Pablo Recourt is a professional climber who is aligned with himself. He inspires us. He loves to experience climbing with others, in Nature, and with respect for Nature. When he sets off on his Tour de France in search of the most beautiful 8A route, he does it by bike, meeting local climbers and discovering our regions. You can discover | here | his good-feeling trip
Alexandre and Amadeus and I had enjoyed much our meeting with him. We climbed and had dinner. We discovered how he started climbing, what motivates him to climb today, to cross Europe by sailboat and bicycle, and to get his advice on taking care of his climber's hands
We are happy and proud that Pablo has joined the Ourea team. You will find our discussion below. Thank you very much, Pablo!
How did you start climbing ?
When I was little, I was a ball of energy. I ran and climbed everywhere: trees, curtains, doorframes. Around the age of six, my parents enrolled me in a climbing course, and I've never stopped. I guess they found the right way to channel my energy
How do you see your progress in your climbing practice? What motivates you the most? The pleasure of sending a route or the difficulty of a climb?
That's a vast question. Climbing has become a way of life for me, a way of seeing the world, with strong values. I organize my daily life and life choices around and for my climbing. I experience climbing more as a means to explore the world, discover new places, meet people, and get to know myself a little better each day. It's a practice that allows me to build myself, develop my values, become more politically engaged, and fight for what I believe is right. It's all a bit philosophical, but that's what it's really about! Concretely, what attracts me most to a climbing project is the story I get to experience. The places to discover, the means to get there, the people we meet, the emotions we feel, and above all, what we take away from it
You went climbing in Norway by boat and then returned by bike. What did these modes of transport bring you?
Beyond the mode of transport, I think it's the approach we need to talk about. A slow approach that's proportional to the distance we want to travel. In an ever-faster world that pushes us to consume, relearning to take the time to travel is essential, in my opinion. It allows us to become aware of the places we're passing through, to observe and admire them. And indirectly, to love and preserve them. It reminds us that we are part of a fragile ecosystem on which we depend (even if we're very disconnected from it), and that we must take care of it. Traveling slowly means slowing down and getting closer to simple pleasures. It means learning to savor what we take the time to see, and nurturing our inner fire
Taking care of Nature is key for you. Why?
Because we are part of it. And for me, respect (whether for other humans, flora, fauna, environments, etc.) is the foundation for building a sustainable world
Your body is the tool of your job. How do you take care of your body?
The most basic thing is to properly meet your needs: get enough sleep regularly, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and avoid things that harm your body. Then, understand that your body is a vast machine that thrives on movement. Moving, stretching, and caring for your tissues helps keep it in good condition. For my skin (especially my hands), I try to nourish and massage it as soon as I feel it's worn out (daily for a while). I use the | Lait hydratant riche | and | huile de Prune |, which make it more elastic and strong. Be aware, this is an almost daily effort, not a one-off. Eating healthily once in a while doesn't do much good; you need to strive for consistency!
Photos: Pablo Recourt
