The Real-Life Diet of a Legendary Olympic Rock Climber Who Eats What the Locals Eat with Chris Sharma
Chris Sharma doesn’t have an elderly accent. But in the world of competitive climbing, the 41-year-old appears to be as old as the rocky walls and the scales. He left his Santa Cruz, California, home at the age of 15 to further his climbing career. Olympic fans can buy Olympic Games Tickets from our website.
He completed a route with a difficulty grade of 5.15a in 2001 and gave it the name Realization. (It has a page on Wikipedia.) Then, in 2008, he won the first 5.15b (Jumbo Love in the Mojave Desert), and in 2013, he won the second 5.15c (La Dura in Spain).
He bridged the gap between Yosemite dirtbags and the polished TV production of climbing’s 2020 Olympic debut. He dominated competition podiums, led technical revolutions, and personified an entire generation of his sport.
GQ interviews athletes, celebrities, and other high achievers for Real-Life Diet to learn about their diets, workout routines, and the quest for wellness. Remember that not everything that works for them will necessarily be good for you.
Sharma has a long list of accomplishments, but this year he acquired a brand-new one: TV host. He is presenting The Climb, an eight-part HBO Max streaming series that aired on January 12 with American Ninja Warrior champion Meagan Martin and actor Jason Momoa (whom he has known since they first met climbing in the 1990s).
It combines elements of a climbing competition with reality television, pitting 10 hopefuls against one another on crags all over the world while Sharma and friends offer guidance and support. The living legend, though, made it obvious that the mountains continue to call and that he is already planning his next major route when GQ visited him at his home outside of Barcelona, Spain.
What did you consume when you were young?
Chris Sharma: My upbringing was different for mainstream America but rather conventional for Santa Cruz. When I was younger, I used to walk the yard and simply pick vegetables from the plants because my parents were students of the yogi Baba Hari Dass. We never followed a rigorous vegetarian diet, but rather one that was more in line with the average American diet at the time.
How did you learn what an average American diet consisted of?
Certainly on my travels. When I was 15, I began traveling extensively, which taught me how to be adaptable and open-minded. When you travel to a new country, you accept the culture even though they may offer you something that seems a little unusual.
I recall assisting a Tibetan monk obtain a visa once while I was in India. In the end, we traveled to a secret location in Delhi where we were able to get meat. Since cows are revered in India, beef is not available there. It was this dark dungeon, the roof of which was hung with cured meat. He brought me this partially preserved, bleeding meat and said, “You have to try this; it’s incredible.” How am I going to say no, you ask? But it was a little revolting. [Laughs.]
If I’m on my own, I’ll always choose to eat more vegetables. As you get older, especially if you’re an athlete, you start to focus more on your health. I’ve never been strict; instead, I’ve always tended to go with the flow. Now, though, I will turn 42 in April.
I used to be able to take a six-month break from climbing to practice meditation, then enter a competition without any prior training and come out on top. Now, I most definitely can’t do that. I’m still working on projects, pushing my limitations, and climbing at my maximum level, but to do so, I need to be more mindful of both my food and my climbing.
Those peak performance goals make you focus on all the minor details. Here in Spain, I’m going to do the hardest climb I’ve ever done. Olympic fans can buy Summer Games 2024 Tickets from our website.
Can you discuss it?
The Sleeping Lion is the name I gave it. I have a feeling the grade will be around 5.15c on this stunning chunk of rock in Siurana, Spain, which is a single-pitch route and five minutes walk from the parking lot. It is a beautiful route.
If you’ve seen King Lines from [2007], that’s really what these lines are to me. They’re not just challenging; they’re masterpieces. It’s simply incredibly amazing that it’s so accessible and that so many climbers can come and experience that. I walked past for at least 15 years while daydreaming, wondering whether there was a line you could climb.
And I’m certain I’m not the only one who has had a dream. However, I made the effort to get up there and figure it out by going there, drilling in the safety bolts, and doing all the work. Furthermore, it’s only 1.5 hours away from my place. I’ll travel there for these day trips. I’m likely to go tomorrow.
During the epidemic, we opened up two climbing gyms, and then we immediately began filming The Climb. As a result, it was three years of extremely demanding work that was entirely focused on climbing but not necessarily on me climbing.
After that, I felt like, “Man, I just want to get back to the origins of this all,” even though I had grown so much. Additionally, I began to think, “Shoot, I’m 41, and there are a lot of things I still want to accomplish as a top climber.” Your window of opportunity begins to feel smaller. To genuinely carve out time to be an Olympic Rock Climber and work on these initiatives, I’ve been concentrating throughout the past year.
It’s so simple to stray from your regimen, and once you do, you’ll find yourself a long way from your desired level of fitness. I’ve been concentrating on being consistent in my climbs. I have a favorite quote from [famous Olympic Rock Climber and mountaineer] Conrad Anker.
How do you stay fit for climbing, someone enquired of him. And he said, “By staying in shape.” I’ve thought about that. Fortunately, I’m creating these incredible climbing gyms, so I can work out whenever I want.
Sharma has a long list of accomplishments, but this year he acquired a brand-new one: TV host. He is presenting The Climb, an eight-part HBO Max streaming series that aired on January 12 with American Ninja Warrior champion Meagan Martin and actor Jason Momoa (whom he has known since they first met climbing in the 1990s).
It combines elements of a climbing competition with reality television, pitting 10 hopefuls against one another on crags all over the world while Sharma and friends offer guidance and support. The living legend, though, made it obvious. That the mountains continue to call and that he is already planning his next major. Route when GQ visited him at his home outside of Barcelona, Spain.
Your window of opportunity begins to feel smaller. To genuinely carve out time to be an Olympic Rock Climber and work on these initiatives. I’ve been concentrating throughout the past year. It’s so simple to stray from your regimen, and once you do. You’ll find yourself a long way from your desired level of fitness.
I’ve been concentrating on being consistent in my climbs. I have a favorite quote from [famous Olympic Rock Climber and mountaineer] Conrad Anker.
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