Climber Alex Honnold has written an offering his thoughts on Clif Bar鈥檚 recent decision to fire him and four other climbers from its athlete team. As reported last week, the organic energy food brand decided that it is no longer comfortable sponsoring athletes who BASE jump, free solo (climb without ropes or partners), or slackline.
Honnold, 29, is the biggest name in the sport and is known for his unroped ascents of massive granite walls. In his editorial, he writes that he was shocked and disappointed to learn of Clif鈥檚 decision but 鈥渃ouldn鈥檛 help but understand their point of view.鈥 Just as Clif has decided to draw a line, Honnold explains, he makes his own decisions about the risks he鈥檚 willing to take.
Honnold cites comments from Dean Potter, a prominent climber and BASE jumper who was also fired by Clif, expressing the fear that diversity in extreme sports might be snuffed out by sponsors trying to manipulate the culture.
鈥淚f sponsors back away from risky behaviors, it may well slowly mold climbing into a safer, more sterile version of what it is today,鈥 Honnold writes. 鈥淏ut I tend to think that whether sponsors support such behavior or not shouldn鈥檛 really have any bearing on our motivations.鈥
鈥淲hether or not we鈥檙e sponsored,鈥 he concludes, 鈥渢he mountains are calling, and we must go.鈥