Interview with a Route Builder Ep. 1 - Freja from Odense Boulders

What is your name, where set are you and how long have you been climbing? My name is Freja Hjære Jensen, I am a route builder in Odense Boulders and I have been climbing for 12 years.

What is your role as a route builder in the team? I don't really have a specific role, we share pretty equally on the tasks in the team.

What are your strengths and weaknesses in climbing? My strength is definitely crimps and technical climbing. I'm not so good at compression and coordination.

What are your strengths and weaknesses in route building? My strengths in route building are what I climb most myself, which is a bit more old school/classic climbing. It's often hard to set a problem that's out of your comfort zone, that's not your style at all, or with moves you're not very good at.

What do you like about route building? The challenge of coming up with a lot of cool problems that just push you to your comfort zone and try something new. But also especially the joy of seeing others having fun with problems you helped build.

What do you think is a good problem? A problem that has a lot of flow and nice movement.

What is a bold movement? Well it's hard to describe, but it can be a super easy or really hard move that's fun and different.

What is a cool grip? Definitely a grip that both looks nice and is cool to hold.

Where do you get your inspiration? From many places! Problems that my friends and I do when we train, my colleagues' problems, boulders I've climbed in Sweden and when I see others climbing.

What tip would you give to climbers in Bouders? Really believe in it even if it seems impossible.