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Born:

1995, Glasgow, Scotland

Biggest achievement:

First British athlete to make the lead finals at Saas-Fee UIAA World Cup / First men's senior GB medal at the Continental Cup.

DMM athlete since:

2021

Willis Morris is a Glasgow-based ice climber, dry-tooling athlete, coach and GB Ice Climbing Team captain who has been at the forefront of British competition ice climbing for the best part of a decade. He started climbing at the Glasgow Climbing Centre as a twelve-year-old and never really left, eventually helping to build the very community that now produces some of Britain's most competitive ice climbers. His standout moment came at Saas-Fee, the most prestigious event on the UIAA World Cup circuit, where he became the first British athlete to reach the lead finals, finishing 7th in the World Cup and 5th in the European Championships. He also claimed the first men's senior medal in British ice climbing history at the Continental Cup, topping the final route after returning from surgery. As team captain, Willis has been as proud of the athletes he has helped develop as of his own results, coaching the next generation of GB competitors with the same drive that got him to the top of the circuit. A proper Glaswegian, a lover of Ben Nevis in grim conditions and a firm believer that Haribo counts as elite performance nutrition. 

"If you're not slightly damp and mildly uncomfortable, is it even a proper climbing day?" 

Get To Know Willis

When did you start climbing?

I started climbing when I was about 12 at the Glasgow Climbing Centre. At the time it seemed like a fun after-school activity. Slightly concerning that it has now turned into my career, my hobby, well, actually my entire personality.

What do you consider your most significant climbing achievement to date?

Representing Great Britain in the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup is a huge highlight. Leading the team and becoming the first British athlete to make the finals at Saas-Fee, the most prestigious event on the circuit, is unforgettable. But helping inspire and coach the next generation is even more rewarding. Watching athletes you have worked with step onto the podium themselves is hard to beat.

How would you describe your climbing style and your anti-style?

I love complex routes where every move needs micro-beta and constant refinement. Make it long, pumpy and throw in a few marginal rests so a proper fight is guaranteed. That is when I am in heaven. Anti-style: no thought, just pure strength and little feet. If the solution is simply to pull harder, I have probably missed something.

Which route keeps calling you back?

Pretty much anything on Ben Nevis in good winter conditions. The same route can feel completely different depending on the conditions and weather on the day. It is the mountain that keeps on giving.

Which crag or mountain is your favourite and which do you consider the most beautiful in the world?

Hard to beat Ben Nevis in good winter conditions. It is wild, unpredictable and always feels like a proper adventure. So many different styles of route, different crags and such a huge variety of terrain, all on the same hill. It is like a giant winter playground.

What is one essential item you always carry in your crag bag that is not climbing gear?

Haribo. Elite-level performance nutrition.

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