What is the Hardest thing you have ever done?
Pushing yourself is a part of all sports. Doing something which you find hard makes you stronger and helps you push your progress.
We asked some of our Scarpa Team what is the hardest thing they have ever done, take a look at some of their responses in our latest blog.
Physically or mentally – we all set ourselves challenges which we find hard. Overcoming these challenges helps us progress both in our sports and as people.
What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
Ted Kingsnorth
“Climbing Progress 8c+ at Kilnsey earlier this season is the hardest thing I have ever done as it was a multi-year project that I initially started in 2017 and had got close on in 2019 and 2020. I needed to really level up my game to get over the line and clip the chains. Not having access to routes at climbing gyms over the winter was tricky as my endurance was lower than it normally is by early Spring but getting to the crag regularly, it soon built up and I was challenging my highpoint by late May.
Eder Lomba de Ipina and Josh Ibbertson provided some new kneebar beta that gave a marginal shakeout by the 6th bolt which proved to be the key to success. The hardest bit of the whole saga was undoubtedly not giving up when fickle conditions and the frequent seepage on North Buttress would bring attempts prematurely to a close just when I was getting close.
Also, not getting discouraged when things didn’t go my way was important, for example dropping the redpoint crux near the end of the main difficulties unexpectedly in 2019 due to the wrong choice of clipping positions and having to wait for another 2 seasons to get my revenge. There is hope out there for all those multi-season projectors out there! “
Emma Twyford
“I guess the obvious answer for me is climbing Big Bang (9a) whilst juggling work as a route setter. It was hard enough trying to climb something at my limit but sometimes I would turn up on a Unicorn good conditions day and just be too tired to climb after 5 days of route setting or I’d end up injured.
I had to battle it out and be patient, the mental challenge of being determined enough to keep going was one of the hardest parts.”
Molly Thompson-Smith
“I think coming back from rupturing 3 pulleys in my finger has been the biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome! There was of course the physical difficulties involved, but it was a really stressful mental period for me. I’d just committed to climbing full time, moved cities to live by myself and pursue my climbing goals, and I ended up not being able to work towards that and struggling to feel confident in my decision.
I wasn’t sure I would be able to climb at a professional level again which wasn’t ideal after just getting my first big contract, had not a lot to do in Sheffield and no friends who didn’t climb. I was really proud of myself for making it through that situation, staying (for the most part!) motivated and getting back to competing at the World Championships within 9 months of surgery. It’s definitely shaped the climber I am now and even though it was really tough at the time, I’m grateful for the lessons it taught me and the relationship I have with climbing now!”
Robbie Phillips
In his latest film What We Do In The Shadows Robbie Phillips finds himself doing the ‘hardest thing he has ever done’ – the first ascent of an E10 in the Highlands of Scotland whilst dealing with the death of his father.
“What does it take to find yourself again when it feels like you’ve lost it all? Robbie Phillips finds himself between a rock and a hard place. Both his climbing project and his own mind present challenges to him in an unprecedentedly difficult time. This is a film about climbing… but also a glimpse into our humanity. This is a story of passion, loss, obsession, desolation and recovery. Follow Robbie on his quest to climb his hardest project, and what he has to overcome along the way.
What we do in the Shadows follows Robbie throughout the whole process of making the First Ascent of an E10 in the highlands of Scotland”
Yann Genoux
“Well, for me, probably becoming an IFSC Setter, this has been a long long journey with a lot of sacrifice but it is also my proudest achievement!”
Matthew Phillips
“The hardest thing I have ever had to do was trust myself when on a big multi-pitch in Colorado America. My experienced friend had abseiled off out of view and out of earshot and had started to pull the rope through to make it easy on me to abseil of too. However the ropes got all tangled and he couldn’t get it all through.
This left me not know what was going on panicking slightly on the middle of a cliff. I had to calm myself and figure out a rather scratchy but workable solution and made it down to him in one piece a scary situation where I has to try my own knowledge and ability to make it out.”
You’ve heard our athlete’s responses, now we would like to know what is the hardest thing you have ever done? Tag us on Facebook or Instagram!
