[Interview] Manolo Urquizo: A Master of Climbing

Adventure: Hello Manolo Urquizo, welcome to the Adventure Community, thank you for the interview, through which we want to learn more about you, your climbing experience, and your academy Base Camp.

Manolo Urquizo: Well, thank you very much, guys from Adventure, for being here at our place. We at Base Camp are a climbing academy with over 15 years of experience promoting the sport in Peru. We also have the first public climbing wall opened in the country, which was entirely designed to teach and promote the sport. Currently, Base Camp is located at the La Once sports center (Av. Tomas Marsano) where you can find our outdoor climbing wall.

Photo: Adventure

Manolo Urquizo, tell us

It was a fortuitous matter, one of those things that are meant for you. I was young, in Argentina, and saw a poster to start climbing. I got into it and from then on, I couldn't detach myself. I had great teachers and companions with whom, thank God, I could share great moments of my life, which ultimately made me the person I am. Then I continued with my life as usual, went to university, but there came a time when it was difficult to maintain that duality (between my profession and my passion) and there came a moment when I said, "If life is about seeking happiness, let's seek it this way," and that's how I got to where I am.

Photo: Base Camp Peru (Manolo Urquizo)

During these years, what have been your best sports experiences?

Anyone who says, for example, "I have climbed Everest," is an egocentric person, climbing is not about that. Climbing can be enjoyed on a mountain or a small wall, and you can intensely enjoy it and feel grateful for those grips that lead you to your goal. Currently, one of the challenges that I am most proud of is the work with the communities around some climbing routes like huayhuay. At Base Camp, we seek to be involved in the lives of communities, we have been working on this for several years at Climbing Events. For me, the most beautiful place where I feel happy and where I would like my ashes to be scattered is in the stone forest of Huayllay.

Photo: Base Camp Peru

How is the development of this sport in Peru?

The sport in Peru has many years of history, there are many people who have been working and giving their all for the sport. Like Dr. Morales Arnau, a Peruvian mountaineer, who dedicated himself to exploring the routes of the Cordillera Blanca, to what we do, which is rock climbing. It is a sport that, although not very well known, has good development in some places like Cusco, Huaraz, Lima, Arequipa, and in each city there are its icons and good athletes.

What does it take to succeed in this sport?

I believe that enjoying what you do is essential because you are constantly faced with frustration and sacrifice, something that cannot be explained. The only way to have a good time is not to think about becoming famous or muscular, but to enjoy everything you do, do it with your heart, and give yourself completely.

Photo: Base Camp Peru

What are the basic tools for practicing climbing?

There are many tools for climbing, such as carabiners, hooks, ropes, harnesses, shoes; in fact, many people get into the sport because they see a climber and are amazed at how someone with all those tools can reach those summits. But in climbing, what you basically need are your climbing shoes and a bit of magnesium for your hands, the rest is pure willpower.

What do you think about when you are climbing?

Time flies by when I'm climbing, before climbing, I'm a bit anxious because I'm facing a challenge. But while I'm climbing, I don't think about anything, I'm just enjoying it, grabbing here, there, and boom, I'm already up. I enjoy with all my senses what I do, I feel every grip, the strength I use, everything I have to do to get through that moment. More than thinking, it's about feeling, "I don't think about anything but I feel everything."

Photo: Base Camp Peru (Manolo Urquizo climbing)

Is there a climbing team in Peru?

Yes, in Peru, for some years now, the National Climbing Championship has been developing, there is a federation that is organizing and working on it, the idea is to train young people to represent us. For now, not all objectives have been achieved as we are just growing with very motivated young people, and hopefully soon we will see results, all we can do is support them.

What advice would you give to those who want to climb?

For those who want to get into the sport, I would say leave prejudices aside, they won't help in something that depends on yourself. Climbing depends entirely on you, no matter how tall, short, skinny, or fat you are. Here, all you need is attitude, the attitude to do it well, the attitude of commitment, the attitude of a good heart, that's all it takes to climb and for life.

Photo: Base Camp Peru

If climbing is your passion, we invite you to join the community of climbers