EP 64: Christophe Bichet
April 12, 2021
Christophe Bichet is a world-class rock climber and a motivational speaker. He was born with a rare blood disorder called Fanconi Anemia and is also a cancer survivor. We talked about climbing as a metaphor for life, finding your “why”, learning new skills, how to achieve world-class endurance without training endurance, and holding on and letting go.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
GoFundMe for Kyler:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/throw-down-for-kyler-pallister
Support on Patreon:
Resources:
Routes Mentioned:
‘Big Mac’ 7b/5.12b, Les Alpilles, France
’24 Karates’ 5.14c, Red River Gorge, KY
‘Spank the Monkey’ 5.13d, Smith Rock, OR
Christophe’s Links:
Nuggets:
6:55 – Christophe’s dimensions, and Fanconi Anemia
8:50 – What I remember about Christophe, and why he doesn’t like knowing names and grades of routes
12:14 – How Christophe relates to his accomplishments
13:43 – ‘Big Mac’, Smith Rock, and why guidebook grades feel irrelevant to Christophe
17:22 – How grades become limits
18:49 – Growing up feeling different from his peers, feeling isolated, and regaining self-esteem through rock climbing
20:59 – Living each day as if it was your first day vs. last day
23:59 – Christophe’s many eclectic interests
26:34 – Gracefully saying no, and asking “Why”
29:42 – Awaking people’s vitality, and the climbing metaphor: grabbing on to what is essential, and learning to let go
32:13 – Cancer, and the grand piano bill
37:14 – Letting go of his identity as a sick person
38:34 – Approaching learning new skills like learning a new route
41:50 – Learning from people who are better than us, and a common trap to avoid
44:02 – How Christophe achieved endurance through training efficiency
47:09 – Pretending to be someone you admire
52:45 – Amy
55:33 – ‘Spank the Monkey’, and dedicating an ascent to a lost friend
1:00:28 – “Stop and breath in the awe of being alive.” - Amy Frohnmayer Winn
1:02:25 – Grateful to live in the mountains and have a daughter
1:05:10 – Be light