Episode 98: Eric Barnard – Small Town, Big Dreams.

Barnard

On Episode 98 of the Enormocast, I sit down with Midwest native and ice farmer, Eric Barnard. Eric found climbing after Jerry’s death and getting sick and tired of Hacky Sack, and he went on to develop the early bouldering scene at Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin. After a stint in Pocatello, Idaho, he and his family moved back to the flatish-lands to start working on a climbing empire on the Mississippi. While working as the Director of Winona State’s Outdoor Education and Recreation Center, he has been a force behind creating a world class gym and now a city supported ice park. A motivated family man and climber, Eric is trying to have it all in what will soon become the Boulder of the upper midwest, Winona, Minnesota.

Take a class from Eric.

Episode 97: Jay Smith – A Climber for All Seasons.

Jay Smith andhis mustache.
Jay Smith and his mustache.

On Episode 97 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a limping Mobile Studio with alpinist, and all-around climber, Jay Smith. Jay and I get through his discomfort to talk about his early climbing, his vast motivation for first ascents, rigging, and best partners. Jay may or may not have sanctioned himself Clint-Eastwood-style by revealing classified intel about Navy Seal training. Jay is more at home freezing on a Himalayan peak than talking about himself, but his personality shines through in this hour in the Mobile Studio.

Since there’s basically nothing on the internet about Jay Smith, the climber, here’s a video of Jay Smith, the Swedish Country singer.

Episode 96: Said Belhaj – All In, All the Time.

No booze, no drugs, no meat,all psyche.
No booze, no drugs, no meat, all psyche.
Said in sans kneepads in Rifle.
Said sans kneepads in Rifle.

On Episode 96 of the Enormocast, I luck out and sit down with Swedish/Moroccan/Finnish climber, Said Belhaj.

After obsessively adventuring on nearby rocks and breaking into his grade school like a ninja to train, Said found sport climbing and his fate was set. He is a seeker and finds the meditative state in climbing to be as necessary as air and food. As an accomplished musician, Said travels the world sending hard routes and blowing minds with transcendental music. All in, all the time, Said Belhaj is a climber for the ages.

 

Said’s Website.

Said Belhaj profile by Andrew Bisharat