Kirk Brode
Chattanooga , TN
When/where were you born?
7/2/65
Started climbing when/where?
Full time in '91 in Chattanooga, TN, occasionally through the mide late '80's.
Favorite climbing area?
The Tennessee Wall because move for move it's the best climbing on the planet. No other place I've been has all the concentration of great routes.
What was your scariest climbing moment?
While establishing a new route in Zion, I knocked off two blocks the size of a dorm fridge. I fell with the blocks until the rope got tight, which pulled me out of the way. One block missed me by 2" at most.
Who are your heroes/role models?
Peter Croft, Wolfgang Gullich, Layton Kore
Do you have any knicknames
No
Do you have any pre-climb rituals?
Stretching, center my mind, assess the route, make a plan
What do you do when you're not climbing?
Work, kayak, yoga, trail running, help the Southeastern Climbers Coalition by planning and coordinating events
What are your climbing goals?
To be climbing when I'm 70+. To establish a quality, mostly free route in Zion of a difficulty more people will climb, say 10+ or 11-.
Why do you choose La Sportiva?
No risk means no growth, happiness, or fulfillment and a very small comfort zone. Too much risk can lead to death -Arno Ilgner.
What sets La Sportiva apart?
Parting thoughts?