Q & A With Climber Jimmy Webb

By: Luis Rodriguez

Jimmy Webb is undoubtedly the strongest climber in the Southeast today. He follows a long line of brutally strong, yet humble southern climbers who speak softly yet carry a whopping big club of power. Unlike most of the southern powerhouses that preceded him, Jimmy Webb is going beyond the local boulderfields and crags to compete with the United State's strongest climbers on the national level competitions. And competing he is: with a 7th place finish at the 2009 Gravity Brawl in NJ and a 4th place finish at the Mammut Bouldering Championships in SLC, he's competing against such notoriously strong climbers as Daniel Woods, Dave Graham, Sharma, Paul Robinson, Vasya Vorotnikov, and Rob D'anistasio. Where did this kid from, who is he and, more importantly, how and why does he do it? Read on...

Name: Jimmy Webb
Age: 21
Height/reach: 6 ft +2 ape
Weight: 180
Years Climbing: 6
Sponsors: Evolve, Organic, Verve Clothing, World Cup Climbing Holds
Favorite type of climbing: Bouldering
Favorite local area: Anywhere in the southeast
Home town: Maryville, Tn
Current homestead: Chattanooga, Tn
Future travels: Winter trip across the states: HorshoeCanyon Ranch, AR. Hueco, TX. Flagstaff AZ. Moe's Valley, UT. Joe's Valley, UT.

LU:Where are you from and how did you begin climbing?

JW: Im from Maryville, TN. And i started climbing with a girl i was dating at the time.. and through that I met one of my good friends now/ climbing partner Jeremy Walton. Rest is history.

LU: Other sports you enjoyed and/or excelled at? Explain.

JW: I played soccer from age 4 to my Junior year in Highschool. Also Skateboarded for about 6 years before i started climbing.

LU: Why climbing? When did you realize you had an affinity for it?

JW: I love everything about climbing. Travel, adventure, new areas, new problems, new people. etc etc. Its hard to put a finger on when i realized climbing was for me.. i just went with the flow ever since i started.. Its what made me happy. So i continued.

LU: How did you get so so strong? Special secret training? Don't tell me you just climb?! Were you always crushing?

JW: Well honestly i've never been very commited to train. But i enjoy climbing in the gym a couple times a week. and to me that is training. And no, i wasn't always strong. Who is? Its a process everyone goes through. If you're syked, and commited you will reach your absolute limit.

LU: Who were your mentors (or bad influences)? Who did you look up in the Southern climbing scene? Jerry Roberts? Litz? Traylor? Me!? (j/k)

JW: Haha, well with the southern climbing scene being what it is.. " Low- Key" I never saw too many videos when i was starting up.. But i do remember vividly the first time i watched Southern Slopers. It got me super motivated to climb, and climb hard! Watching oldschoolers like Traylor, Henry, kottkamp, and yes Luis crush the incredible stone of Hp40... it was really hard not to be amped. So if i had to say i never really looked up to just one person in the scene.. it was more like looking up to the scene as a whole.

LU: What do you hope to accomplish through climbing? Six figure income... mutant offsprings?

JW: To just enjoy climbing until im unable. And if someone wants to pay me to climb, im syked. Getting paid to do what you love is a gimme.

LU: Where are you now, who are you with, what have you been doing? Any notable sends?

JW: Well right now im at the 2009 OR Trade Show in Salt Lake City, UT competing at the Mammut Bouldering Championships.. Im definately syked on how i was able to climb this year.. placing 7th after qualifiers and placing 4th after Finals. Made me some cash! Also we've been hitting up some night sesh's out at Little Cottonwood Canyon the past few days. Climbing till 4 in the morn. Umm the climbing is real nice here, though its really slick in the summer I was lucky enough to complete a few problems like the Bully, 8a.. and a couple other cool lines in the field.

LU: You've completed some notable sends and FAs in the South: (list of boulders? list of routes?) What other goals are on your tick list?

JW: Yea, i'm definitely stoked to have plucked a few nice lines in the south including: Western Gold, and Lord of the Dance.. But im most syked on the upcoming season in the south!! Laurel Snow right now is kind of the hot spot for me and i'm gonna be putting most of my time and effort into hiking around, finding new boulders, and cleaning new lines. As for routes i'm not quite sure. Still got some time till the bouldering season kicks in so who knows. Train for SoCo??!

LU: Any other climbing aspirations, beyond the South? Worlds? Realization? Action Direct?

JW: The list goes on and on and on and on......

LU: You've been seen at more than one SCC trail day in the past year; what's your motivation behind assisting at these events? Free swag?!

JW: Ha, yea free stuffs nice.. But seriously its our responsibility to help out at these events. We climb in these areas, we use these trails, and because we're lucky enough to even be climbing here I see it as our responsibility as a WHOLE to give back to the area. Lets keep our climbing areas clean, and pristine.

LU: You've also been coaching? How so? Why?

LU: Well for the past 6 months or so Kasia and I have been helping to coach a small group of talented up and comers at TBA.. I really enjoy helping these guys out with they're climbing.. and its really just another way to give back. These kids could be the next big thing!

LU:Getting to know you in six seconds. Complete the following in six seconds:
1) Right now I can't stop playing triple six on my IPOD.
2) I have not very much money to my name.
3) I can't keep from stuffing my face with food. ha!
4) I'm climbing 5 or 6 days per week.
5) I'm looking forward to seeing the movie EARTH asap.
6) Tonight I'm lounging on a futon at John Gass's Apt in Denver.