Name: Mark Katz
DOB: 02/10/1977
Interview By: Ben Moon
Mark Katz is our Welsh representative and is focused almost exclusively on bouldering. Climbing as well this year as he ever has he made the first British ascent of Karma 8a+ and repeated John Gaskins Isla de Encanta 8a+/8b.
BM - When and where did you start climbing?
MK - I started climbing regularly in 1993 on Staffordshire grit.
BM - Do you have a favorite style of climbing (traditional, sport, bouldering etc)?
MK Although I do enjoy headpointing the odd scary route, I have mostly bouldered for the last four or five years.
BM - What would be your top boulder problem recommendations in the UK?
MK - Anything at the Caseg Boulder in North Wales and The Crack at Bowden Doors.
BM - And abroad?
MK - The ‘Big Four’ at Cuvier Rempart, it doesn’t get any better!
BM - By the Big Four he means Big Boss, Big Golden, Fourmis Rouges and Tristesse. All four are all time classics.
BM - How often do you climb?
MK - In the winter I train three nights a week and try to climb outside both days at the weekend (on the grit when it’s nice). In the summer I climb twice a week in Parisella’s Cave after work, train one night and spend the weekends out trying the projects
BM - How often do you train and for how many hours per session?
MK - When I’m keen I train three nights a week on my board, for about an hour and a half each session.
BM - Where do you train?
MK - On my board and sometimes at the ‘Indie’ wall on Angelsey.
BM - What kind of training do you do?
MK - I just boulder on the board, do regular stretching and sit-ups and press-ups.
BM - Your top training tip or tips?
MK - I don’t have that much opportunity to train or get to the wall as teaching takes up a great deal of time, but since I’ve had a board in the house my climbing has improved drastically.
BM - I think he is recommending a
Moon School board!
BM -Your best achievement?
BM - Karma 8a+ (possibly the first British ascent since the hold went?)
BM - What is your opinion on competitions? Good, bad or indifferent?
MK - Indifferent.
BM - Your goals for 2005?
MK - The Director’s Cut 8b in Parisella’s Cave, spend some time in Northumberland and Fontainebleau (the list is endless) and to see what the score is with Cresciano and Chironico and Magic Wood. I would love to go back to the States, particularly to boulder in Yosemite. A sponsored trip Mr Moon?
BM - Yeah right!
