EP 280: Stevie Hochbaum — Sending Germany’s First V16, The Toll of Obsessive Projecting, and Transformation Through Climbing

Stevie Hochbaum is an elite boulderer who established the first V16, Obsidian, in Germany. We talked about nearly losing his finger to an infection, how he became obsessed with the project, what it feels like to spend 50+ sessions on a boulder, supportive friends, learning patience, training on the project, how losing weight affected his mental health, pacing and breathing, what’s next for Stevie, and much more.

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Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/stevie-hochbaum

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:02:01) – Nicknames

(00:04:58) – Swollen finger

(00:12:24) – The process begins

(00:20:47) – Investing everything

(00:28:57) – What happens after 15 sessions

(00:45:17) – Sending, disorientation, & celebrating

(00:52:10) – Supportive friends & learning patience

(01:04:16) – The unexpected send

(01:09:46) – Training on the project

(01:16:32) – Pacing & breathing

(01:24:24) – Taking breaks

(01:27:35) – Calorie deficit & mental health

(01:33:13) – Bodyweight & small crimps

(01:41:06) – Veganism

(01:49:01) – Choosing our reality

(01:53:00) – Inheritance

(01:54:26) – What’s next for Stevie

(01:57:14) – Dream trips