Martin Keller


Quick Info

Nationality: CH
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8C+
Social Media

Martin Keller is Swiss bouldering specialist. He is known for his dedication to long term projects, spending 100+ sessions on some of his hardest ascents, and training for projects by climbing on the project itself.

Contributors: remus

Quick Info

Nationality: CH
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8C+
Social Media

Martin Keller is Swiss bouldering specialist. He is known for his dedication to long term projects, spending 100+ sessions on some of his hardest ascents, and training for projects by climbing on the project itself.

Contributors: remus

Lists


Podcasts


Pics + Vids

Gateway (8C+)
View this post on Instagram

Added at 05:10 on 05 October 2023
Ninja Skills SDS (8C, FA)
Added at 08:02 on 10 February 2022
Ninja Skills SDS (8C, FA)
View this post on Instagram

Added at 08:02 on 10 February 2022
Highlander (8B+, FA)
View this post on Instagram

Added at 15:03 on 09 March 2022
Dreamtime (8C)
View this post on Instagram

Added at 09:03 on 13 March 2022

Ascents

9 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown. Use the other tabs to view these ascents.
Year Climb Grade Ascent Date
2005 One Summer in Paradise 8B (Boulder worked) 16th Aug 2005
Second ascent.
2006
2007
2008 Confessions 8B (Boulder worked) 27th Mar 2008
Third ascent.
2009 The Dagger 8B+ (Boulder worked) 31st Mar 2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014 Gepresster Hase 8B+ (Boulder worked) Apr 2014
First ascent.

But after a wild party night (till 3am) I finally got this one try for which I had waited so long. This try on which I got that exact rhythm that made it possible to hit every hold perfect and aloud me to top out the best and hardest boulder I ever did and put up the FA of”Gepresster Hase”, Sustenpass, Swizzy. Couldn’t be happier 😉

https://martinkeller.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-ascent-of-gepresster-hase-8c.html

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2014/04/gepresster_hase_font_8c_first_ascent_by_martin_keller-68888

2015
2016 Highlander 8B+ (Boulder worked) Jun 2016
First ascent.

The end of a 13 year project!

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2016/06/first_ascent_of_highlander_font_8c_after_13_years_by_martin_keller-70491

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca2XqlEJSTT/

2017
2018
2019 Ninja Skills SDS 8C (Boulder worked) May 2019
First ascent. Over 100 sessions.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/BxP3fzODbu2/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUd8M3Dsdo0

2020
2021
2022
2023 Gateway 8C+ (Boulder worked) Oct 2023
Over 150 sessions.

First re-ascent after holds broke.

Getting up at 5.50 am. Jumping on a train and while on the train doing some client-feedback for my climbing- coaching (answering questions about the weekly training, tactical approaches for trips ). Then teaching 3 lectures (Business and economics) at technical university during the day. Back on a train in the late afternoon and some more client feedback. Arriving home i went for a 45min powernap. Cold shower. Food. Coffee. Left home around 8pm. Arrived at the boulder in Ticino around 11pm. Usual warmup ritual (mindset work included). Snacking (Choco-Croissant). 1am first try - heel slipped in the crux at the end. Long rest. Going for a walk. More snacking (Carrot-cake ;). Finally had the one perfect go with no mistake, still nearly slipped on the mantel - topped it out around 2am (2nd try of the night). No big screaming. Just very [content]. Long rest on top of the boulder. More Snacking. Back home around 7am I guess. Good thing work started at 1pm that day - not at 8am ;) [2]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx5v2DzNvWH/

[2] https://www.8a.nu/news/martin-keller-45-does-gateway-8c+-tvay4

[3] Interview with Climber.com, October 2023 https://www.climbing.com/people/martin-keller-interview-2023/

Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Gateway 8C+ (Boulder worked) Oct 2023
Over 150 sessions.

First re-ascent after holds broke.

Getting up at 5.50 am. Jumping on a train and while on the train doing some client-feedback for my climbing- coaching (answering questions about the weekly training, tactical approaches for trips ). Then teaching 3 lectures (Business and economics) at technical university during the day. Back on a train in the late afternoon and some more client feedback. Arriving home i went for a 45min powernap. Cold shower. Food. Coffee. Left home around 8pm. Arrived at the boulder in Ticino around 11pm. Usual warmup ritual (mindset work included). Snacking (Choco-Croissant). 1am first try - heel slipped in the crux at the end. Long rest. Going for a walk. More snacking (Carrot-cake ;). Finally had the one perfect go with no mistake, still nearly slipped on the mantel - topped it out around 2am (2nd try of the night). No big screaming. Just very [content]. Long rest on top of the boulder. More Snacking. Back home around 7am I guess. Good thing work started at 1pm that day - not at 8am ;) [2]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx5v2DzNvWH/

[2] https://www.8a.nu/news/martin-keller-45-does-gateway-8c+-tvay4

[3] Interview with Climber.com, October 2023 https://www.climbing.com/people/martin-keller-interview-2023/

Ninja Skills SDS 8C (Boulder worked) May 2019 8C/8C+
First ascent. Over 100 sessions.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/BxP3fzODbu2/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUd8M3Dsdo0

Dreamtime 8C (Boulder worked)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca-BNh7LgzJ/

Gepresster Hase 8B+ (Boulder worked) Apr 2014 8C
First ascent.

But after a wild party night (till 3am) I finally got this one try for which I had waited so long. This try on which I got that exact rhythm that made it possible to hit every hold perfect and aloud me to top out the best and hardest boulder I ever did and put up the FA of”Gepresster Hase”, Sustenpass, Swizzy. Couldn’t be happier 😉

https://martinkeller.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-ascent-of-gepresster-hase-8c.html

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2014/04/gepresster_hase_font_8c_first_ascent_by_martin_keller-68888

Highlander 8B+ (Boulder worked) Jun 2016 8C
First ascent.

The end of a 13 year project!

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2016/06/first_ascent_of_highlander_font_8c_after_13_years_by_martin_keller-70491

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca2XqlEJSTT/

The Dagger 8B+ (Boulder worked) 31st Mar 2009 8B+ (soft)
Supertussi 8B (Boulder worked)
First ascent.
One Summer in Paradise 8B (Boulder worked) 16th Aug 2005
Second ascent.
Confessions 8B (Boulder worked) 27th Mar 2008 8B+ (soft)
Third ascent.
Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade