E58: Hamish Potokar - Philosophising about climbing and Spotter magazine
Aug 9, 2023
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Hamish Potokar, a talented climber with an open mind to experience life outside of climbing, discusses his motivations behind Spotter magazine and the complexities of not pursuing a professional climbing career. The speakers also explore the concepts of self-compassion, happiness, and social media in relation to climbing, as well as their nostalgia for old climbing magazines. They delve into the creation of Spotter magazine and its aim to portray climbing characters often missed by social media. Additionally, they discuss various climbing terms, the process of naming their magazine, and the excitement and pressure of upcoming climbing trips and article deadlines.
Finding personal fulfillment and maintaining a healthy perspective in climbing is more important than chasing higher grades.
The climbing community attracts open-minded individuals and fosters authenticity, valuing individuality and real-life connections.
Spotter magazine aims to provide a timeless and tangible product that encourages a slower, more attentive reading experience in climbing media.
Older climbing walls embody a sense of community and authenticity, emphasizing the importance of connection and nostalgia in the climbing experience.
Deep dives
Hamish Potica's Climbing Background
Hamish Potica has a background in competitive climbing and has achieved impressive results in youth competitions. He also has an extensive outdoor climbing resume, including climbing hard local test pieces and ticking off lesser-known but challenging routes.
Reflections on Passion and Energy in Climbing
Hamish Potica reflects on the distinction between passion and energy in climbing. He acknowledges that his energy for climbing may have decreased over time, but he still retains a deep love for the sport. He emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between pushing oneself and maintaining a fulfilling and authentic climbing experience.
The Value of Climbing Beyond Success
Hamish Potica talks about how climbing is not solely about achieving success or chasing higher grades. He highlights the importance of finding personal fulfillment in climbing, exploring other aspects of life, and relating climbing to a broader picture. He emphasizes the need to prioritize happiness and maintain a healthy perspective on progression and success in climbing.
The Climbing Community and Authenticity
The podcast hosts discuss how the climbing community attracts open-minded individuals and fosters authenticity. They mention that climbing is a niche pursuit that values individuality and attracts people who may not excel in other sports. They also touch on the challenges of staying authentic in the age of social media and the importance of real-life connections and experiences within the climbing community.
The essence of Spotter magazine
Spotter magazine is a passion project that aims to slow down engagement and provide an object of beauty. It was inspired by a desire for more character and authenticity in climbing media. The magazine features interviews, profiles, and discussions that capture the essence of climbers and the sport. It seeks to offer a platform for experimentation and creativity in photography and content creation. The magazine aims to be a timeless and tangible product that encourages a slower, more attentive reading experience.
Challenges and lessons learned
Creating the magazine took longer than anticipated, and there were challenges and lessons learned along the way. The team had to navigate the complexities of publishing and make adjustments based on feedback and experiences. They discovered the importance of aligning values and perspectives when curating content and appreciated the input of others in shaping the magazine's direction. They also recognized the value of having a physical product, as opposed to a digital version, in providing a more impactful and thoughtful reading experience.
The schoolroom and the essence of climbing
The schoolroom, a climbing gym, represents a bygone era of climbing walls that weren't extravagant or sprawling. It was a smaller, more intimate space, where climbers gathered and shared legends and stories. The school board, with problems devised by climbing legends, holds a special place in climbing history. The article reflects on the sense of community and authenticity found in older climbing walls, emphasizing the importance of connection and nostalgia in the climbing experience.
You wouldn't know when listening to this episode, but Hamish is a very talented climber, but one who hasn't taken the obsessive path and has left his mind open to experience life outside of climbing as well. As two climbing obsessives, Aidan and I wanted to explore that a bit! They say you can tell a lot about someone from the company they keep, well in this case I think you can. Hamish is one of Aidan's closest friends, and it's not hard to see the similarities in the way they think.
Hamish & Aidan are two thirds of a print magazine about climbing called 'Spotter' so we chat a lot about the motivations behind that as well.
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