Background of Dennis and Marianne

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Our Story

Hiking in the mountains with their parents Dennis and Marianne both were caught by the beauty of the alps: it’s rocks, ice and peaks.

Dennis figured iceclimbing on a young age for a Dutchmen (14) and Marianne got dragged into alpinism around the same age. Marianne lost the alpinism because of the lack of mountains in the Netherlands but later picked up sportsclimbing when she started studying at the University. She was instantly hooked and grew fast in the grades. Dennis never lost the ice-addiction and has been part of the National Ice climbing team since 2005.

How we met

Dennis and Marianne found each other in 2009 when both were looking for the same interest: icecimbing. Since 2010 they travel together. Mainly in Dennis VW T3 Syncro campervan. Not just in search of climbable ice, also for bouldering, sportsclimbing, trad, multipicth, alpine, expeditions and the people, landscapes, cultures they meet during their adventures. Their motto is “Der Weg ist das Ziel”, meaning; they don’t just go blind and just want to reach the summit. They rather pick a longer climbing line, a good view, or a challenge on they way and maybe not even to reach the top, but just because the line itself is the goal.

To go places and do things that have never been done before – that’s what living is all about.

Marianne van der Steen

Professional ​speaker, rock, Alpine, Expedition, ice climber and Material specialist

Marianne made her first pull-ups before she did her first steps.

Movement is her addiction and in climbing it all perfectly comes together.

Getting better, improving, learing is what she always searches for.

Studied several things but prefers the outdoors. Likes to write and lives also in the VW T3 Syncro together with Dennis.

Using her material knowledge from climbing to advice users and professionals at Paracard.eu .

Spreading her passion in lectures and talks makes it possible to live the verticallife.

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Dennis van Hoek

Foto: Bastiaan Heus

Professional rock, Alpine, Expedition, Ice Climber and Designer

From a early age Dennis wanted to become a Mountain guide making his own gear to do so.

After sports studies and guiding on rock climbs he realises that his life is about climbing it self not just guiding.

Ever since he discovered iceclimbing, he has been inseperable with his ice-tools.

As an Industrial Designer he has a passion for designing climbing equipment.

Collects old climbing stuff and has one other hobby, the VW T3 Syncro.

It is not just his van, it’s his home.

Present

Both truly live for climbing, traveling to remote and beautiful places to feed their addiction. Adventures like ‘by train through China’, free climbing the Moonflower Buttress in Alaska but also building and growing the Drytooling Community are things they’re up to together nowadays. They travel with their VW T3 campervan through Europe, and in Spring 2021 they build they’re own 100% sustainable Tiny House as basecamp in the Netherlands together with their Dachshunds Odinn, Ylva and Ginny.

Our Dreams

For the upcoming years they will keep on joining the Worldcup iceclimbing (and hopefully win again).
They will keep on spreading the climbing sports by giving courses, workshops and lectures.
And within a couple years they want to start on their big project: China and back with the VW T3 Syncro!

Want to support us in keeping the Dutch Drytool Community alive, keep on inspiring you, help us improve our webshop, tiny house, van and/or doxies. Please consider buying us a coffee. Click the link below. 

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Some Random Achievements:

Competition Ice climbing since 2007:

  • D&M Dutch national Champion 2015-2023
  • M Worldchamionships 4th place 2023
  • M Continental-cup lead 1st 2023
  • D Eu-Cup overall 2e place Lead 2018-2022
  • M EU-Cup winner 1st place 2023
  • D Eu-cup Speed 1st place Speed 2019
  • D Worldcup Saas Fee Men Lead 2017 8th place
  • M Worldcup lead Women 8th place 2010
  • D Worldcup Speed 1st Saas Fee 01/2013

Alpine:

Mixed:

Ice:

  •  Lipton WI6+ Rjukan 02/2023
  • Once in a Life time WI6+ Dolimites 02/2019
  • Bridalveil falls Colorado WI6 02/2019
  • Crackbaby WI6 Breitwangflue 02/2014
  • Metro WI6+ Breitwangflue 02/2014
  • Shivas hair wI5M6 500m India 09/2015
  • No-name WI6+ Iceland 2013

Dry:

  • Parallel world D15 09/2023
  • Pray for power D14 8/2023
  • The Mustang Vail M14- 02/2019
  • Eptingen Superman M13+ 02/2017
  • Iseo Kamasutra M13 Flash 29/01/2016
  • Usine DTS 2015 D13 Flash 11/2015
  • Eptingen iron bat M14 01/2018

Rock:

  • Calf 8b Flash Getu valley Petzroctrip 04/2011
  • Moderne Zeiten 7a Marmolada 06/2015
  • new route Gangstang 6C+ 350 m India 09/2015

Terms and Conditions:

Thanks for shopping at ​vertical life.nl​ orders will be shipped in 5 working days. (within 30 days according to Dutch regulations).
If you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, we’re here to help.

We use partner PostNL and DPD for further shipping details:and general conditions POSTNL:

Returns

You have ​14​ calendar days to return an item from the date you received it.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it.

Your item must be in the original packaging.
Your item needs to have the receipt or proof of purchase.

Refunds

Once we receive your item, we will inspect it and notify you that we have received your returned item. We will immediately notify you on the status of your refund after inspecting the item.

If your return is approved, we will initiate a refund to your credit card (or original method of payment).

You will receive the credit within a certain amount of days, depending on your card issuer’s policies.

You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non​refundable.

If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

If you have any questions on how to return your item to us, contact us.

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