Mari is top all-round climber from Norway. Despite being well known for her appearances on The Wide Boyz YouTube channel, her competencies extend far beyond thrutching up obscure Peak District offwidths (at which, it must be noted, she is excellent). Be it hauling on big walls, keeping her cool on run-out trad, powering through hard boulders or tackling winter ice, Mari excels in almost all climbing disciplines, approaching any challenge with good humour and fierce determination in equal measure.
Growing up in Bergen, Mari was first introduced to climbing at 16 when she accompanied her mother on a climbing course at the local climbing wall.
"I placed my feet really high, like I still do," says Mari. "And I remember not climbing to the top because whenever someone did that the group would start clapping their hands, so I was too shy to top out."
Soon after this introduction, Mari’s brother and father started climbing too and the sport became a hobby the family would enjoy together from time to time.
"We eventually began climbing outside, which I remember felt a lot more rewarding," continues Mari. "There was more to it than reaching for coloured holds, there was wind and exposure and [it] presented a challenge I yet hadn’t experienced with indoor climbing."
Enjoying the elements and the multi-dimensional nature of real rock, Mari found herself drawn to climbing outdoors and when she went off to university at 19 to study chemistry and environmental engineering, she took climbing with her.
"It became more and more connected to my identity," says Mari. "Climbing with people my age and that were filthy strong brought competitiveness into climbing, which I hadn’t experienced before. As a very competitive person that was pretty much a game changer. Not necessarily beating others but beating expectations."
Surrounded by motivated friends in Rogaland, Mari became focused on bouldering. She quickly learned how to train and approach goals strategically, which led her to progress rapidly through the grades. 2014 is the best example of this dramatic progression: Mari started the year bouldering 7B+ as a new personal best and finished with a send of Misanthropie (8A) in Fontainebleau in a single day.
"At this point I also started climbing more on my own," says Mari. "Learning to find motivation to get out on projects alone at inconvenient times and in uncomfortable weather has formed me to be the climber I am today."