The trip was soon over and Sarah - back at home. She’s lucky to come from the mountainous Allgäu: not a bad place to live for someone who wants to get into climbing. She took to discovering local crags and gyms and soon got introduced to the local climbing community around Maxi Klaus and Ole Herrenkind, who taught her about trying hard whilst always enjoying the social aspects of climbing. It was about that time that she gave cross-country ski racing up and fully focused on climbing. The local crags, such as Rottachberg or Starzlachklamm, must have kept her busy because despite the reasonable distance she didn’t make it to the German climbers’ mecca (also known as the Frankenjura) for three whole years. Sarah’s first visit to Fränkische Schweiz was in 1998. For the 17-year-old it was a land of freedom. She would spend time with friends outdoors, sleep under the stars and explore how far she could push her climbing. The style of climbing in the area seemed just made for her. The trip was one of many; she’d soon find herself in Franken on many weekends and holidays. As soon as she finished her A-levels, it was time to travel and climb as much as possible, with quite a lot of time spent in the Frankenjura. She got to know many locals and was introduced to the abundant climbing potential. She felt free and really enjoyed this intensive time. The results came almost straight away: Sarah climbed her first 10- (UIAA), Witchcraft - also her 50RP route. The impressive, gently curved wall offers brilliant climbing, this line from Michl Ordnung being central to its popularity.
Early 2000s was the time when she juggled competitions and rock, although she’d already started noticing how much more fun the days out in nature were for her. She felt she’d much rather be there than in the gym. For her, competing brought about a kind of pressure which she had already disliked as a cross-country skier and she did not want to have it in her climbing. This led her to quitting competitions in 2004 and thus giving herself more time to do what she enjoyed the most.
Luck was on her side and soon after her historic feat Sarah’s career had her move completely from Munich – where she had moved to for her studies – to Fränkische Schweiz (we’re sure she felt absolutely forced!). This made trips out easier to organise and the regularity possible to maintain as she became a mother in 2015.
Similarly, Sarah can’t pick a favourite crag but rather enjoys the endless possibilities for discovery that Franken gives her, even after 15 years of calling it her home and 27 years since she climbed here for the very first time. The numerous, mainly smaller crags are the area’s advantage and should be used! “My advice would therefore be to stay curious and dare visit unknown crags. It’s (almost :) always worth it; plus, you will most likely find some quiet moments away from the crowds!” "Franken is my home. There is always something loveable about it, regardless of the season. And I guess I will never run out of projects here!” The abundant rock is at the root of this affection and Sarah feels grateful to live with such a playground right outside her door, providing the opportunity to balance family, climbing and work. Over the years she has learned to value the area’s other virtues, though. “Besides climbing, there’s wonderful times to be had here, for example hiking or mountain biking, and that’s what we enjoy a lot as a family.”
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