Dr. Juliana Exel participated in the 6th International Rock Climbing Research Association conference held in Bern, Switzerland, from August 7th to 10th, 2023. Hosted by ETH Zürich – Sensory-motor Systems Lab and the Center for Sport and Sport Science of the University of Bern, the event brought together approximately 50 experts from various global locations, covering both applied and fundamental aspects of climbing.
The conference featured panels and keynotes that facilitated discussions between academics and coaches, exploring the ways in which climbing can benefit from research. A workshop on data acquisition in speed climbing was also conducted, enhancing the practical insights shared among attendees. The participants were treated to an inspiring presentation by Christophe Ogier, a French mountain guide and PhD student in glaciology at ETH in Zurich. Ogier shared his experience into the first ascent of Pumari Chhish East, a 6850-meter mountain in Nepal, an achievement he accomplished alongside his colleagues Victor Saucède and Jérôme Sullivan in 2023.
The work presented by Dr. Exel was about the effects of fatigue in muscle activity and joint coordination in hanging tasks, it was co-authored by O. Froschauer, A. Baca, and H. Kainz, and can be read here: