
NOT A COMBACK: HAZEL FINDLAY POSTPARTUM
BD Athlete Hazel Findlay shares her tips for returning to the climbing life for new...
Add $99.00 more to quality for free Shipping!
$0.00 USD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2023
“If you want to climb hard, you have to climb hard.”
Reini Scherer is showing off the routes of his gym like an artist giving you a tour of his oeuvre.
8a+, 8c, 8c+. 9a+, 8b, 8c …The list goes on.
As the epicenter of the world’s best climbers, Kletterzentrum Innsbruck—known as KI—demands routes at the precipice of the sport. After all, this is the preferred training ground for world champions from the competition circuit. This is the lab where legends are made.
Black Diamond Presents: Reini’s Lines—The Man Behind the World’s Greatest Climbing Gym
It’s only fitting that a facility like KI was the vision of a man like Reini. For nearly four decades, Reini has been putting up lines for others to climb.
“It was clear from the beginning on,” he says. “Without routes, there won’t be any climbing.”
Born in the eastern part of Tirol, in a small village in the mountains, Reini started climbing at the age of 14. By 1985, he was already making waves in the sport with first ascents up to 8a in famous areas like the Verdon in France.
By 1991, Reini was at the pinnacle of the sport, having established one of Austria’s first 8c’s.
Still an avid first ascensionist, Reini reckons he’s now bolted over 1500 hundred pitches.
Ironically, it’s not the plethora of routes he’s established outside that have had the biggest impact on the sport.
Reini’s greatest contribution as a developer are the lines inside KI—one of the world’s greatest climbing gyms.
After mentoring the Austrian climbing team in the early 2000’s, Reini saw the need for a facility to train the strongest climbers alive. So, in 2007, he began having discussions with the city of Innsbruck to build a gym.
It took me more than 10 years to get to KI,” says Reini.
The dedication has paid off. With more than 600 routes, plus bouldering walls, boards, fitness facilities, a café, etc., KI has become the gym of choice for many traveling world cup climbers. A quick walk through on any given day can reveal a who’s who of the sport’s elite. From living legends like Yuji Hirayama to world champions like Jakob Schubert and Katha Saurwein, KI is often brimming with talent.
But Reini is quick to point out that there is something for everyone at KI.
“It was always important to put the athletes and the normal customers together,” says Reini. “I want the 6b climber to have a look at Jakob Schubert. We want to show you how cool climbing is.”
It’s this eclectic mix of abilities and cultures that makes KI truly special. No matter your level, KI is a home for anyone who loves climbing.
“The thing that I realized after all these years is, it doesn’t matter how hard you climb. It’s just that you do it with your heart.”
Get the most out of your session with comfortable apparel that performs just as hard as you in the gym or on your next objective.
BD Athlete Hazel Findlay shares her tips for returning to the climbing life for new...
BD Athlete Hazel Findlay shares her tips for returning to the climbing life for new mothers.
A film documenting the first flash ascent of El Capitan by BD Athletes Babsi Zangerl...
A film documenting the first flash ascent of El Capitan by BD Athletes Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher.
BD Athletes Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher share their story of climbing one of the...
BD Athletes Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher share their story of climbing one of the world’s most mythical trad routes.
BD Athletes Aaron Mulkey and Yannick Glatthard take the new Hydra into the backcountry of...
BD Athletes Aaron Mulkey and Yannick Glatthard take the new Hydra into the backcountry of Montana in search of steep ice and mixed climbing.
Follow Dorian Densmore and Mya Akins for a month-long, exploratory mission in the Chugach Mountains.
Two BD legends walk into the Valley. What happens next? Watch and see.
With ski season kicking off, the QA Lab crew dives deep into the world of...
With ski season kicking off, the QA Lab crew dives deep into the world of electromagnetic interference and how it can affect backcountry safety.
Light is right, but steel is real. So, when it comes to ice screws, what’s...
Light is right, but steel is real. So, when it comes to ice screws, what’s the deal? In this QC Lab, Will Gadd and Matt Berry thread their way to the source of truth when it comes to aluminum vs. steel ice screws.
She was many things—a Stonemaster, an outdoor industry visionary, a physicist. A rock dropped into...
She was many things—a Stonemaster, an outdoor industry visionary, a physicist. A rock dropped into a pond that created ripples, affecting many lives and generations of climbers. This is the story of our unsung hero, our co-founder.
Go ahead, take the whip. You’ve got a trucker bolt just below. But wait …...
Go ahead, take the whip. You’ve got a trucker bolt just below. But wait … you sure about that? In this Gear Myths, Kolin “KP” Powick shares a recent close call, which resulted in an exploration of safety protocol when it comes to sport climbing.
The QC Lab team is joined by IFMGA Mountain Guide Mark Smiley to discuss the...
The QC Lab team is joined by IFMGA Mountain Guide Mark Smiley to discuss the subtle art of building, testing, and using snow anchors.
Follow these expert pointers on how to properly build out your very first trad rack.
A look into the technology and construction of an essential tool for hiking and trail...
A look into the technology and construction of an essential tool for hiking and trail running.