Interviews

Chess, Rock Climbing, and 50 Pound Weight Loss Meet James Agnew

March 9, 2016 by Jason Clements

Chess, Rock Climbing, and 50 Pound Weight Loss Meet James Agnew.

James Agnew is a routesetter at The Crag at Earl Bell in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He is currently studying Philosophy at Arkansas State University. And when he is not climbing, James is playing chess.

James used rock climbing to lose 50 pounds — I know — impressive (wait when you see his “before” picture below). He told me that he walked into The Crag and it was relatively fun for him. He saw that rock climbing was enjoyable enough and he wanted to use it to get in better physical shape. James says:

I never had a singular epiphany moment, I just had a stupidly strong desire to get better.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Please Meet James Agnew.

HCRB: What was the last good book you read?

James: The Four Loves by C.S Lewis.

HCRB: What is your current weight?

James: About 170.

HCRB: What was your weight when you started climbing 3 years ago?

James: About 220.

HCRB: What food do you no longer eat (or rarely eat) with your weight loss success?

James: Soda and fast food are almost always a no go, with the exception of a late night stop by Taco Bell after a climbing trip.

HCRB: Would you rather travel into space (set foot on the Moon or Mars) or become a meditation master (understand the deepest part of the inside of you)? Why?

James: Moon or Mars, because I have a strong desire to explore new areas.

HCRB: Climbing goals for 2016?

James: Ideally get a V7 and some more 5.12’s. I didn’t sport climb much last year and I feel I need to show it some love.

HCRB: The word “beta” in climbing is overused by many climbers. How do you overuse it? [Read more…] about Chess, Rock Climbing, and 50 Pound Weight Loss Meet James Agnew

Climbing Holds, Routesetting, Home Walls: Meet Jeremy Dowsett

March 2, 2016 by Jason Clements

Jeremy Dowsett writes for Climbing Hold Review and runs the YouTube channel called Jeremy Dowsett or NTMB. (You’ll get to know what NTMB stands for in a few moments…) He has also repped for a number of world-class hold companies; and currently reps for Project Holds and Atomik Climbing Holds.

Pour yourself a big hot coffee or a tall cold beer as this is a killer interview and well worth the read time. We not only cover Climbing Holds, Routesetting, Home Walls; but also:

World travel for climbers
Tricks to summon up super powers for that special send
Tips for connecting with Jeremy or other climbing hold companies for business purposes – you know, purchase climbing holds.
Mistakes to avoid when building a home wall
Tips for rock climbing gym owners and managers
The importance of routesetting in a climbing gym
Tips to move from beginner routesetter to excellent routesetter
Specific beta for rock climbing in Europe

Ladies and Gentlemen, please meet Jeremy Dowsett.

HCRB: What is the last good book you read?

Jeremy: “Anthony Bourdain: Kitchen Confidential” as I like to cook and I just binged watched Anthony’s show: The Layover.

On the climbing front I just re-read “Fall of the Phantom Lord: Climbing and the Face of Fear” which is a great read by Andrew Todhunter. It is about the risks of climbing and about one of my favorite climbers, Dan Osman.

HCRB: Favorite way to relax?

Jeremy: Cooking and hanging with my girlfriend and my “wolfpack” (I have three cats)

HCRB: What is the last thing you googled?

Jeremy: Camera equipment…again.

HCRB: Why is your nickname Noodles?

Jeremy: That’s an interesting one; most people don’t realize that I’m actually a Senior Level Designer by trade. Basically, I make video games as my 9-5 and Climbing Hold Review was just a side project that I started many years ago. I work for Ubisoft in Montreal and have made a bunch of games that some people might recognize… Assassins Creed / Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory / Far Cry: Primal to name a few. [Read more…] about Climbing Holds, Routesetting, Home Walls: Meet Jeremy Dowsett

Updates and News from Organic Climbing: The Best Bouldering Pads. Period.

March 1, 2016 by Jason Clements

We are in the thick of the fall season and Josh Helke, the owner of Organic Climbing, has some updates, news, and tips for us. [Connect with Organic Climbing on Facebook.]

The Quick Read:

The New Organic Roll Down Pack – Made-in-the-USA quality back pack
The New Organic Load Flap – For boulderers who need many pads
The New Organic Blubber Pad – Extra padding for big landing zones
Organic Climbing Important Warranty Information – Josh makes quality gear
3 Tips for new boulderers from Josh Helke – Enjoy your climbing
Shout OUT to Spencer and Vikki at the Conscious Climber Project

HCRB: What’s new at Organic Climbing:

Josh: The Organic Roll Down Pack. A super burly, well designed, and fairly priced roll down style backpack for all around use and abuse.

[Click here to view the Organic Roll Down Pack pricing at the Organic Climbing website.]

HCRB: Who should buy the Organic Roll Down Pack?

Josh: The Organic Roll Down Pack is a 4-season pack, perfect for climbers and students.

HCRB: What else is new, Josh? [Read more…] about Updates and News from Organic Climbing: The Best Bouldering Pads. Period.

Take A Kind Coffee Break In Estes Park Colorado: Meet Amy Hamrick

February 23, 2016 by Jason Clements

Right at the intersection of Rocky Mountain National Park and Heaven; there is a little coffee shop in Estes Park called Kind Coffee.

Amy Hamrick is the owner.

Next time you are near RMNP, Colorado; plan to stop and take a Kind Coffee break in Estes Park Colorado. Or, if you are the type of coffee lover who orders beans online, you can visit the Kind Coffee shop at www.kindcoffee.com.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please get to know Amy Hamrick:

The last good book I read was: The Emerald Mile

When I have a day to myself, all I want to do is: Hike with my dogs.

Coffee goes best with: A homemade pecan roll.

If I could teleport to any mountain peak on Earth and sip my favorite cup of coffee: Mount Chiripo, Costa Rica and sipping a double shot, whole milk latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon in the shots.

HCRB: Kind Coffee started as Estes Park Coffee Company in 1998…what made you want to start a coffee company?

Amy: I have worked in coffee since I was in high school and have a passion for it. More importantly, I enjoy creating a community space where folks gather and meet and learn and hang out.

HCRB: Kind Coffee is a stalwart of sustainability. What are 4 things that anyone can do, right now, to be better at recycling or sustainability. [Read more…] about Take A Kind Coffee Break In Estes Park Colorado: Meet Amy Hamrick

Meet Beau Belger at Moosejaw on the Plaza

February 17, 2016 by Jason Clements

I have always maintained that buying gear from your friend’s shops makes it a more enjoyable experience. Add that degree of trust, and you walk out of the store feeling like you just made a purchase of a lifetime! So, let’s make some friends: Meet Beau Belger.

Beau is one of the managers at Moosejaw on the Plaza where he works with Gracey Cockram.

When you meet Beau, ask him about how in the world he enjoys the cold weather!

Ladies and Gentlemen: Meet Beau Belger.

HCRB: What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Beau: My favorite outdoor activity is Outdooring, which I define as the act of being out of doors. I am a big fan of pretty much anything I can do in the great outdoors.

HCRB: What is your go-to drink in the winter? …after a workout? …when relaxing?

Beau: My favorite drink, honestly this answer holds true for all three: Coffee.

HCRB: Best book you’ve read in the last year? …best movie?

Beau: The best book I read was The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. I’d say the best movie I saw this year was the Revenant

HCRB: One place you want to travel to, that you haven’t yet? …why?

Beau: I am in the process of formulating a plan to fly into Santiago Chile buy a bike and take 6 months riding through the Andes and some wonderful wine country. Make my way down to Patagonia climb my little heart out find a way onto a fishing vessel that would take me around the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and work my way up the Argentine coast to Buenos Aries.

I think the only “why” question i need to answer here would be why haven’t I done it yet, which I can only answer by saying; school.

HCRB: Alright, Beau, why should we stop into Moosejaw to meet you? [Read more…] about Meet Beau Belger at Moosejaw on the Plaza

Everything You Wanted To Know About ClimbOn: Meet Will Reynolds Young

February 11, 2016 by Jason Clements

This interview with Will Reynolds Young will answer everything you wanted to know about climbOn. If you are a rock climber, you have probably already used climbOn. Did you know that there are a host of other skin care products that climbOn (and SKINourisment) carries?

Please meet Will Reynolds Young. He is the Chief Digital Officer for climbOn and the parent company, SKINourishment, Inc. Their brands include climbOn, crossFIXE, SKINourishment SPA, and RIDICULOUS!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Will Reynolds Young:

HCRB: What is the last good book you read?

Will Reynolds Young: The Body in Pain by Elaine Scarry

HCRB: What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

Will Reynolds Young: Cinnamon Toast Crunch – I’m a sucker for sugar.

HCRB: Last place you were when you said, “WOW, that is a beautiful sunset!”

Will Reynolds Young: Anyone who’s spent a day with me knows I am a sucker for sunsets. It amazes me that no two sunsets are the same. Recently, a time comes to mind where I was driving to downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is unique because it has the Fort Pitt Tunnels as sort of an entrance to the city. You drive through the tunnels and all of a sudden there’s the city. I happen to be doing this at the perfect time.

HCRB: What was the last thing you googled?

Will Reynolds Young: Blue Mountain Ski Resort.

HCRB: What is something that you are an expert at, that few people know?

Will Reynolds Young: Public Speaking. Don’t get me wrong, I get nervous, but somehow I just have a tendency to rock it. Here’s a session I did at Podcamp Pittsburgh in 2013 entitled Small Business Social Media Toolkit.

HCRB: You an Apple or Android guy? Why?

Will Reynolds Young: Apple. I have an iPhone, Apple TV, and a Macbook. I bleed Apple. I love the beauty of the devices and how well they are built, not to mention the OS is just fantastic. That being said, I love technology. In the last year, I’ve had a Nexus 5X and a Samsung Galaxy S6.

HCRB: Would you rather climb Everest or submarine the Marianas Trench?

Will Reynolds Young: Climb Everest, no question.

Quick climbOn Facts

Since 1996, Polly has created food grade skin care products before organic and all natural was the cool thing to do. Often times we hear about natural products that really aren’t natural at all. Propylene glycol is considered a natural ingredient.

We take natural to a whole new level with food grade, pure products. This means no fillers, parabens, perfumes. We have been really lucky and honored to grow by word of mouth. We have no sales team and I am the only one who does marketing on a regular basis.

To this day we still hand pour all of our products in our own Wimberley, Texas warehouse, production, and offices. Here’s some highlights about our company with some links to educational blog posts on the topic.

Woman-owned
Made in the USA
EU Compliant
100% pure
Food grade
NO synthetic ingredients
No “fragrance“
NO phthalates, NO petroleum by-products, NO mineral oil
NO GMOs
NOT tested on animals
Safe for Adults, Children, Babies, Animals and our planet!
You can find all of our educational posts at, http://skinourishment.com/blogs/education.

HCRB: How did you get involved with SKINourishment? [Read more…] about Everything You Wanted To Know About ClimbOn: Meet Will Reynolds Young