Štěpán Potůček

Name: Štěpán Potůček
Job: student ČVUT in Prague
Year of birth: 2001
Climbing since: 12 years
Country: Czech Republic

What do you like about climbing?
What I like most is the variety. Every route, boulder or area is different and specific. No climbing day is the same, and I enjoy that a lot.

How did you get started climbing?
My parents introduced me to climbing. But I didn't really start until our uncle, Mira Bodanský, built Vertikon (a climbing wall) in Zlín. That's when I started to climb regularly, and I completely fell in love with it.

Other interests?
I like to go swimming or jogging. Otherwise, basically all my free time is taken up by school, but I also enjoy it and it is, to some extent, my hobby. I'm studying Engineering in Prague.

Favourite climbing area ?
It's hard to choose one, but Labak is probably the one that's most close to my heart. Beautiful climbing with even more beautiful nature. What more could you ask for. But I haven't climbed in an area I didn't like.

The best achievements?
To this day, my most appreciated is the flash route Missing link for 8b+ in Mišja Peć, Slovenia.

Biggest climbing experience?
The most intense experience I get from Christmas 2018. Climbers from Zlín traditionally climb on Lukov at Christmas. That year the weather was absolutely crazy. Cold, rain/snow, wind. My uncle didn't have anyone to climb with him, so he talked my brother and me into doing it. I've never been so cold in my life. But I figured if I enjoy climbing in this, I must really love it.

And of course, on the same level, seeing my brother win the Czech Championship in 2023 in lead climbing, that was a blast.

Plans for the future?
As long as I am studying I would like to devote myself to climbing competitions. I have the time now and I would like to see how far I can go. After comps, it will be the rock climbing, where I hope to one day be able to climb a 9a route and some proper bouldering.

Climbing in 100 years?
I think the scissors, between indoor and outdoor climbing, will continue to unravel. The competitions will probably go to the level of popular professional sports and our punk will slowly disappear from them. In terms of sheer difficulty, I don't think we're anywhere near human capabilities yet.

More info about me:
IG: @stepanpotucek