The pictures all belong to Klem Loskot / copyright Klemens Loskot !!
Here is PART 1 of an interview we did with the austrian climber Klemens Loskot in June 2006. He is still one of our all time climbing hero and a big inspiration !!
1. Which climbers have inspired you the most when you were young, and still today?
When I began climbing, I borrowed some climbing magazines from my friends. I was impressed by pictures showing a guy with a long red lion’s mane, finding his way up on grey steep routes in the Verdon (F) and squeezing his tiny fingers in one-finger-holds. I’m talking about Beat Kammerlander. Another climber with a red lion’s mane is named Lenz Hammerl. He’s a legend in the Salzburg – upper Austrian region. During my first visits at climbingspots I saw him climbing in an 8b route. I was quite impressed by that too. There were relatively not many climbers in Salzburg, by far not such a climbing scene as for example in the Frankenjura (G), and so I grew up unaffacted in the woods of Salzburg with a few good friends. Free from any rules inspired by our own possibilities.
2. Do you still train specifically for certain climbing problems?
I never did that. Therefore I never climbed anything really hard. I tried the boulders / routes during 4 to 5 days at most except from a really few tough problems.
3. A few years ago you have been in Berdorf for climbing! What is your opinion about this climbing spot?
We have been on a journey through Luxembourg to England. Unfortunately, the weather was a little bit clammy and the routes sandy, therefore we jumped back into our cars after having tried some routes. I would be very happy if we had such an easygoing sandstone area at home!
4. Our homepage is based on the saying “it’s all in your mind!”, please tell us something about that!
The visions are in your head! The strength lies in your stomach!
5. People often talk about you as the philosopher of the climbing scene, what’s your statement about that?
My own enunciation, phraseology and a very pictographic language combined with deep thoughts …
6. You also go surfing a lot! In your opinion, what combines or what do surfing and climbing have in common?
In my opinion not much. That makes the whole thing attractive.
7. What feeling is more attractive to you: to ride the perfect wave or to defeat a boulderproblem or route?
It always depends on what “planet” I’m on at the moment! Concerning the feeling it’s the same. Cool feelings you want to feel again immediately even more intense. But, concerning the corporal motion sensation it’s completely different! Climbing is more familiar to me and I practice it on a higher level which makes it more intensive and gives me more possibilities to reach the desired amount of adrenalin rush. Or less possibilities because I know a lot already, because I’m not so curious anymore and so on … The better you are, the higher your level and so much the more perfect your conditions to get to the “orgasm”.
8. Small questions with short answers:
- What is your favorite music?
Old Hindi music.
- Your favorite food?
Lots of fresh vegetables and enough time to savour.
- Other hobbies besides climbing and surfing?
Skiing, right now my most intensive passion.
- What is for you the most beautiful place on earth or the place you love to climb or hang around most of the time?
The places where I’m together with people I love and who love me, people I share days with, and where time is not of great importance. Best in the mountains far away from everyday life where you barely meet other people. Where exactly this constellation arrives is secondary. There are so many noble places …
- Will you settle down some day?
I try to be at home wherever I am. To let disappear my own inner disturbances by equilibrium and contentment. Besides, I feel very well at home and I hope to be at home more often again! I miss a family life.
PART 2 will follow soon :)
The pictures all belong to Klem Loskot / copyright Klemens Loskot !!