“British Bouldering Team Strong Man” Dave Barrans is one of the newer members of the British Climbing Team. To some he may seem like your typical wall bred climber - someone who has got strong first and learnt to climb second. But this couldn’t be further from the truth - Dave is 25 and already a seasoned veteran.

He’s been climbing for 18 years, after his dad dragged him off to Ilkley aged just seven. Dave admits to a very traditional upbringing (trad climbing, winter climbing, alpine adventures), but these days he focuses on his bouldering. Our roving reporter Graeme Alderson caught up with Dave at a recent Team training session and subjected him to a barrage of well-crafted questions.

Was it a long-term goal to join the British Climbing Team?
I started competing about six years ago at university. It started off as a laugh but as I started getting stronger I entered the British Bouldering Championships in 2003. My results have improved steadily ever since and once I was getting into the top ten then the British Team seemed a logical goal.

You seem to have adapted well to the extra pressure and difficulty of international competitions. Last year you got into semi-finals 25% of the time, this year it’s 75%.
I’m pretty pleased with the way things have worked out. Being in the Team and doing internationals is hard work. It involves serious graft but the extra focus is also beneficial to my general climbing outside. And seeing improvements in your strength and technique is always going to keep you motivated.

Where’s your climbing going?
I’m pretty focussed on competitions right now and my immediate aims are to start getting into World Cup finals, and of course win the British Bouldering Championships.

Where’s climbing going in general?
Climbing has been, and will continue to get bigger. And anyone who’s serious about competing in sport wants to compete in the Olympics. Hopefully I’ll still be strong enough to be in the Team if climbing ever gets to the Games.

That’s 2016 at the earliest, you’ll be 34 by then!
Yeah. But Salavat Rachmetov (Russia) won the World Championships when he was 37 and Andy Earl has just won a round of the Bouldering World Cup despite being 30.

Do you think that climbing should get bigger?
Well it’s obviously not predictable, but all I can see is that the number of indoor-only climbers will increase, it won’t have much affect on the crags. We keep hearing about all of these newbies fresh out of the walls and yet most crags are still pretty deserted. The honeypots are packed but they always have been. So no, I’m pretty sure its all nimbyism. Bring it on I say.

Have you got one tip for getting stronger?
Give up your day job.

Dave is sponsored by Evolv, prAna, Metolius, Cotswold Outdoors and Manchester Climbing Centre.

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