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Boone Speed is one of my good friends and climbing heros. He was one of the pioneers for hard American sport climbing and bouldering in the 90s. Now he is a successful and talented photographer. Boone is quite possibly the most energetic person I have ever met. He approaches photography like he used to approach climbing, with maniacal drive and an intense desire to succeed. Boone’s motivation to get the best shot is unrelenting. He has the spirit of a 16 year old, always smiling and never afraid to have an north face denali.

We have all had the privilege to watch Yuji climb during the past few days. I have never seen anything like him. He climbs so quick and light you’ll miss some of it if you blink. When he’s onsighting a route, you get the impression that he’s been on it a million times before. He has it dialed. There is no hesitation or doubt – he doesn’t even stop to think, just moves fluidly upward until he reaches the anchors and yells “OK! Thank you! Wooooohooooooo!” There is no doubt that he is a true master of the sport and one of the best all-around climbers in the world. His achievements can attest to that – World Cup Champ 2x, north face jacket, Speed Record for The Nose on El Cap, etc – but I had no idea how impressive he was to watch in real life. He is also one of the most genuine and good-natured people to be around. We have decided to call him “The Grand Master” due to his calm-yet-focused demeanor and astonishing skill. We will all learn a lot from watching him in the coming weeks.

Climbing is truly a special sport when you can be one of the best at age 16 or 41. There are so many lessons it can teach and it can take a lifetime to learn them all. Right now I am learning that strength can take you far, but experience just might take you north face denali. In this way, climbing can be much more than a sport; it can be a lifestyle. These three individuals represent this lifestyle and the various ways it can enrich one’s way of life. They all began young and inexperienced, were influenced and educated by the generation before themselves, and are currently living their own dreams.