With: La Sportiva
ITW: Larissa Arce
By: Ludovica Sacco
Larissa Arce: climbing as refuge
Larissa Arce was born and raised in a small village in northern Mexico called Namiquipa. To her, climbing was a refuge from problems, a family that showed her a new -vertical – perspective of her country. The more Larissa climbs, the more her passion grows, through her love for those immense walls and her desire to commit to climbing them by opening new lines. Larissa currently lives in Spain, where she has found a new team and family: La Sportiva.
You came from Mexico and moved to Spain, how’s the feeling with the Spanish rocks?
I came following my dream of pushing the limits of mexican female climbing. Discovering a new world of different rock types and holds has been incredible and challenging, especially because I fell in love with a place that is completely my anti style: Margalef. In fact, for the last year I have been training specifically for pockets and monos. I feel super happy living in Spain, the rock is infinite and the people are really nice and welcoming.
What was the hardest multi-pitch you’ve ever made?
By grade I think the hardest one was Logical progression 7c+ (900m) in El gigante, but I didn’t send all the pitches. And the hardest one personally for me was “Southwest rarámuri” a mixed multi pitch that I opened with Sergio Almada, where we had to stay 10 days in the wall working and trying to get to the top.
What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever climbed?
One of the most beautiful places that sticks in my mind is Basaseachi. There are a few multi pitches next to the waterfall and the view makes for an unforgettable climbing experience. Other beautiful places that I’d love to return to climb again are Red River George, Riglos and Peñoles.
You took part in the Pretty Strong film by Leslie Hittmeier in 2020. Can you tell us something about this experience?
For me this experience was really meaningful, it was a trip that I did mainly to accompany and support my friend Fernanda. She is like my sister and like me, and many other girls in Mexico and Latinoamérica, being a climber and trying to push your limits is not always easy due to the way our world works. We have a lot of responsibilities with our families and sometimes a lot of problems, we have to work hard. After that, if there is time and energy, we can train and climb. So watching her chapter in Pretty Strong made me feel proud and happy to see that our reality and Ferys passion has visibility.
How do you workout? How’s your typical day?
Everyday is different. I try to organize my training day to day regarding my workload. Rock climbing is my priority at the moment, but if I have a lot of work, I’ll train on my board, do some fingerboard sessions, conditioning, etc.
Which are your next objectives as an athlete?
Project less, improve my onsight and flash grade, learn how to move better in different styles, and go back to a big wall.
You entered in the La Sportiva family, how do you feel so far? Did something change in your life?
When I moved from México to Spain I left behind so many things, sponsors, friends and family. I never expected that someone was going to tell me “hey, you still have a family here” on the other side of the world, as the La Sportiva family did. So joining the team was a precious surprise for me and hopefully it helps to open opportunities and provide visibility to other women like me.
In difficult times, everyone has a thought that pushes you to go further. Which one is yours?
I like to motivate myself imagining the voice of my father saying “Up and forward” or in Spanish “Arriba y adelante”. He used to tell me this when I was a child and had no energy to keep doing something and finish it.
Family and athlete life are easy to combine? How do you manage this delicate balance?
I guess it depends on the person, for me it wasn’t easy because I have a lot of responsibilities with my family. They are not climbers and for a long time I felt guilty for going training instead of staying to take care of my father. What helped me to find the balance was making them part of my lifestyle, but also taking periods over the year to be with them and focus on different activities.
How will be Larissa in ten years?
With the same motivation, still growing in different aspects of life like my career, enjoying climbing not for a grade, but for the pleasure of the movement. And hopefully speaking catalan! 😉
