A brief interview with
Obe Carrion
Feb., 2003

FRB: How did you get into climbing Obe?

Obe: I GOT STARTED CLIMBING IN ALLENTOWN PA. AT A CLIMBING GYM. AT THE AGE OF 14.

FRB: Who were some of your early mentors?

Obe: I USED TO LOOK UP TO A LOT OF THE GUYS FROM THE CLIMBING GYM. THERE WERE THE ONES THAT TOOK ME CLIMBING OUTSIDE.

FRB: Who were some of your early partners?

Obe: SCOTT MECHLER FROM THE (PCA) WAS MY FIRST CLIMBING PARTNER WE'D TRAIN IN THE GYM FOR HOURS ON END.

FRB: Who are you sponsored by?

Obe: I HAVE NO SPONSORS AT THE MOMENT.

FRB: What else do you like to do besides climb?

Obe: YO I LOVE TO GOLF. GOLFING IS THE SHIT. BUT IT'S HARD.

FRB: What brings you to Boulder, Colorado?.

Obe: I WAS LIVING IN INDIANAPOLIS FOR A FEW MONTH WORKING AT A CLIMBING GYM. BUT NOT CLIMBING MUCH. AND GETTING VERY WEAK SO I DECIDED TO MOVE TO A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE STRONG CLIMBERS. BOULDER COLORADO IT WAS!

FRB: What are the best bouldering shoes?

Obe: THE BEST SHOES? IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE SHAPE OF YOUR FOOT. BUT THE BEST RUBBER HANDS DOWN, IS THAT NEW COMPANY MAD RUBBER BY MAD ROCK CLIMBING SHOE. THEY SENT ME A PAIR OF SHOE AND THAT RUBBER IS STICKY AS SHIT.

FRB: Best Chalk?.

Obe: Metolius.

FRB: What are some of your favorite rock gyms?

Obe: THAT NEW EARTH TREKS IN (MD) IS PHAT, THE SPOT IN (CO) IS DOPE. THE FRONT IN (SLC). AND THE THING THAT MAKES THEM SO GOOD ARE THE PEOPLE THE ARE INVOLVED WITH THEM..

FRB: Have you won any competitions?

Obe: YES, A FEW. I WON THE ABS NATIONAL LAST YEAR. AND SOME OTHER COMPS AROUND THE US.

FRB: What makes for a good competition route?

Obe: GOOD COMPETITION ROUTE ARE THE ONES YOU FLASH. AND THE ONES YOU CAN'T, SUCK.

FRB: Some of your favorite places to boulder?

Obe: THE BEST PLACE TO BOULDER IS FONT. IN FRANCE. IT'S THE SHIT BUT THERE ARE SO COOL PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

FRB: Do you have any projects right now?

Obe: NO. BUT TRYING TO FIND A GIRLFRIEND IS A PROJECT.

FRB: What are some of your goals in climbing?

Obe: MY GOAL FOR CLIMBING ARE MORE IN COMPS. I WANT TO WIN SOME MORE.

FRB: What's it like being a minority in competitive climbing?

Obe: IT'S COOL. IT SEPARATES ME FROM THE REST.

FRB: Climbing is constantly changing. Where is it going?

Obe: CLIMBING IS GOING TO GO WHERE EVER IT ALLOWS IT SELF TO GO. AS LONG AS THEIRS PEOPLE PUSHING NEW IDEAS THAT WHERE CLIMBING IS GOING TO GO.

FRB: What do you suggest to people who are just starting out?

Obe: JUST KEEP IT FUN AND SIMPLE.

FRB: Do you ever have plateaus in your climbing?

Obe: YES. AND THE BEST WAY TO OVER COME IS TO OPEN UP TO NEW THINGS.

FRB: Do you have any training tips?

Obe: YES. TAKE ONE OF MY CLASSES. THEY WILL BE HELD AT THE SPOT. COMING SOON!

FRB: Thanks for the interview Obe.

Obe: You're welcome

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