Peter Beal: Can You Afford to Be Sponsored?

Today on episode 39 I’m pleased to welcome long-time climber and Front Range local Peter Beal. Peter, at age 58, has been climbing for over 45 years, with notable achievements including multiple 5.14 first ascents and bagging V12 in his late forties!  But Peter is also known for his critical takes on the culture of outdoor life. Today we discuss some of the realities of meaningful work, family life, and the potential opportunity costs of a life of adventure.

Topics Discussed with Peter Beal

  • Peter’s long history in climbing
  • A career in art history
  • Is majoring in the humanities good for your career?
  • The problem with full-time climbing and the “quit your job” culture
  • Balancing life and careers with an equally driven and athletic spouse
  • Can you afford to be sponsored? Pay transparency in climbing versus other sports
  • Peter’s love for writing and his musings on the decline of print media
  • Key tips for performance climbing longevity
Peter Beal on Element of Surprise (V12), Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
Peter Beal on Element of Surprise (V12), Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
Peter Beal, Five Ten, Quit Your Job ad
The infamous Five Ten “Quit Your Job” ad. (Source: Mountain Project)

Get in Touch with Peter Beal

Peter’s blog: mountainsandwater.com

Peter Beal on Instagram

Coaching at Boulder Rock Club

Lattice Training Podcast: History of Climbing with Peter Beal

Articles by Peter Beal

Mountains and Water: Can You Afford to Be Sponsored?

Mountains and Water: An Interview with Adam Ondra

Mountains and Water: Farewell to Print, Farewell to Climbing

Books

Peter’s book: Bouldering: Movement, Tactics, and Problem Solving

Stuart Little (E.B. White)

The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)

Time of Wonder (Robert McCloskey)

The Hard Years (Joe Brown)

John Gill: Master of Rock (Pat Ament)

Climb! Rock Climbing in Colorado (Achey, Jeff; Chelton, Dudley; Godfrey, Bob)

The Games Climbers Play (Ken Wilson)

Performance Rock Climbing (Dale Goddard and Udo Neumann)

Clipping Chains Posts

Previous episode mentioned: EP36: Matt Samet: The Uncertain Future of Climbing Media

A list of all articles and podcast episodes is here.

Other Links

Tournament Theory Economics


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