“On Saturday I spent the day climbing at the amazing Priest Draw in Flagstaff, AZ. I had an awesome time working crazy, sick problems in a beautiful place! And low and behold somehow a Sanuk shirt appeared in a tree on the top of a boulder! After this wonderful find I discovered the best thing about Sanuk’s, they make awesome climbing kicks.” - Sierra Blair-Coyle.
Sierra climbing in the Sanuk June Bug.
As a newcomer to the Sanuk team, Ronnie Dickson brings a unique element to the table. You see, Ronnie lost his leg above the knee almost six years ago. Amputation required Ronnie to search for different ways to engage himself. Two years later and determined to stay positive, he found his new passion- Climbing.
We hooked up with Mr. Dickson through a series of fortunate events and soon found out he’s a rad dude with a big smile and even bigger dreams. Recently, the Sanuk Squad made their way out to Joshua Tree for an amputee climbing clinic hosted by Ronnie and his friends.
Today we’ve brought Ronnie to the blog to share some words on his story and the clinic. The following words are from the happyhead himself:
I started climbing four years ago as a recent above the knee amputee. I found climbing by chance, and have been hooked ever since. It brought together the traveling and adventure that I enjoyed with my life and also got me set with a new challenge to pour all my energy into. Climbing was cool because everybody has to learn the way their body works on the rock, and it didn’t matter that I had one leg.
I used to do all my climbing without a prosthetic leg, but over the course of the past four years I have rigged up some adaptive equipment and adapted my style to where I almost exclusively to all of my climbing with my leg on. I have accomplished things that I never thought were possible and have met many amazing people along the way.
It has always been my belief that climbing is an accessible sport for people with disabilities, so it has been my goal over the past two years to introduce as many people with disabilities to climbing as possible. I have been very successful in this, introducing hundreds of people with disabilities to climbing through various indoor clinics around the country.
My vision finally came to fruition on April 9th in the So Cal desert at Joshua Tree National Park. We were able to introduce 13 persons with disabilities to their first outdoor climbing experience. Everybody made it up to the top of the wall and was able to enjoy the mostly sunny day out in Josh after the weather settled down.
I have to say that it was wild, encountering a fifteen minute bout of snow in the fifty degree heat out in the otherwise cloudless desert, but I suppose stranger things have happened.
The clinic was made possible by many people and it was great to have the crew from Sanuk come out and join us for the day. The prosthetic foot that I have cannot be set up with sandals so it has been nice to finally find a pair of shoes that feel like sandals. There is nothing like going from a pair of climbing shoes into footwear that feels like walking on clouds.
I am already looking forward to next year. My vision has been to make this a series of clinics that travels around the country. It has been great to take my passion and be able to pass that onto others. Bottom line: If you have something that you are really excited and psyched about…
Check out the video from the event:
Smile…pass it on!
To follow Ronnie on his incredible journey visit www.takealegoff.blogspot.com
Recently, Sanuk’s Grizzly Adam caught up with professional wanderer, Justin Lichter (a.k.a. Trauma in the hiking world) in an exclusive interview. His mission: to get the scoop on Trauma’s upcoming globetrotting.
(photo: www.justinlichter.com)
Grizzly Adam: Why don’t we start by having you tell the Sanukiverse a little bit about yourself, eh?
Justin: Sure thing. I grew up about an hour north of NewYork City and have since lived in Santa Barbara, CA, southern VT, Dillon, CO, and I am currently living in Truckee, CA. When not hiking, I am a ski patroller and enjoy backcountry skiing, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and pretty much anything else relaxing.
GA: Truly a man of the great outdoors. Just our vibe. So Justin, what brings you to the Sanuk Blog today?
Justin: I am getting ready for another expedition and just wanted to keep you all up to date.
GA: Ya don’t say! Where to this time? Nebraska? The Bahamas? Outback Steakhouse?
Justin: Nah, I just bought my plane tickets to Kathmandu. I fly out on March 21st.
GA: KathmanDUDE! Wait, where the hell is that?
Justin: (pulls out wrinkled map from pocket). Right here, man.
GA: Yeah, definitely never been there… So what’s on the agenda while you’re over there?
Justin: Well, I am still in the planning stages and trying to get everything organized. But the plan is to hike about 3000 miles from the easternmost 8000 meter peak in the Himalayas to the westernmost 8000 meter peak.
GA: 3000 Miles? That’s like walkin from California to New York City…
Justin: Precisely.
GA: You getting excited or what?
Justin: Definitely. This should be an amazing trip and I can’t wait to get over there and experience it. Right now I am handling all of the logistics, permits, visas, route planning, and all of those random things.
GA: Logistics-Smagistics. Sounds like you’re on top of it.
Justin: Speaking of, I gotta run. TSA is hounding me like a madman. I’ll keep you all up to date as the trip gets closer!
Last weekend, an incredible climbing competition took place in the picaresque setting of Bilbao, Spain. The Master Series Psicobloc event was held on a 50ft high wall above the water of the Bilbao Estuary. Nearly 5,000 people gathered to watch history in the making as climbers. As it turns out, our very own spiderman, Chris Sharma, put on quite a show (massive understatement).
As a poster-child for the climbing world, Chris continues to set the standard and blaze a trail few can keep up with. Chris is known for completing mind-blowing climbs including regional favorite: Es Pontas of Mallorca, Spain.
In the event, Chris was the only competitor able to conquer the double dyno (meaning two ridiculously difficult maneuvers) and top the feature. Needless to say, first place was all his!
Climbing and outdoor juggernaut, prAna, was able to catch up with Chris shortly after his monumental win. We’ve (politely) borrowed a few words from the spiderman himself as quoted on prAna‘s blog:
“It was such an awesome event, unbelievable actually” said Chris. He continued to explain, “climbing high over the water, with no rope, changed my perception of what was possible in climbing. It is without doubt for me the purest form of climbing, as well being very spectacular.”
Right now, the sport of climbing is growing faster than the mane atop Chris’ head… All eyes seem to be on the sport as its ambassadors a bringing things to new heights- quite literally.
Chris went on to say, “The high adrenaline and big falls make it a super spectacular spectator sport, more so than any other climbing competition format…
…Looking back on the years when climbing was in the X Games but just couldn’t translate to the mainstream audience because if its slow subtle nature, this new form of competition will surely blow the minds of any non climber and I believe will be a key element in climbing becoming a more mainstream sport.”
Chris smilin’ big on the podium. Wait a minute, are those mad scientists??
Check out just how gnarly Chris’s performance is… And you thought climbing the social ladder was tough…
For more information on the competition visit: http://bit.ly/aqntZo
The Arco Rock Legends Nominees have been announced! Sanuk’s Chris Sharma has (yet again) snagged a place in the running for the Salewa Rock Award. Chris was last year’s winner and is looking to repeat!
In total, five athletes have been nominated for the Salewa Rock Award. The four other nominees include Charlotte Durif from France, Enzo Oddo- a 15-year-old French climber, Adam Ondra –a Czech teenage speed demon, and Daniel Woods – an American climber with his second nomination. The fifth annual ARCO Rock Legends competition will be held on Saturday, July 17 in Arco (That’s in Italy). Anyone want to meet us for gelato afterwards? Our treat…
(photo via: Climbing.com)
Ooo..Shiny..
