Articles - 60 seconds with... Pete Whittaker

I have just finished my A-levels so I’ve got the whole summer to climb, although it does seem to be going very quickly already. I am off the Italy in a week to do some trad and sport climbing.

I am quite into crack climbing at the moment, the wider and the steeper the better, which is probably something to do with climbing with Tom Randall. I like the challenges these types of routes have, because you don't need massive amounts of finger strength and power to climb them, you just have to think three-dimensionally and give more than 100 per cent effort to get up them, which I like because I'm better at that than power pulling. These types of routes are a bit limited in this country, so it would be good to find some harder ones.

I was last scared when I looked down and saw how run out I was from the third bolt on Ringing in Urea's (E6 6c) on Rainbow slab. I ended up taking a 50-footer, hip slide.

My best climbing moment is probably climbing Dynamics of Change (E9 7a) at Burbage South because I didn't think I would ever be able to climb anything like that.

Johnny Dawes inspires me as he had very good movement on rock

I always like climbing on the gritstone. North Wales is great too, as it has a variety of different climbing and I particularly like the slate.

I am pretty good at rock overs and using my feet as extra hands (a massive understatement for anyone who’s seen Pete’s mind-blowing moves on the aforementioned Dynamics of Change on Committed Volume II Hot Aches DVD – the ed).

Since I left the British Team I don't think I've done any structured training. I do a few laps of endurance when I go to the wall but I don't think I need to do a lot of training for what I want to do at the moment. However I have recently been trying to improve my core strength so I can keep up with Tom on these horizontal roof cracks.

(Pete Whittaker puts up the Last Arete (E5 6a) at Stanage. Photo: Ian Smith)

My one training tip would be to train specifically and not just bits and bobs here and there like me. Make training hard, but make sure you don't get injured and if you do get injured rest. And make sure it’s fun and enjoyable

I like trad climbing because you get more scared and I like getting getting scared, but not an out of control scared. Although it is good to mix things up and I do still like sport climbing and bouldering, as its good to push yourself to your limit without having to fiddle in dodgy nuts and fall on them.

I like lots of different stuff, but Daft Punk are a fairly recent addition to my iPod.

I’m most happy when I get to go climbing and know I have something to aim for.

Pete Whittaker is sponsored by Patagonia, 5.10, The Edge Climbing Wall, Naked Ape, CAMP and Tendon Ropes.