The Southeastern Climbers Coalition

I met Kate Reese about 4 years ago at Escalade Climbing Gym at their first competition February Fallout. Since then, I have seen Kate grow as a climber and as a person. She has recently started gaining recognition nationwide earning her sponsorship deals and podium level finishes at some of the countries top competitions. She recently won 2nd place overall in the 2004 Triple Crown and 4th at the ABS nationals in California. I got a chance to sit down with Kate at 11:00 pm at “Wahoo”. Again, I have my trusty voice recorder but this time I have misplaced the part that holds the batteries in, so there is duct tape all over it. Duct tape fixes everything. – Wes Powell

Wes: So tell us Kate, what are we up to right now?

Kate: We are eating at Waffle House.

Wes: How long have you been climbing?

Kate: Many, many years.

Wes: Hahaha, can you give us a number?

Kate: 13

Wes: Holy cow that’s legend status.

Wes: What gets you psyched to climb?

Kate: In the following order. Sending, Caffeine, Kenneth.

Wes: Do you prefer routes or bouldering?

Kate: September through February, bouldering. March through August, routes.

Wes: You have been training a lot lately and training means goals, so what are your goals?

Kate: To make the World Cup team.

Wes: What’s your favorite climbing area you have been to?

Kate: Red River Gorge

Wes: What area do you wish to visit?

Kate: Ceuse.

Wes: Did you have any role models in climbing when you started?

Kate: Lynn Hill and Rachael Babkirk.

Wes: There are very few girls in the South that climb, you need to recruit. (wink wink, nudge nudge).

Kate: Been trying.

Wes: Where do you see the future of the sport going?

Kate: I see climbing in the Olympics. I see climbing as a sport where somebody can make an actual career doing it. Climbing is different things for different people and it is something that you can grow with over time, but I would like to see it in the Olympics.

Wes: How do you feel about it becoming more mainstream?

Kate: There are different kinds of climbing. To me, indoor climbing and outdoor climbing are two completely different sports, you can’t even compare the two. Both aspects of climbing have been growing but I think that indoors is what’s really growing right now because it appeals to a certain group of people and there are people who do both indoor and outdoor. I think the number of people that actually stay in the climbing community, what I’m talking about like real climbing outside, is going to stay the same. You hear these figures like there are so many million climbers and why is it that I can go anywhere and know someone. There aren’t that many climbers.
Wes: Time for “Last Words”. I’m going to ask you some random questions.

Wes: Last CD you listened to?

Kate: Buju Banton….. in the shower.

Wes: Is it a waterproof CD player?

Kate: No, it’s just a CD player on the counter.

Wes: Ohh ha, still dangerous cause of mist.

Wes: Last time you thought you were going to die?

Kate: The Canyon last weekend cause that copperhead struck at me and really almost hit my leg.

Wes: I thought you were just joking about that but I guess not.

Kate: No that really happened.

Wes: Last country you visited?

Kate: Thailand

Wes: Last food you ate?

Kate: I’m eating grits right now.

Wes: Last dream you had?

Kate: I have dreams all the time that someone is chasing me and I have to get away kind of thing.

Wes: Last time you were confused?

Kate: I had three tests today.

Wes: Last good tip someone gave you?

Kate: “Don’t postpone joy”.

Wes: Last time you got ripped off?

Kate: KATE REESE NEVER GETS RIPPED OFF!!! ….(said in the best satanic voice)

Wes: Last climbing video you watched?

Kate: Parallelojams

Wes: Thanks Kate!