Going Pro: Lincoln Knowles and Zander Waller
4/3/202659 min
The path to professionalism is murky at best. Even for established world-class athletes, it’s a struggle to make it work. Two friends chart very different paths in the hopes of getting paid to do what they love.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsFitz Cahall· Host0:00
I loved your quip at the start of Taipei 101. You're like, "Be bold, start cold." Is that the standard for you?
Alex Honnold· Host0:06
Did, did I actually... Did I say that at the bottom of Taipei 101?
Fitz Cahall· Host0:08
I think so. [laughs] Yeah, that's what- Like, on the broadcast? Yeah. [laughs] Yeah.
Alex Honnold· Host0:11
Oh, that's so funny. I say that all the time 'cause, I mean, that's like every time I leave the car, like start hiking to the crag, you're like, "Be bold, start cold."
Fitz Cahall· Host0:17
I'm the opposite. [laughs] I'm such a weenie. I'm like, "I'll just stop five minutes in and change," but it's kinda hard to do when you're still in a skyscraper.
Alex Honnold· Host0:23
And that's why you don't set as many speed records.
Fitz Cahall· Host0:25
[laughs] Yeah, it's true. It's... So is the choice often the black technical pants and the red tee?
Alex Honnold· Host0:31
Yeah. I mean, starting in a T-shirt when you're slightly chilly is... I mean, that's boldness. [laughs] You just go for it. Honestly, at the bottom of Taipei 101, I was quite conflicted. I'm like, "Do I wear my fleece? Do I wear a layer on top?" Even though I'm in the sun, and it is kinda warm, but it's windy, it's gonna be cold, but you're going 1,700 feet up this building. [laughs] You're like, "I don't know."
Fitz Cahall· Host0:51
So you went with what you knew.
Alex Honnold· Host0:52
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Fitz Cahall· Host0:59
All right. Alex, I have to start today with dad lore.
Alex Honnold· Host1:04
What is dad lore?
Fitz Cahall· Host1:05
Have you not heard of dad lore yet?
Alex Honnold· Host1:07
I've, I- You will ... I don't know what dad lore is, no.
Fitz Cahall· Host1:09
[laughs] It's what, like, the young kids say about, like, their, you know, friends' parents that if a dad has done something proper- Hmm ... a young person might re- friend, like refer to it and say, "That's dad lore." Like, that's cool. Like, they give him props, so. I feel like you're gonna be rich with dad lore at one point.
Unknown speaker1:29
[laughs]