| Whether it's pulling down on sick boulders problems in the High Country of NC or setting course at The Spot in Boulder, Jon Glassberg cuts an imposing figure on the climbing landscape. Jon takes a few minutes to catch up with The SCC and fill us in on what he's been up to. | 
Jon looks ahead in the new year. |
SCC: When did you start climbing?
Jon: I started climbing when I was 11 in Charlottesville, Virginia at a very small and seemingly inadequate gym. That was 15 years ago...
SCC: Who were your early mentors?
Jon: I climbed a lot with a guy named Doug Hartman and a local fella named Nate Nowinowski. Started out sport climbing at the New River Gorge and then realized that bouldering was way more fun and hit it hard ever since. We figured it out mostly on our own, trial and error. It was really fun and probably very dangerous. Lots of close calls.
SCC: You've been doing some hard stuff up in the NC mountains. Tell us more about that.
Jon: I lived in Boone for a little over 7 years and spent 99% of the time bouldering in the high country. Aside from the weather, bouldering doesn't get much better in the US. I made it a personal mission to do every boulder problem I could get my hands on and add some new boulders to the mix as well. I was lucky enough to put up a handful of hard first ascents but there are so many moe rocks out there that are just waiting... I need to get back there and finish off a few pesky projects as well.
SCC: And you do well on the comp circuit - whats the latest news on how your doing with that?
Jon: I have been focusing my efforts on setting, promoting, organizing, and shooting video for competitions over the past year or so. There are plenty of strong climbers out there getting it done and crushing competitions like it was their job but someone who can set good boulders, promote the hell out of an event, and draw in big numbers for competitions is a little harder to come by. My goal is to put in the hard work and help grow the sport to the best of my ability. Maybe I will compete more in 2011....
SCC: What are some of your favorite climbing areas in the SE? anywhere?
Jon: I love Boone bouldering always but Stone Fort, Rocktown, and Laurel Snow are amazing and you cant forget about Rumbling Bald! There is a mini Cresciano in North Carolina! The best rock in the country is in the Southeast and lots of hard bouldering development is happening every day. I seriously doubt that anyone can come up with better quality of rock anywhere else in the US.
SCC: Top 5 boulder problems in the SE? Favorite area?
Jon: The Sheild (V12) at Stone Fort, The Payoff (V10) at the New River Gorge, Lord of the Dance (V11) at Laurel Snow, Golden Harvest (V10) at Rocktown, and Twice Upon A Time (V10) in good old Boone town.
SCC: Where do you see the future of North Carolina climbing and bouldering (and SE) going?
Jon: As long as our favorite areas stay open and we work hard to keep them clean and natural i am sure that climbing in NC will continue to draw in the crowds and get more and more popular. Boone needs a guide book really bad but i am sure that will happen eventually. Great organizations like the SCC are helping keep areas open and buying land that our precious rocks are sitting on. Someone needs to find the next big boulder field!
SCC: What is going on with your life - what are you up to now?
Jon: I live in Boulder, Colorado and work for a few graphic design firms in town and set at the Spot Bouldering Gym. I am also putting in the extra hours to build Louder Than 11 into a full time climbing video production company. Jordan Shipman and I have been creating bouldering videos with a plot, high end visuals, and stunning climbing to help create a stir in the community and catch the attention of new climbers. We want to show the world that climbing is the most amazing sport on the face of the earth and we are able to reach the masses through our videos and blogging. Check us out at louderthan11.com or you can see what I have been up to by visiting my blog at jonglassberg.louderthan11.com! We need to work together to bring change to our sport and we hope to set a good example of how to do that at Louder Than 11.
SCC: What are you listening to on your IPOD now?
Jon: La Roux, Biggie, M83, Paul Wall, Tokyo Police Club, SMKA... all at the same time.
SCC: Who all are you sponsored by?
Jon: Verve clothing, La Sportiva, and Revolution Climbing
SCC: Favorite eats in NC?
Jon: Melanie's in Boone. Best breakfast ever. Always.
SCC: If you came back in the next life you would probably be a....
Jon: lot shorter.
SCC: thanks for the interview, Jon.
Jon: Sure thing!
