From I Can’t to I Can: The First Woman to Climb D15 with Angelika Rainer

Ice Ice Beta

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right, or so goes the pithy expression. But at least in Angelika Rainer’s case, it does seem to bear out.

During Angelika’s 20-year career, she helped set new world standards, becoming the first woman to send D15 ✅ and routinely finishing first or second on the Ice Climbing World Cup circuit 🥇. That’s a far cry from the kid whose favorite catchphrase was “I can’t do it”. What changed?

Well, you’ll have to listen to find out.

In this episode, we chat about:

• 🧊 Struggling with confidence and how climbing helped
• 🧊 Developing a love for the mountains thanks to her mom
• 🧊 Going all in on drytooling and how the sport evolved
• 🧊 The importance of an “off-season” for recuperation
• 🧊 Her mental battle with “Iron Man” (D14+)
• 🧊 The decision to retire from competitions
• 🧊 Sending her first 9a
• 🧊 The story behind a cappuccino-inspired route

Resources and links:

Angelika is spending a lot more time on rock these days, and to see what she’s working on, you can follow her on Instagram @angelika_rainer. She also regularly shares blog updates on her website: angelika-rainer.com

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📸 Cover photo courtesy of Jonathan White

Credits:

• Intro music by Hannah Noelle Enomoto (thanks, sis!).
• This episode was edited by Andrew Salomone of salomonesound.com.

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