SOLE Blog
April 21st, 2011
Why climb, why compete, and why SOLE?
With the kick-off of the climbing World Cup Series starting, SOLE caught up with sponsored athlete Alex Johnson and asked: why climb, why compete, and why SOLE?
How long have you been climbing?
About 12 years.
What drew you to the sport?
Growing up I competed mostly in team sports and I really like the individual aspect of climbing.
You chose to focus on competition climbing - why that as a focus?
Right now my focus on competitions pays the bills [laughs]! But seriously, all the beautiful places that I have travelled to, and the people I have met at competitions all over the world are the main reasons that keep me coming back.
Is Fritz (Alex's dog) your favourite climbing partner? Or is he just a great companion?
Fritz is the best travel companion! Although she cannot belay and she's a lousy co-pilot on road trips... Can't read the map and she sleeps a lot.
The names of some of the climbing routes are pretty funny. For those of us not from a climbing background, what's with names like Mexican Chicken, Secrets of the Beehive, A Birthing Experience, and Pumped Full of Semen? How do climbers name their routes?
Route names are definitely interesting in climbing! I just returned from a trip to Hueco Tanks, TX where some of the route names are as dirty as the desert itself. I have no idea where the crazy names come from, but I know a lot of people name routes based on personal experiences or emotions pertaining to the specific route itself.
Have you ever named a route?
I have not had the chance of naming a route yet, but I have a full-page list of names just waiting to be used! One of my (strange) personal favourite word combinations I'd love to use is "Vanilla Manure." They say that the most pleasant sounding word combination in the English language is "cellar door" but I think "vanilla manure" sounds much better!
You've travelled extensively, climbing in some pretty incredible parts of the world. During these trips, have you discovered any favourite places that weren't related to climbing?
My favourite place in the world is Lake Garda, near Arco, Italy. I've had the privilege of visiting this place a couple times in the past few years. Arco is a very popular climbing destination and also home to the oldest standing climbing competition in history, the Rockmasters. Arco is also the host town for the 2011 Climbing World Championships this July. Lake Garda is my favorite place to go and relax after the competitions, it has huge limestone cliffs towering over the most aqua-blue water you've ever seen in a lake. Top it off with swans and gelato - tell me that doesn't sound like paradise.
You're in Milan this week for the start of the World Cup Series. What are you looking forward to the most?
I'm really excited about this year's World Cup season because we're kicking the opening competition off with Fashion Week! I'm also looking forward to the World Championships this year because many of my American teammates will be coming over for the event and it'll be awesome to feel like an actual team at a foreign competition. I'm used to doing these solo.
Any tips you would give a beginner climber?
I would say to stick with it even when it's frustrating some days, and always remember to have fun because that's the most important thing in any sport. If you take the fun out of it, why would you do it?
Why SOLE?
I wear SOLE because when I'm running around train stations and airports all over the world I need good support under my feet!
That makes good sense, since Alex will be in 17 different countries this year. That's a lot of airports...
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