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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 9, 2017 - 11:49am PT
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I've always wondered what kind of income so-called "pro" climbers make. I know many sponsored climbers are just getting free shoes/ropes/whatever, which helps a little, but it don't pay for Sprinter vans and oceans of diesel fuel for the endless road trip, let alone post send brewskies, health insurance, etc. Just wondering about the financial realities of this life style. I know Bachar did pretty well as the sole Boreal rep for years. Of course, Honnold must be bringing in six figures. But these are outliers, the best of the best. What about your second, third tier crushers? Anyone got the inside scoop?
Don't worry. I have zero illusion of switching careers. I'm happily retired after reading tens of thousands of crappy essays, although I still have a touch of the PTSD. (shudders...the horror....)
BAd
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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I think I make around $125 a year with medical, dental, vision, six paid weeks of vacation, and I get a pension too.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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I think I make
The only people that I know that might say that would have to call their accountant to find out,
and the answer would be a considerable multiple of $125K.
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caughtinside
Social climber
Oakland, CA
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I think it's more like a fun internship than a profession.
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Reilly,
I just don't know. It varies. Depends on how much OT I feel like working.
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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I suspect we all know the difference by now, between pro climbers & Large Pizzas?
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 9, 2017 - 03:21pm PT
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Heh. This is turning out as well as I'd hoped. Keep 'em coming, you rogues, scoundrels, and ne'er-do-wells!
BaaaaaAAAAAAhhhhad
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Nice Disney shot.
Here’s my view today.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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According to that short film about Brad Gobright, Alex Honnold has a net worth approaching the million bucks, and that was before soloing El Cap.
But you're right, he's definitely an outlier.
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seano
Mountain climber
none
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A friend of mine was a professional mountain biker, and based on his experience, I would say "not many, or not much." A few cyclists lived comfortably, a handful got by, and most of the rest worked other jobs to pay the bills. This is in a sport with 100% markups on $10k bikes. Climbing? You may make enough to live, but not enough to retire.
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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^^^^
Well done.
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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According to that short film about Brad Gobright, Alex Honnold has a net worth approaching the million bucks, and that was before soloing El Cap.
But you're right, he's definitely an outlier.
Wow, a "Pro" climber finally broke through the grass ceiling!
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seano
Mountain climber
none
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A dear friend is the reigning XCO olympic and world champs gold medallist. Gold medalist. My friend was top 10 at worlds, but not top 1, and racing in the US, not Europe. There's very little money in second-tier sports, and climbing, like mountain biking, is a second-tier sport.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Bullsh!t Klaus. Pro-level climbers that don't/didn't come from rich families dolling out fistfulls of coin: House, Cordes, Steck, Messner, Rebuffat, Bonatti, Ozturk, Dash, Kellogg, Swanson, Blanchard, Caldwell, Copp, Kennedy, Prezelj...
Pretty sure Klaus meant the current flock of Tier 2 and Tier 3 "professionals" not the Tier 1 that you've mentioned here.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Oh, how it has changed over the years!
"No contest for glory among men."
"No renown to hope for."
"No audience to encourage him apart from his companion on the rope."
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Trashman
Trad climber
SLC
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Seems like the Skinner’s and the Honnold’s make a majority of their cash on the speaking circuits, telling the code monkeys in Mountain View to chase their dreams, not let fear hold them back, shift the paradigm, etc, etc.
Interesting bank shot when you think of it. Athletic achievement as prop on the motivational speaking tour.
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Hoser
climber
Vancouver,Rome
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I know Bachar did pretty well as the sole Boreal rep for years.
I thought for sure there was at least three fundraisers to pay for medical bills and such...doesnt sound all that glamorous to me.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Guide FTW!
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BruceHildenbrand
Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
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Regarding Alex Honnold, don't forget about his Citi Card TV commercial. It got a lot of play here in the USA and he told me that it was going to start showing on TV down in Australia. Its all about the residuals!
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