by Nadia Sinclair

When it comes to breaking barriers, trust an icy ascent to bring out the best in a woman’s mettle. This is the world of an accomplished ice climber in the UK, the sole Brit to record a double podium finish at any UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships. This formidable athlete recently carved an indelible mark in history by becoming the first woman in Britain to successfully accomplish a trek graded D12 within the confines of her native land. She’s dishing out some priceless pieces of wisdom acquired through her training.

A Born Climber’s Journey

Inherited from her father and grandfather who were passionate climbers themselves, this woman’s fondness for climbing was apparent by the tender age of six. Her inherent hyperactivity was curbed effectively only when she clambered up rocks or peaks. Interestingly, her short stature led her to discover the delights of ice climbing, a sport where she found the reaches easier and footing more predictable. She’s especially enthusiastic about one variant of this sport – dry tooling, a niche corner of climbing demanding thorough precision.

A Peek Into Her Training Regimen

Juggling her relentless training with a full-time career in genetic toxicology, our champion’s training schedule ranges from dry tooling training at her local climbing wall during the week to extensive outdoor climbing stints over the weekend. Her rigorous training routine varies depending on the type of competition she’s preparing for. More often than not, it’s a blend of impeccable technique, speed, power endurance and an ability to overstep her lactate threshold.

Outdoor climb preparation, on the other hand, necessitates explosive strength. To make optimal progress from one point to the next, she often needs to lock her arms into her hips through sheer grit and strength. Meticulous route analysis helps her father, a professional strength and conditioning coach, to craft her a training plan that targets her upcoming routes.

Given climbing’s endless demand for fitness varieties, her fitness routine consists of an eclectic mix of cross-training, kettlebell work, and HIIT. Her training aids her recovery during upside-down positions wherein her feet are up. Regardless of the demands of the sport, cardio fitness is non-negotiable, attained via 10K runs, HIIT, rowing and SkiErg workouts.

Nutrition and Recovery

When it comes to recovery, she is often the epitome of the adage- ‘Rest is as important as training’. On her rest days, she engages in active recovery like stretching, foam rolling and mobility workouts. Contrarily, when gearing up for a vigorous climbing session, she relies on a balanced, protein-rich diet. By ensuring that she consumes enough food, she manages to fuel her energy-intensive pursuits efficiently.

Trusty Climbing Gear

Her trusted climbing gear for training includes lightweight shorts featuring a rear phone pocket. For her outdoor exploits, she opts for robust pants that can withstand considerable wear and tear and a jacket for that extra warmth needed amidst the chill. Her secret lucky charm, a vibrantly hued fluffy chalk bag, instills a sense of cheer amidst the daunting task of tackling quarries.

Her Proudest Moment

The fact that she is still as enthralled and invigorated by climbing as she was when she first undertook it, is what this trailblazer considers her greatest accomplishment. Apart from becoming the maiden British female to scale a D12-graded course in the UK, she remains just a grade away from conquering the United Kingdom’s most challenging D13 grade.

ice climbing, dry tooling, training regimen, cardio fitness, active recovery, balanced diet, climbing gear