The Man Who Built the World's Greatest Climbing Wall
In this week's Friday Night Video, we meet Reini Scherer, the man responsible for building Kletterzentrum Innsbruck: a renowned training facility for world champion climbers.
Born in the eastern part of Tirol, in a small village in the mountains, Reini started climbing at the age of 14. By 1985, he was already making waves in the sport with first ascents up to 8a in famous areas like the Verdon in France. By 1991, Reini was at the pinnacle of the sport, having established one of Austria's first 8cs.
After mentoring the Austrian climbing team in the early 2000's, Reini saw the need for a facility to train the strongest climbers alive. So, in 2007, he began having discussions with the city of Innsbruck to build a wall.
The dedication has paid off. With more than 600 routes, plus bouldering walls, boards, fitness facilities, a café, etc., KI has become the gym of choice for many traveling world cup climbers. A quick walk through on any given day can reveal a who's who of the sport's elite. From living legends like Yuji Hirayama to world champions like Jakob Schubert and Katha Saurwein, KI is often brimming with talent.