Proud PhysiVāntage Fathers!

June 17, 2023

Eric Hörst

Eric, pictured above with his sons (Cameron & Jonathan), says, "I'm blessed to have a climbing family. I've got a lifetime of wonderful memories of Lisa and me climbing and traveling with the boys for the last 20 years! Though less frequent these days, I cherish each day out at the crags with my now-adult sons--climbing has bonded us in a unique and amazing way that I trust will stand the test of time."

Hans Florine

According to Hans, "I am the third of four children in my family. My father was a veterinarian in the Army, so we moved every 2 to 4 years. My dad chose to laugh at crossroads in life rather than cry or get angry. Not taking things too seriously, is an asset I inherited from my father. I feel fortunate that “the outdoors” was a big part of my youth. In Virginia our home backed up to an infinite forest. We’d climb trees, and romp in the forest like other kids would ride bikes. I didn’t discover rock climbing until I was 19 in my sophomore year in college. Once discovered it consumed my recreation time. I could not get enough.

I’ve attempted to introduce my daughter and son to many forms of recreation, in the suburbs, city, and wilderness. In their critical years of age 7 to 19 I was full time managing a climbing gym. - Even then I did not “push” climbing on them. I was quick to encourage and bend over backwards if they wanted to try climbing, but never thrust it on them. (They might disagree, ha). My daughter and son have both done long routes in Toulumne and Yosemite, and even competed a tiny bit in sport climbing, neither has excelled at speed climbing, yet.

My best feeling or memory or experiences in being a father are numerous, but I’ll name this one: Seeing my kids adventure in the outdoors and showing other kids the way. Basically, I observed that my kids have a confidence to know that Nature, or The Outdoors, is a wonderful playground and should not be feared, but explored and enjoyed.

Advice to Fathers, and all parents would be quantity of time with your children is more important than quality. Attempt to do as many different things with your kids as possible.

You don’t know in advance what situation or circumstance will give you the most: influence, joy, and connection with your kids, so be there for it all. Walks, schoolwork, sports, diapers, graduation, driving, biking, climbing, swimming, museum lurking, movie night, spiritual talks, relationship talks, dinners, lunch, breakfast, late nights, early mornings, sickness, health, travel, happy times, sad times, angry times, and did I say climbing time?"

Charles (Chuck) Odette

What Chuck Loves Most About Being a Father?

Having children typically gives me the greatest sense of joy, while at the same time fostering on rare occasions the deepest feelings of trepidation. I've relished watching them grow, learn, live, and most of all experience happiness. When they have negative moments in life, I feel their pain and suffering as if it were my own. Parenting can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride! Chuck says, "I have three kiddos. My oldest daughter is 43. She has two daughters, the oldest of which has a son who is now 3, thus making me a great-grandfather!

I have a son who is 40. Like his father, he's a wandering soul. I rarely see or hear from him. I raised him, like the rest of my kids, to be independent and self-sufficient. He seems to have taken it to heart.

My youngest daughter is 32. She has two daughters, my youngest grand-kiddos, with whom I get to spend a fair amount of time. Grandkids are far less stressful. With them, I'm allowed to experience an elevated amount of joy in watching them grow, thrive and experience life! I think I'd be a little apprehensive about having children in today's world. However, since most prospective parents will probably not listen to this advice, be a patient parent.

Raise your children to be independent. Take them with you on climbing trips and family adventures so they learn the importance of an active lifestyle. Don't get sucked into thinking you need to sacrifice your lifestyle and give up on your personal goals and happiness to keep them happy. They learn from your example by being an active, happy and self fulfilled parent!"

As a side note; I may have been the first grandparent to redpoint 5.14!

Craig DeMartino

According to Craig, "Cyn and I have been married for 27 years and had kids fairly young. Our goal was to bring them up in the outdoor world. Being climbers, we didn’t want to force them into that, but we did want them to enjoy spending time outside.

Even after getting hurt in 2002, which resulted in them never really knowing me as an able-bodied person, they’ve grown into adults who have empathy, and a love for the natural world.

One memory I have of them both was as young kids; they could play for days outside with little direction from us. We built countless forts, climbed cliffs, and camped in prisoner areas. Our daughter actually was potty trained outside and when we returned to our home in town, we caught her peeing in the backyard by her “potty tree” which was where she was going to the bathroom.

If I had one piece of advice it would be to listen more, talk less, and understand that the process is long. Don’t get to hung up on things you think are different from you or their mom. Let them be.

Also really give them chances to enjoy the outside world. It’s not a given they will find it on their own, they need direction to make it part of their life. Be that direction."

Arjan De Kock

According to Arjan, "Paige and I have been climbing most of our lives. I started in South Africa when I was 9 years old. Both of us began our climbing journeys off in competition and later transitioned more into outdoor rock climbing. I mostly focus on bouldering while Paige specializes in route climbing.

Paige got pregnant while trying/sending Dreamcatcher and we are amazed our little girl is already 1 year old."

What is the biggest challenge right now with having a new baby in the house? For me, it is having the energy to train while getting very little sleep. Larkin is a TERRIBLE sleeper. We sometimes take turns going climbing and/or training from day to day. Plus, having a grandma close by is super helpful for babysitting.

What do you love most about being a father, so far? The flood of pure love that comes into your life is purely magical, but it also is sharply contrasted at times by frustration.

How do you balance work, fatherhood, and climbing? Having Paige's support with juggling my work building Vans and training for climbing and getting out to try my project. This help allowed me to send my hardest boulder in 10 years, with a new baby in the house, "Multiverse" V15.

Dr. Tyler Nelson

According to Tyler, "I’m 41 and have 4 kids. I have two graduate degrees. A doctorate in chiropractic and a masters in exercise science. I fell in love with trad climbing and was a big wall climber exclusively from 2003-2014. Then started my family right before graduate school. Ever since graduate school I’ve focused more on bouldering for the sake of convenience."

How you manage your own climbing, work, and being a father?

It’s a hustle for sure. This is why I’m so passionate about intentional training. Because I don’t have the time to climb as much as I’d like, I have to be prepared for when I can. Providing my portion (financial, physical, emotional) to my family is priority #1, not my climbing. So, if I want to push myself when I get outside, I need to be prepared all the time. Better, and regular training allows that.

What do you love most about being a father?

So many things. The first is that my kids always want my attention. I always wanted a little brother as a kid, but never got one. Now, I have three boys and a girl to hang out with. From my experience, if you pay attention to their emotional needs better, they’re game for anything.

Kids have to learn how to not give up. It’s natural to take the path of least resistance. I’ve had to show my kids the benefits of not quitting. It’s like the principle of progressive overload with training. As they grow, they learn to manage more load (whatever it is they like to do). But my wife and I have taken all 4 kids (twice now - 13, 11, 9, 5 years old respectively) on 12-mile hikes in cedar mesa (back country desert in Utah). You have to push them hard fairly often, so they know what they're really capable of.

Second, I love that they’re all different. It’s a bit crazy that they grow up in the same environment (as far as my wife and I can tell) but they end up being so unique. I think that’s beautiful.

Do take trips out to climb together? Share a memorable experience with them.

Taking my daughter trad climbing are my favorite climbing experiences. It puts all the pressure on me to bring my best game (physical and emotional), and it’s great to see her perform out of her comfort zone.

She’s a gym kid who climbs mid 5.12 inside, but 5.9 trad outside kind of story. Like all kids, she is tougher and more resilient than she thinks she is. My job is helping her, and my other kids, believe it for themselves.

A little piece of advice for fellow fathers or fathers to be...

Being a parent is a massive sacrifice. There’s just no way around that reality. It’s very much like off width climbing, not a #2 size Camelot splitter in the creek. But finding joy in struggle is what climbers live for!

You’ll be fine. Just don’t give up.