5 Things I’ve Learned: Sasha DiGiulian

August 1st, 2012 • BY

At the age of 19, rock climbing phenom Sasha DiGiulian is the current women’s world champion (her third time holding the title) and the first woman to climb 5.14d Pure Imagination in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge and Era Bella, 5.14d, in Margalef, Spain. She is also slated to hit the books at the Ivy League’s Columbia University this fall. Overachiever? No doubt. And DiGiulian, who is arguably the best female climber of her generation, has even loftier goals. She’s part of a U.S. committee petitioning the I.O.C. to make climbing a part of the Summer 2020 Olympics. Sasha also hits the silver screen this fall in the Reel Rock film festival’s “The Dura Dura” flick, which features DiGiulian shredding groundbreaking routes in Catalunya, Spain, alongside sport climbing king Chris Sharma and Czech climbing wunderkind Adam Ondra. Here, we take five with this amazing young woman to discover the most resounding lessons she’s learned. Photo: Vimeo

1. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about rock climbing in the past 13 years? In the past 13 years I’ve learned that having fun while climbing is the most important ingredient to being successful. Pushing yourself when you are motivated and taking it easy when you are less psyched is really key to long-term success because the passion to excel then stays fervent.

2. What has being a world champion rock climber at a young age taught you about yourself? Doing a sport professionally has taught me to aspire to big dreams with no boundaries. Dream big and go for it. It sounds cliché, but mental strength is just as, if not more, important to climbing than physical training.

3. What’s the scariest experience you’ve had rock climbing? The scariest experience I’ve had while climbing was tearing three ligaments in my ankle and breaking my foot. I learned that having patience and recovering your body is really important. I did physical therapy for many months and I climbed with one foot in a cast. Your body is your engine and you need to treat it properly in order to expect it to run.

4. What have you learned about other people climbing at your level? I am inspired by people of all levels, but people climbing at my level teach me to push myself to my limits and to not just settle with what is comfortable. When you are bleeding in your fingers, tape your skin if you have to, but don’t give up. Try the hard route that looks beautiful but that you will probably fall on.

5. What have you learned about the future you want for yourself? I’ve learned that I’m really interested in business and marketing. I would like to develop this interest at Columbia University this fall. I’ve also learned that I’m not satisfied with sub-par. I like to push myself and to feel the success that working hard towards something and then achieving it yields.

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Erinn Morgan

About

After a 10-year career as an award-winning New York City-based editor launching and redesigning urban, style-driven magazines, Erinn Morgan left her downtown Manhattan digs after September 11th, 2001, in search of a less encumbered, freelance lifestyle. A life-changing, two-year-long trek around the country in a motorhome eventually landed her in Durango, Colo., which she now calls home. Her writing has appeared in numerous— More about this author →