ZACH GALLA
Black Diamond Global Athlete ZACH GALLA Zach Galla started climbing around the age of 10 at Adrenaline Climbing Gym in Suwanee, Georgia....
"Nobody ever died wishing they had spent more time behind a desk," says Will Gadd. One of the world’s best and most accomplished ice climbers and all-around adventurers, Will grew up climbing and exploring, and has continued to make wild dreams a reality for more than 30 years. He has won the ice climbing World Cup, the X Games, sport climbing competitions, paragliding competitions, climbed a frozen Niagara Falls (first and last person to do that), explored the ice caves under the Greenland ice sheet, set the world record for distance paragliding (twice), kayaked first descents and generally had a lot of fun exploring the world and sharing the results. His most recent projects focus on helping scientists operate in extreme environments to do climate change research from Greenland to Africa, and climbing new rock routes in Ireland and Northern Canada.
Gadd's athletic abilities have earned him recognition as a top competitor and athlete, but he's also known for his ability to complete fun, successful and safe outings in extreme conditions. He speaks regularly on risk management and related topics globally when he’s not climbing, flying, kayaking, mountain biking, or skiing. He also writes about mountain sports, is an ACMG guide, organizes adventure TV shows and avoids his desk whenever possible.
Video: Michael Klekamp; Images: Christian Pondella
ADRIAN BALLINGER
Black Diamond Global Athlete ADRIAN BALLINGER Adrian Ballinger is a big mountain skier and climber, and an IFMGA/AMGA certified mountain guide. With...
HAZEL FINDLAY
Black Diamond Global Athlete HAZEL FINDLAY Hazel Findlay has been climbing for 29 of her 35 years and started out trad climbing...
SHAWN RABOUTOU
Black Diamond Global Athlete SHAWN RABOUTOU Hello! I’m Shawn Raboutou, a climber through and through. While I’m best known for my bouldering, I...
ALEX HONNOLD
Black Diamond Global Athlete ALEX HONNOLD Alex Honnold is a professional rock climber whose audacious free-solo ascents of America’s biggest cliffs have...
JACOPO LARCHER
Black Diamond Global Athlete JACOPO LARCHER Jacopo Larcher is an Italian climber from Bolzano, Italy, who grew up surrounded by the mountains of South...
DORIAN DENSMORE
Black Diamond Global Athlete DORIAN DENSMORE Dorian grew up in Driggs, Idaho, just beneath the Tetons. The urge to ski the high...
CARLA PEREZ
Black Diamond Global Athlete CARLA PEREZ Carla’s father introduced her to the mountains at the age of 4, when he took her...
ESTEBAN 'TOPO' MENA
Black Diamond Global Athlete ESTEBAN 'TOPO' MENA Passionate mountaineer. Topo discovered climbing in the Andes of Ecuador where he was born. At...
ANGELA HAWSE
Black Diamond Global Athlete ANGELA HAWSE Angela is one of few female IFMGA mountain guides with a successful career spanning over three...
KARINA CARSOLIO
Black Diamond Global Athlete KARINA CARSOLIO As the daughter of world-recognized mountaineers, Carlos Carsolio and Elsa Ávila, Karina’s early childhood was spent...
SAM ELIAS
Black Diamond Global Athlete SAM ELIAS My existence is a cocktail of the academic, the artistic, and the athletic. There are symmetries...
ANDRES MARIN
Black Diamond Global Athlete ANDRES MARIN Andrés Marín discovered his passion for rock and mountain climbing in Colombia, where he was born...
BJORN LEINES
Black Diamond Global Athlete BJORN LEINES Known for his fearless, skate-inspired riding style, Bjorn Leines is a living legend in the snowboard...
JACKSON MARVELL
Black Diamond Global Athlete JACKSON MARVELL Jackson Marvell, a driven and adventurous climber from Provo, Utah, is known for pursuing wild and...
AARON MULKEY
Black Diamond Global Athlete AARON MULKEY Few are as dedicated to ice climbing exploration as Aaron Mulkey, who has spent the last...
JOE GRANT
Black Diamond Global Athlete JOE GRANT Joe Grant is a mountain athlete living in Durango, Colorado. Born in the UK, Joe grew...
COLETTE MCINERNEY
Black Diamond Global Athlete COLETTE MCINERNEY Colette McInerney is a rock climber, filmmaker, and storyteller whose passion for adventure has taken her...
KELLY HALPIN
Black Diamond Global Athlete KELLY HALPIN Kelly grew up in Jackson WY with the Tetons and National Forest as her playground. She...
BABSI ZANGERL
Black Diamond Global Athlete BABSI ZANGERL Amassing high-level sends from the boulders to the sport crags to the big walls, Austria’s Babsi...
DAILA OJEDA
Black Diamond Global Athlete DAILA OJEDA Daila was born in the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the west coast of North...
ORIANE BERTONE
Black Diamond Global Athlete ORAINE BERTONE Oriane Bertone is a French rock climber hailing from a small island, Reunion off the east...
CONNOR HERSON
Black Diamond Global Athlete CONNOR HERSON Born into a climbing family, Connor has been climbing for his entire life. He currently splits...
CARLO TRAVERSI
Black Diamond Global Athlete CARLO TRAVERSI Carlo Traversi is an American professional rock climber hailing from Santa Rosa, California. After cutting his...
NATALIA GROSSMAN
Black Diamond Global Athlete NATALIA GROSSMAN Natalia Grossman is a competitive comp climber known for her sharp focus and impressive skills. She’s...
SEB BOUIN
Black Diamond Global Athlete SEB BOUIN In short, Seb is arguably the one of the best performing rock climber. Born in the...
