Ask a Badass: Alex Honnold

Next up in the Ask a Badass interview series, presented in partnership with Black Diamond, is Alexander J. Honnold, a climber you've probably heard a little bit about. The gist for AABA is the same as always, though pretty unique, so please listen close: Add your question(s) for Alex to this thread. Ask whatever you'd like to know about his life as a climber: the super-human exploits, the hangboard training, favorite areas, van build tips, travel tips, what's next, his favorite books, his karaoke go-to, whatever.... I'll close the forum at 5pm MT this friday (10/6), then Honnlove will scan the questions, choose several to answer, and award some hand-selected BD swag to his three favorite participants early next week. 

We've done a few versions of these in the past (see here), and it's a fun way to interact and learn from a few of climbing's most badass folks. Last month we had Babsi Zangerl. Next up after Alex will be Adam Ondra, then Hazel Findlay. 

Add your fun and insightful questions for Honnold here now!

Alex, how do you manage to free solo so well while hauling such enormous balls up with you?

Hey Alex,

I really loved your sufferfest films with cedar, in part for the great climbing, but also the chemistry you two had. Who are you always stoked to climb with, and what makes it a good time?

Alex, you always have such a low-key and nonchalant attitude towards the amazing accomplishments you achieve.  What have been some of the moments where afterwards you thought to yourself, "I can't believe I just did that"?

Alex, What is the most memorable climb you've done? Not necessarily the hardest, flashiest, or coolest, but just a memorable experience that you think back on often. 

Alex,

As a public figure with a (relatively) large sphere of influence, and as a person with a particular social and political perspective: 1) What strategies/advice/experiences can you share regarding how to bridge differences of opinion in constructive ways? 2) Do you feel that it is your responsibility (or even in your interests) to attempt to bridge such divides, or do you feel your time is better spent trying to reach an already receptive audience?

Thanks,

Xan

Hi, Alex.  I read your book.  I know you didn't get as much time with your father as you would have liked.  Do you think you might one day become a father?  If so, how would you spend your time with your son or daughter?

Alex, given your relative fame (my Grandma knows who you are), are you annoyed with strangers who approach you for pictures or autographs or whatever? Occasionally I see famous climbers at the crag or on the street but I never approach them to say hi because it sorta seems creepy. Like "hi, I know who you are because I look at pictures of you on the internet, can we shake hands?" Then again, maybe it'd be cool to be recognized by a fan? Anyway, props on the stuff you do man, you seem like a pretty Rad dude.

-Vaughn

Alex, in a video of Will Stanhope, he mentions how the routes he free solos should be "well, well under his limits" and should be ideally not scary. While I feel like most free soloists agree with that statement, they (and you) must've experienced some "oh sh*t" moments. What are some of your most memorable and how do you deal with them, and how do you plan on pushing the limits of free soloing without pushing your mental limits too far?

In Maple Canyon my friends offered you a piece of pie, you turned it down and replied "nothing tastes as good as sending feels." Does this hold true for all food or are you just not that in to pie?

You mentioned after your monumental solo of Freerider that your next goal is to climb 9a. What's the biggest barrier you're encountering with this goal and why 9a?  Why not 9b or c. Is there a bigger goal that will require you're 9a strength?

Hi Alex,

Do you do anything in particular to recover after long climbs?

Alex,

Do you contribute ideas for new gear or gear improvements to the major gear manufacturers that sponsor you, such as Black Diamond? On that note, is there any new gear coming out in the near future that excites you?

Since you already have experience writing and getting a book published, and its well known you take meticulous notes, what are the chances you will author an informational book, guidebook, or just perhaps one with your favorite routes or experiences?  

Alex, I got sucked into climbing only a few years ago, when I was 57 and my son was 20. We were self taught together. We're now 60 and 23. He's progressing a smidge faster than I, however... :-)

As a mom, though, I did seriously think about the splat factor, with my own child on the other end, and, him having his mom's life in his hands. Obviously we accepted that possibility. 

Have you and your mom talked about this, and if so, how young were you?

Thanks! I got to meet and chat with Siegrist a couple weeks ago, and thank him for his route development work in Idaho. Those of you who truly push our sport towards it's physical limits really help the rest of us know we can chase our dinky challenges too!

Best to you (and your mom, too!), OLH aka Helen

Alex, your consistency in hangboarding every other day, even on the day you soloed Freerider, has inspired me to hangboard every other day (which I've been doing fairly consistently, with very positive results). I have two questions related to training:

1. What does your hangboard workout look like?
2. Do you do any training for power? If so, what do you do?

And one unrelated question:

A climbing life goal of mine is to free climb Astroman. Are there any easier climbs that you would recommend which would prepare me for that? I live on the East Coast and can't make it out west often to project something, so I want to make it count (or, if you know East Coast climbs that would work too).

Alex, 

Cake or Pie? The Interwebs delicate structure hangs in the balance...

Serenity and Sons, best "pure fun" day in the Valley?

Remember, its only worth it if you are still bangin' hawt chicks when you're 80 like Werner. :P

Alex,

Who's your favorite climbing partner and why?

What (if any) was the funniest - strangest sponsorship you've ever turned down?

Trojan? Alcohol company? Fox media?

Sports food with meat?  Soda?

Alex, you own a climbing gym but its going under. Your friend comes up to you with a flyer for a dodge ball tournament in Las Vegas with a grand prize of 50,000 dollars! You assemble a team and you make it to the final round where you play Globo Gym. However the night before, your teammates are nowhere to be found. Worried you'll be unable to save your gym you have to join together a make shift team. Who would you pick for your ultimate 5 person dodge ball team and why? Also they can only be composed of other climbers. 

Alex-Freaking-Honnold, 

Your climbing adventures seemed to be competitive with other climbers (Dean Potter) early on for you. Have the adventures now become ones that simply look fun/challenging to you, and to you alone? Are you cognizant of what your achievements are doing to the rest of the climbing community, as in pushing the limits of what's possible?

You rock! Much love!