Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life

At 63, Tinker Juarez is still racing—and still beating athletes half his age. He’s been competing since he was 13. From the early days of mountain biking to representing the U.S. at the Olympics, to 24-hour solo races that push the limits of endurance, Tinker has spent over five decades in motion. And somehow, he hasn’t slowed down. But this conversation isn’t about nostalgia or past results. It’s...

This week on Ageless Athlete, we're joined by a true climbing icon: Eric Hörst. Eric's not just a world-renowned climber, author, and coach—he's a pioneer who revolutionized climbing training and nutrition, inspiring generations of climbers to reach new heights. We'll journey back to the 80s, a time when climbing was a niche sport with limited resources. Eric was a trailblazer,...

Thomas Huber has spent a lifetime in places where the outcome is never guaranteed. As one half of the legendary Huber brothers, he’s climbed some of the hardest lines in the world—from Cerro Torre to Latok I—often in remote ranges where retreat is just as important as summiting. But what’s kept him coming back isn’t just the climbing. It’s what the mountains reveal. In this conversation, Thomas re...

I’ve been reading Matt Samet’s writing since I started climbing in 2004, so this one felt a bit personal. Matt has spent nearly four decades immersed in climbing—not just as an athlete, but as one of the sport’s most thoughtful voices. He’s written for Climbing Magazine, shaped how many of us understand the culture, and lived through the highs and lows that come with staying in something this dema...

Fred Pompermayer didn’t grow up by the ocean.  He grew up in a landlocked town in Brazil. At 12, he sold his bicycle to buy a surfboard.  Later, he borrowed university cameras and started documenting the waves he couldn’t stop thinking about. Eventually, he left architecture school behind and moved toward a life that made very little sense on paper. Today, Fred is one of the most respected big wav...

Sometimes it only takes one person believing in you—at exactly the right moment. This powerful statement from Kris Hampton's probation officer had a profound impact on him, demonstrating the power of belief and accountability.  From his home amidst the Rockies in Lander, WY, musician, artist, and climber Kris, shares his remarkable journey from a tough upbringing to finding solace and purpose...

"Forget the "long slow rot" of aging!  Juliet Starrett, a world-champion whitewater rafter turned fitness advocate, is on a mission to empower us all to build durable bodies that can handle life’s adventures – at any age! Juliet unpacks her powerful "Base Camp" philosophy: reminding us that even lifelong athletes need to remember to sheerproof the basics. I loved her wisdo...

"It's not about being the star that day or catching the biggest wave. It's just, that's the one you remember and you carry all your life."  What does it take to live a life in pursuit of waves for over 6 decades? Today's guest, Gary Linden, has been doing just that - riding everything from 2-foot rollers to 50-foot behemoths around the globe since the age of 12. Gary...

Nick Martinez didn’t just come to Yosemite to climb. He came to build a life. From growing up in Brazil to finding his way into the Valley, he became part of a rare world—sharing space with climbers like Jim Bridwell, Dean Potter, and the Huber brothers. Over two decades, Nick quietly took on some of the hardest and most committing big walls in Yosemite National Park. But this story isn’t really a...

“You talk about my successes — I’ll show you my thousand failures.” What does it actually take to stay at the top—not for a season, but for decades? In this conversation, I sit down with Jeremiah Bishop, one of the most accomplished endurance mountain bikers in the U.S. A 16-time member of the USA Cycling National Team, Pan American Games gold medalist, and multiple-time national champion, Jeremia...

I'm not a 70-year-old woman on the trail, I'm a free spirit dancing with gravity.” - Henrietta Stern, mountain biking icon   This week, we’re breaking the mold with not one, but FIVE remarkable guests – all powerhouse women from the San Francisco Bay Area mountain biking scene. Meet Jessica, Jenna, Henrietta, Lisa, and Alexis – a group of community entrepreneurs, passionate riders, certi...

Most people never experience a literal 100-foot fall. But most of us do face a moment that changes what we think our future can be. Craig DeMartino is a climber, coach, and adaptive athlete who rebuilt his life after a devastating accident—and later climbed a 3,000-foot wall in a single day. This episode isn’t about climbing feats for their own sake. It’s about recovery, identity, and the long, un...

They started with a clothesline and a few carabiners. No instructors. No gyms. Just cliffs outside Delhi and a willingness to figure things out. That was the beginning for Mohit Oberoi—long before climbing had a foothold in India. From those early, improvised days, Mo went on to build a life around movement and curiosity. Ironman triathlons. Swimming the English Channel. Ultra-runs across the Hima...

The sound it makes when it breaks… it’s terrifying.” At 59, Lionel Conacher paddled into Mavericks—one of the most dangerous waves in the world. He hadn’t even started surfing until his 50s. At the age of 59 years and 8 months, Conacher became the oldest person in the world to surf Maverick's, the "Mount Everest of surfing", one of the most challenging and dangerous surf breaks in t...

"It's not selfish to honor your ability 💪. While I can, I have an obligation to use my gifts and make my mark 🏆. Someday I won't be able to, so I'll make the most of the time I have ⏳." Matt Eggleton, a former US Air Force veteran and accomplished endurance athlete, challenges age stereotypes by dominating the world of mountain biking. Despite discovering the sport in h...

" What nature asks of us when we go outside is to be strong, is to use our cognitive faculties, to be nimble, to be exhilarated, and to be brave. All of that flies in the face of what we're told about our aging ." ⛰️ 💪🏾 Caroline Paul, a true renaissance woman, has spent her life shattering stereotypes and embracing adventure.  In this episode, we journey alongside Caroline as she...

⛰️"It's the struggle on those 3,000 feet that matters, the journey IS the climb."🧗‍♀️ Hans Florine has a lifelong love affair with Yosemite's El Capitan, setting and breaking speed records on its iconic face, having climbed it almost 200 times. We talked about his climbing philosophy, staying safe on big walls, and what makes an ideal climbing partner.  Hans opened up about wh...

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing well" Meet Wayne Willoughby- an adaptive rock climber who defied incredible odds and has climbed El Cap, not once, or twice, but a mind-boggling 26 times. 🧗‍♂️🏔️ From battling polio and disabilities since infancy, to suffering terrible injuries, Wayne overcame obstacle after obstacle. 99% of us will never climb El Cap. Wayne has done it not once, or...

"Strength training is healthcare." 💪🏋️‍♀️ With that powerful statement, teen climbing prodigy, turned climbing and fitness savant, Dr. Natasha Barnes cuts through the confusion around exercise, fitness, and longevity in climbing and quality of life. From a former winner of bouldering US Nationals, who "didn't think I would even be climbing at a high level, let alone competing...

🌊"I ate 28 cals of chocolate for each mile paddled" 🌊 Katrin Tomanek is a true multi sport athlete who blends her career as a topnotch data scientist, with a passion for pushing physical and mental boundaries through uncommon solo adventures in wild and beautiful places.  Born in Germany, and a former rock climber, the 44-year-old has quickly made a name with some remarkable accomplish...

At 62,  enduring champion ultra-runner, Megan Canfield, is not slowing down. In the past 3 decades, Meghan has qualified and run in the US Olympic marathon trials 4 times, has completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run 13 times, with 10 of those being in the top 10, and all but one under 24 hours. She has also represented the USA in the World 100k Championships for 9 consecutive teams. 🇺🇸...

In today's episode, we head into the epic ️ mountains of Nuevo León, Mexico 🇲🇽 to meet two formidable rock climbers, Maggie and Chuck Odette! This sport climbing power couple has been quietly pushing the limits of their sport while building a beautiful and loving relationship with each other and the remote communities they visit. From the cozy living room of their camper van , Maggie (54) and...

What happens when you start late—and still keep getting better? This week on Ageless Athlete, we meet Frank Chan, a 51-year-old engineer who started running marathons just a few years ago, at the age of 45!  Despite his late start, Frank has already conquered over 13 marathons and is dangerously close to the 3 hour mark!  But Frank's approach to training is refreshingly unconventional.   Tune...

“Surfing was always on my mind,” said the Cocoa Beach, Florida native. “I had a poster of Cory Lopez hanging up in my rehab room for inspiration. I never realized how much I loved surfing, until it was taken away from me.” Thrilled to be joined by surfer, author, and motivational speaker Tyler Farnham. Originally from Cocoa Beach, Florida, Tyler has turned his lifelong passion for surfing into a w...

When I Invited Dr Tyler Nelson to come on the show, I knew he would drop the hammer on climbing training beta, but little did I know how wowed I’d be with the applicability of his knowledge across sports. Tyler’s lessons on training smarter, preventing injuries, and peak performance, based on the guiding principles of sports science, are spot on for climbers. However stay tuned in cyclists, runner...