Former X Games speed climbing gold medalist Aaron Shamy joins the podcast today for a deep conversation about how climbing affects our identities and can influence us to become better members of society. A longtime local of American Fork outside of Salt Lake City, Aaron is a member of the LDS church and also shares about how his faith forms his approach to life, and how his religion is seen within the (often non-spiritual) climbing community.

Plus - What it was like to compete (and win!) in the X Games, Jay and Aaron consider doing American Ninja Warrior, Jay and Aaron’s skin care tips, and why gates in is the way.

If you’re craving more First Ascent during that time, join the First Ascent Patreon! For $5, $7 or $10 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and an ever growing library of Jay’s musings. Plus you’ll get exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay can be found at @jayknower.

Disclaimer:

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Longtime friend of the pod Ethan Edwards joins me today to chat about injuries, retrobolting, and the importance of public lands.

Ethan will detail his surgery and recovery process from a skiing injury, and he’ll share how he’s approached training during this time so that he can be in the best shape possible once he’s completed convalescence.

Then, he’ll tell us all about his retrobolting/rebolting project at Crow Hill in Massachusetts. We’ll discuss the delicate process of the importance of social buy in for retrobolting projects and how he navigated the situation in a way that seemed to appeal to everyone involved.

If you live in the west and you believe in the importance of our public lands, please call your representatives to tell them to support keeping public lands protected!

We have almost reached our fundraising goal for the new parking lot at Miriam Woods/Russell Crag! Help us get over the top by donating at https://www.centralnhclimbers.org/

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon. For $5, $7 or $10 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay can be found at @jayknower.

Disclaimer:

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Oh how the tables have turned! Jim Lawyer takes the interviewer’s mic and turns the spotlight onto Jay in an interview that will give you more insight into our host than ever before.

You’ll learn about how Jay became obsessed with climbing, what brought him to New Hampshire, the first ascent he felt was worth ‘risking a friendship over’, the number one thing he’d like to change about climbing culture, and even his feelings about being a rare and shunned ‘gates in’ climber.

First Ascent is going into summer mode! Starting now, we’ll begin releasing episodes every other week to more fully enjoy the best part of the climbing season.

If you’re craving more First Ascent during that time, join the First Ascent Patreon! For $5, $7 or $10 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and an ever growing library of Jay’s musings. Plus you’ll get exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay can be found at @jayknower.

Disclaimer:

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.