Andrea Zanone

Name: Andrea Zanone
DOB: 1992
Interview: Moon Climbing / January 2013

Moon Climbing – When and where did you start climbing? 
Andrea - I started climbing three years a go exactly in November 2007 with my dad. My dad one day decides to bring me to a crag in the Aosta Valley, but climbing was not my interest, but after I tried to climb and I decided to start climbing seriously.

Moon Climbing – Do you have a favourite style of climbing (traditional, sport, bouldering etc)? 
Andrea - I like to climb everything, boulders, routes but I never tried to do traditional climbing because where I live there isn’t any traditional climbing but it inspires me a lot.

Moon Climbing – You are stuck on a desert island with just one route and one boulder. Which ones would you choose and why? 
Andrea - One of my favourite route is Dreamcatcher opened by Chris Sharma in Squamish(CA), I chose this line because it is composed of perfect quality of granite and the moves are amazing. One of my favourite boulder is Elephunk in Fontainebleau(FRA) because is an superb boulder in a awesome area.

Moon Climbing – Who is your climbing hero or inspiration and why? 
Andrea - I don’t have a particular climbing hero favourite, but there are many, which I admire for example: Paul Robinson, Tyler Landman, Wolfgang Gullich, and Patrick Edlinger.

Moon Climbing - How often do you climb?
Andrea - I climb on the rock at week ends and sometimes one day during the week. I do boulders or to do some routes but that depends of the season, in summer I prefere the sport climbing, for example in Ceuse, Briançon, and in other places in my country. In winter I prefere do boulders for example in Ticino, Varazze and in Aosta Valley, because it is too cold to do sport climbing.

Moon Climbing – Where and how often do you train and for how many hours per week? 
Andrea - I train in a climbing gym at 15km from my home. I train three times a week, about three hours per session for a total of nine hours per week.

Moon Climbing – What kind of training do you do? 
Andrea - During my training I do different things: I usually do Pan Gullich, Fingerboard, to increase my strength .I do a lot of boulders and a lot of endurance problems (forty moves) to improve myself in general. My training depends by my projects on the rock or the competitions that I do.

Moon Climbing - Your top training tip or tips?
Andrea - I have been practicing climbing from three years, so I haven’t any tips yet to give! But I can say that you need a lot of dedication and sacrifice.

Moon Climbing – The climbing achievement you are most proud of and why? 
Andrea - Second in the junior Italian championship (lead) and third in the junior Italian championship (boulder). In 2010 I also participated in two junior Europe in competition in Austria (Imst) and Slovenia (Kranj). I was very proud to be part of the junior national team in 2010
in 2012 I arrived 7th in the Italian Cup and I had the pleasure to take part in two finals. On Rock I am very proud to have climbed an 8a+/b at the crag in two and a half year of climbing, but also to have Flashed the first 8a in Aosta Valley and to have climbed my firts 8b/b+ in St.Leger, a special crag for me in France. In Boulder I’m very proud to have brush and climbed some great boulders in Aosta Valley, one of the best for me is Doomsday 7c+ but also to have climbed in amazing spots like Chironico, Magic Wood, Brione and others. In my opinion the grade of routes/boulders are important to give the right motivation but they are not indispensable, I think is important to have fun, stay in contact with nature and friends to continue your “climbing career”.

Moon Climbing - What is your opinion on competitions? Good, bad or indifferent?
Andrea - I like to do competitions because I love the atmosphere that there is before a climb. I also like to compare my climbing abilities with the other athletes in order to understand what I need to improve. My opinion is GOOD!

Moon Climbing – Your goals for 2013? 
Andrea - Stay healthy in order to continue to climb, meet new people, see new places, climb in a different kind of rock
I would like to do some routes in lots of crag like Margalef,Siurana,St.Leger,Ceuse and so on,and do some boulders in Ticino and maybe in Fontainebleau…but especially HAVE FUN!