#MotivationTuesday — Paradox Sports
Last week, I had the privilege of finally meeting Mike Neustedter and Adam Fisher at Paradox Sports. This amazing organization takes physically disabled people on adaptive climbing trips to “recognize and foster their potential and strength.” Anyone who has gone climbing knows how hard it is (and anyone who hasn’t usually thinks it’s even harder), and here we have a dedicated team taking those with disabilities climbing outside and on ice.
Their work is incredibly powerful. Outside Magazine did a great video report on them, which shows how challenging, empowering and fun these outings are for the participants and the volunteers alike. You can also check out this incredible interview with Mo Beck, one of Paradox’s ambassadors, who crushes up to 5.11+ in Indian Creek and represents the U.S. in the paraclimbing world championships. As someone who recently experienced Indian Creek for the first time, I’m just in awe of what she does and how she does it.
At a personal level, Paradox hits really close to home. While I discovered the mountains relatively late in life, in this short time climbing has changed my life. It has allowed me to visit places I didn’t in my wildest dreams think I’d go to (New Zealand, the high Andes, Indian Creek, Yosemite). It has enabled life-defining spiritual experiences with pristine, humbling, and imposing landscapes. It has helped me develop focus, courage, and self-awareness that I didn’t know I had. I’ve done things I didn’t think possible, and I’ve had a great time doing so. In the end, I find climbing incredibly empowering — you are constantly finding out that your limits are not what you thought they were.
Thus why I was keen on meeting the Paradox team and figuring out how I could best help. After some brainstorming with Rob and the Paradox team, Rob and I decided to attempt some winter objectives in the Alps this February to raise funds for Paradox. We are still sorting out the details (and, trust me, I will be spamming all of you when they become clear), but the goal is to pursue some challenging objectives, bring my trip to the end, while also contributing to a worthy cause. I can’t think of a better way to end this trip, and I’m already looking forward to freezing our butts up the Mt. Blanc massif in support of what Mike and the Paradox team are up to.
Go Paradox.
