Could you please tell how it all began? How did you start climbing? At what age? Who helped you? Who was your coach and what was your parents’ reaction?
Well i began climbing when i was 6 back in Texas at a place called mineral wells state park. It was a boyscouts type of thing so one of our units was rock climbing. I saw my dad go up and it really motivated me to try it so i gave it a try. I noticed i was half way decent at it so I looked up all the local climbing gyms near my house and ever since that moment ive been climbing.

What attracts you in climbing?
I just like the feeling of moving on rock it feels so natural and what we were meant to do. Also climbing allows you to meet rad people and travel all over the world. 

What competitions did you take part in and how difficult were they?
Ive mostly just been doing junior comps but now ive started competing in adult comps. I have taken 2nd and 3rd at the junior worldcups male 14-15b category, 2nd and a PCA (proffessional climbers association, guys like Chris sharma, Dave Grahm, Luke Parady, Steven Jeffreys, Matt BOsley and many more really really strong guys compete in those) I just recently won the abs nationals at my gym whcih decided the U.S. bouldering team so I think i might try and go to Europe for a worldcup boudering competiton. 

How do you train and what do you pay most attention to while training?
I mostly do a bunch of 1 arm pullups for lock off strength cause thats key for climbing. I like to do 1 arm hangs on half pad to smaller crimps to build finger strength which is also key to having in climbing. Other than that the best thing to do is just climb as much as possible. 

What advise(s) would you give to the beginner climbers?
I would say to not rush yourself too quickly with climbing and automatically expect yourself to be good because climbing takes a lot of time and a lot of practice. Also when you go through the stage where you feel like you suck (which i did) dont give up just keep practicing and keep with it. Also, you have to develope a true passion for climbing. Climbing is a sport where you want to do it 24/7 and are super motivated in order to do well.

What rock gym is your favorite and why?
Um I like to climb at the Spot for bouldering and Rockn and jamin for routes but i get out side as much as possible. 

What is better: a gym or natural rocks?
Natural rocks for sure!!! 

What countries have you been to? What foreign rock gyms did you visit? What is the best place in the world to climb? What places, gyms or natural rocks, would you recommend?
Everytime I have been to Europe it is for to compete in a worldcup competition. I have been to Bulgaria, Greece, Scotland, and the German airport hehe. I really want to plan a 2 month trip and go to ceuse, the boux, gorges du tarn, magic wood and all those classic climbing areas.  

What personal traits are characteristic for the rock climbers?
Ummm be really motivated and have a good atittude towards climbing. 

Do you like to compete?
Yea i enjoy competing alot, it prepares your mental side of climbing cause so many things are going through your mind at once.  

Who had the most influence on you as a climber? As a person?
Ummmm alot of people. My dad defenately got me into it. I really enjoyed watching the super famous people in climbing cause they motivated me to get better. 

What else, besides climbing, do you like to do? What other professions do you have? What do you do in free time? 
I like to just hang out. On my rest days i mainly just eat, sleep, watch climbing vids and go onto the internet. 

What helps you in climbing walls, what thoughts or ideas?
Ummm i think just realaxing and focusing on each move will get you far on a route. If you rush things then you could screw up and go off route or get out of sequence. also executing each move without hesitating will help you because you can allow yourself to get into a rhythm and flow up the route.

Could you tell any funny stories from either your own climbing experience, or from other peoples’? The more, the better.
I dont really have any funny stories but last summer my friends came out to CO to hang out with me. Vasya, Jon, Zeb and I just basically went around destroying stuff all over CO and just acted goofy the whole time. It was the best summer climbing trips i had ever had cause we didnt really worry about sending much but just having a good time.

What are your current goals in climbing? What achievements do you consider your best by now?
My goal this summer is to do livin astro 14c in rumney, I scream from hell 14c in AF, all the 14s in rifle and to do nothing but sunshine v14 in RMNP.

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