Natálie Tužová
youth champion of the Czech republic, former lead and bouldering racer
ABOUT NATALY
I'm originally from Liberec. I'm currently studying at university in Innsbruck. My dad introduced me to climbing, and from an early age I trained under Eliška Karešová. I started competing when I was nine years old and eventually earned a place on the Czech national team, which gave me the opportunity to compete in European Cups and World Championships.
After retiring from competition climbing, I spent several years coaching young climbers and occasionally setting routes and boulders. I consider my greatest climbing achievements to be my years on the national team, along with climbing Daniboy (8a) on Kalymnos and Jenseits von Pottenstein (Xa) in Elbe valley.
When I'm not climbing, you'll most likely find me ski touring, cycling, running, travelling, or kitesurfing.
SHOOT A QUESTION
- Warm up or warming up by climbing? Both, but I mainly warm up by climbing.
- Coffee or matcha? Coffee.
- Climb in silence or with music? With music – pop.
- Pull ups or hanging? Pull-ups.
- Favourite snack in the crags? Hummus, cheese, vegetables, and bread.
- Lead or boulder? Lead.
- Alone or with group? In a group.
- Static or dyno? Static climbing.
5 QUESTIONS FOR NATALY
1. What's your biggest f**k up in your climbing life?
My friend Tom Lukáš and I were climbing a 40-meter route on the right bank of Labák, which required two rappels to get down. At the top, while clipping my personal anchor into the belay station, I accidentally unclipped my belay device from my harness instead of my personal anchor and dropped it. It fell the full 40 meters to the ground—luckily no one was below, so nobody got hurt. We had to rappel using just one belay device. Ever since then, I've been much more careful about what I'm unclipping, and I never let go of it until I'm sure it's the right piece of gear.
2. If you could pick anyone from the climbing history or the present climbers, who would you love to go climb with and why?
Brooke Raboutou. Ever since the beginning of my climbing journey, she's been one of my role models—partly because we competed in the same age category. I always cheered for her, even though we've never actually met. She has always seemed friendly and down-to-earth.
3. What is your dream line?
My dream route is Evženova Amerika (Xa) in Tisá. I've climbed it a few times and absolutely love the moves, but I've never had the courage to lead it. For me, it's both a physical and a mental challenge, and it would be my first route of that difficulty climbed on lead in Tisá.
4. What's your favourite part of being in the Rafiki team?
I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of the Rafiki team for so many years. I love being able to support a Czech climbing brand that makes beautiful, high-quality products. The Rafiki team is full of kind and inspiring people, organizes amazing events, and supports not only me and my passion for climbing but the entire climbing community <3.
5. What's your advice for the climbers of all levels?
Climbing with a group of equally passionate and slightly crazy climbers is simply the best!
