Tag: Comp climbing

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Enormocast 282: Natalia Grossman – The Tyranny of Expectations

Photos: Lena Drapella, Christian Adam, Christian Adam. All courtesy of Black Diamond
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On Episode 282 of the Enormocast, I sit down with US Olympic qualifier, Natalia Grossman. That’s right, Natalia is headed to Paris to represent the US in Lead and Boulder combined (speed is separate this time around). But this moment was caught during a bit of down time for Natalia as she ramps up for Spring comp season to ready for the Olympics in July. Natalia explains her beginnings and the over-the-top support of her folks, how the pandemic fit into her rise, and why her success lead to overtraining and burnout. Finally, Natalia vows to keep the pressure of her Olympic debut in perfect perspective as she shuns expectations and just wants to have a great experience and enjoy herself…and…you know, maybe win the gold…if it works out…would be cool.

Natalia on Instagram

Smile and Fight

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Enormocast 271: Charlie Schreiber – The Kids are Alright

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On Episode 271, I am joined by climbing coach and former (maybe) competitor, Charlie Schreiber. Charlie coaches climbers of all ages, but the meat of this conversation is about youth climbing teams. Charlie has been a youth climbing coach since he was a youth himself. We discuss my own skepticism about the promise of youth sports, but Charlie allays my fears as best he can with his techniques for including ALL kids in the success of the program. By the end, I am not necessarily won over to the party-line on how good sports are for kids, but I am convinced that Charlie is one of the best youth coaches I’ve ever met.

Paradigm Climbing

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Enormocast 256: Matt Segal – Florida Man Goes Climbing

Photos: Middle Keith Ladzinski Right Tim Kemple
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On episode 256, climber, entrepreneur, and Florida man, Matt Segal, joins the Enormocast. Matt was born and raised in Florida, and this podcaster contends that he is the baddest climber to come out of that flat and swampy State (Matt demurs this accolade, BTW). Though he started as a proto gym-kid, and had a short but very successful indoor comp career, Matt pivoted in his early 20s to hardcore trad-climbing. For 15 solid years, he pretty much only trad-climbed and took down some gnarly R and X routes ground up. Along that dedicated path, Matt was not afraid to get uppity about how rad his cohort’s ethics were compared to whatever bullshit climbing you were doing. But in the end, a hard fought maturity prevailed, and now Matt looks at climbing with a much more encompassing view, though big adventures and fun with friends are still his compass. At 38 and with gas still in the tank, Matt is as happy with this moment as he’s ever been.

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