Timeline

- 2007 & 2008 -

As I get fed up with being a beer drinking, partying student, I decide to take control and change things drastically: I drop 20 kg in 2 months by eating better, running, cycling and I make my first climbing moves at the Twentse Student Alpine Club (TSAC). Although this club almost immediately introduces me to outdoor rock climbing, the alpine approach doesn't inspire me and lacking any form of climbing level I don't get psyched for the outdoors. Yet. When I start training in Peter Hornings gym Arque my climbing level starts to progress. This quickly made climbing on real rocks more interesting and I soon climb my first sixth grade routes. But when I get absorbed in the process of graduating and finding a job, I lack the time to train and my motivation fades. For nearly two years, I climb rarely, irregularly and without any progress.

- 2010 -

Only in the summer of 2010 I find the inner peace and time again to continue climbing seriously and I start training on a weekly basis in Arque again. In september it pays off and I climb my first 7a route in a the small climbing area l'Ocaive at the Spanish Costa Blanca. I set myself the long term goal to climb an 8a.

- 2011 -

The herritage of starting climbing in an Alpine club, a deeply engrained revulsion for bouldering, starts to fade and in search for bouldering opportunities close to home I get hold of a topo guide for the Eifel. In March I make my bouldering debut on the lovely basalt rocks of Glees and I almost immediately break my ankle. Luckily, the revalidation is quicker than anyone expected and in April I visit the enchanting sandstone crag Berdorf for the first time. It's love at first sight and with 'Parapluie' I climb my second 7a. In summer my ankle is strong enough to start bouldering again and I start discovering the possibilities of the Teutoburger Wald. At the end of the season I climb my first 7a+ routes with 'Banane' in Teuto and 'Voleur de Spits' and  'Arrête, Paulette' in Berdorf.

- 2012 -

In the winter from 2011 to 2012 Herman Engbers opens Cube bouldergym in Enschede and I start bouldering exclusively. The cold winter offers good conditions and in Februari I boulder my first 7A and in March my first 7A+, both in Teuto. 7B stays out of reach. When I rope up for the first time again when Frans and Koen take me back to Berdorf in May, my bouldering gains pay off: I climb my first (and second) 7b route, closely followed by the (very bouldery) 7c 'Apocalypse'. Motivated, I add more routes in the 7b and 7b+ range to the tick list in the remainder of the season. Despite many attempts in 'Cima Ovest' 7c+ in Berdorf, I can't break the 7c+ barrier yet though.

- 2013 -

After a plastic diet of nearly four months, I decide to clear more time for rock climbing in the new year, no matter how busy I am (should be...) with work. I start bouldering in the Ruhrtal, a new area for me with plenty of boulders in the seventh grade. The athletic style of climbing fits me well and soon I climb my first 7B and 7B+ boulder. And after many missed chances, I flash my first 7A as well. Due to a long winter and rainy spring, the sports climbing season starts late. Deadlines from work further limit my available time. Nevertheless I surprise myself (and my belayer Matt) early in the season by flashing Ith classic 'Geheime Blitzaktion' 7b+.  The following months are sloppy though and I don't get any hard routes done. Only at the end of summer I crawl back a bit and climb a few 7c's. In the Grotte du Brotsch (France) I challenge myself with an 8a project: 'Traité de déversification'. Although I get very close to an ascent, I don't succeed before the end of the short trip. When Michelle and I buy a house and start updating it, I barely climb or train anymore. Not before December I start visiting the gym again. Just before the end of the year I visit rocks again after an over three months break. Surprisingly, I flash my 7A+ boulder.

- 2014 -

The new boulder season starts better than expected and I quickly climb four 7B+ boulders in Avalonia. Out of them 'Ölkrise' feels significantly harder than the others. Am I getting closer to 7C? When the temperatures rise, I start climbing on a rope again and quickly manage to climb two 7c's. When I finally get the chance to get back to Grotte du Brotsch at the end of April, I climb 'Traité de déversification,' my first 8a route. Within weeks I climb 'Banane Ohne Rampe' 7c+ in Teuto as well, but after that I seem to regress rather than progress. In November I realize that I have to train differently to keep progressing and I start a more disciplined, periodized training regime. Bad weather helps me focus on training and it won't be before next spring that I touch rock again.

- 2015 -
Realising that to improve and get into the eighth grade more structured and dedicated training is necessary, I've trained through the winter with a periodized training schedule based on the Rock Climbers Training Manual. In the early spring I reap the first results: the quick ascents of two 7c+ routes in the Teutoburger Wald. More important is the realization that Schinders hardest combination - never climbing on lead by anyone yet - is coming within my reach. After three more months of training with that route in mind, I come back and climb it: 'Super Surfer' (10-) is mine! Only days later I experience a major illness that nearly kills me, landing me on the intensive care for a week. Recovery takes months.