Enormocast 318: Babsi Zangerl – 10 Years Later

Photos: Austin Siadak, Jacopo Larcher
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On the latest Enormocast, Austrian rock master Babsi Zangerl returns to the show after I discovered her 10 years ago. Just kidding, but to say that her fame has rocketed since her first Enormocast over ten years ago is an understatement. Since we last talked, Babsi took her bouldering base and parlayed that into becoming one of the dominant big wall free climbers of all time. She’s racked up 8 free ascents of El Cap including the first flash, climbed most of the important alpine walls in Europe, and brought her talents to the Karakorum in Pakistan on Nameless (Trango) Tower. In between, she’s sent single pitch trad test pieces on both sides of the Atlantic and climbed 9a+ sport. All while dragging her boyfriend Jacopo Larcher around (wink). All the while, Babsi maintains her day job as a medical radiographer just to keep it real. Truly one of a kind and one of the best, its an honor to have her back on the show.

Enormocast 304: Sam Stroh – Naturally Decent

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On Episode 304 of the Enormocast, climber Sam Stroh drops by my suite at the Arcteryx Academy in Squamish to talk climbing and get to the bottom of a misunderstanding. Sam cut his teeth in New Mexico and soon after high school was on the road as a classic itinerant dirtbag. After falling in with his climbing-life-partner, Adrian Vanoni, the duo started audaciously skipping through the grades and finding themselves on bigger and bigger missions. El Cap sends ensued. Professional offers appeared. Deals were made. And now Sam is out on a limb farther than he ever dreamed. But somewhere in there, Sam and Adrian heard something from one of their thought leaders, yours truly, that didn’t sit well with the boys. In this interview, we get to the bottom of my apparent diss that’s been stuck in their mutual craw for years. But we hug it out in the end.

Wet Lycra Nightmare with Sam and Jordan Cannon

Get ‘Em While They’re Hot: Sam Stroh Arcteryx Academy Clinic Spots

Enormocast 285: Nico Favresse – Mad to Live

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On Episode 285 of the Enormocast, after long last, I connect with Belgian rock-climber and alpinist, Nico Favresse. Nico is certainly a contender for the most experienced expedition rock-climber of all time. Perhaps only rivalled by his ubiquitous partner, Sean Villanueva-O’Driscoll? Nevertheless, Nico is an all-arounder who has tackled the biggest and most remote bigwalls on the planet. In addition, Favresse is a hot-shot single pitch trad climber, sport-climber, and (was) comp-climber. But maybe, just maybe, he is best known for pulling off acoustic jam sessions in the harshest conditions and faraway places. He brings his enthusiasm to the Enormocast with tails of his beginnings, stories from his biggest climbs, tributes to his partners, and finally, and original guitar tune to take us home.