Rock & Ice

#BlackLivesMatter, Adventure Activism, Climbing, Diversity, National Geographic, Rock & Ice / 23.03.2014

At the young age of 14 Kai Lightner is doing amazing things in the world of sport climbing. In the spring of 2013 he ascended exceedingly difficult routes that included Southern Smoke (5.14c) and Transworld Depravity (5.14a) in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky. On the same two-week road trip he climbed Proper Soul (5.14a) in the New River Gorge of West Virginia. I wrote about him in the August/September issue of Rock & Ice magazine. And in August of last year Kai took his fourth champion title...

Climbing, Diversity, Interview, Life Out Loud, Magazines, Rock & Ice / 21.02.2014

When one of the world’s best climbers notices you, you must be doing something right. As several young climbers waited for an autograph during a February fundraiser at the Stone Summit gym in Atlanta, Chris Sharma stood intrigued, watching 13-year-old Kai Lightner smoothly lap a 5.13. Emily Taylor, Kai’s coach, recalls, "When we made the introductions, Chris asked Kai to climb with him." Kai is an exceptional young talent, with great potential. Despite a few disadvantages he has already gone far. In March 2013, Kai sent Southern Smoke (5.14c) and Transworld...