climbing and general technique and now I can’t imagine competing in anything else. Scarpa also takes really good care of their athletes and has an amazing team behind the scenes.
What are your top training tips?
Enjoy it! Of course, not all sessions are fun all the time, but generally, if you’re not enjoying the process, it’s really difficult to get where you want to go. Having a great coach is also an integral part of my climbing and training.
What advice would you give to other young climbers?
Work hard and always believe in yourself!
How did it feel when you made the GB climbing team?
It was a dream come true when I first made the GB team back in 2015. I’d tried and failed to qualify the previous year, so it was very rewarding to see all the progress I’d made and get offered a spot next time around.
Are you excited about climbing to be in the Olympics for the first time this year?
After I decided to pursue climbing further, I accepted that the Olympics was out of the question, so I’m really excited to see climbing become part of the games. I have many memories of watching the 2012 and 2016 Olympics at home as a kid so it would be incredible to qualify for Paris 2024 and fulfill the dream that I thought was impossible.
What are your goals for the future?
My goal this year is to become Junior World Champion in Bouldering. But my ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
You’ve just won the British Bouldering Championships, how did it feel to win?
It felt incredible to win last weekend especially as it was my first time competing at BBCs. What made it even more special was winning it alongside my Scarpa and Precision Climbing teammate, Max Milne. We train together and we won together – our faces afterward say it all.
You can keep up with Emily on Instagram: @emilyphillips02
