TPM Episode 309: Adrian Ballinger, Pro Skier, Internationally Certified Mountain Guide, Entrepreneur

Adrian Ballinger is a machine for managing risk in the big mountains. Whether he’s leading adventures with his Alpenglow Expeditions, summiting Everest or K2 without supplemental oxygen, or just living his rad Tahoe life, there never seems to be a chill moment in Adrian’s life. On the podcast, we talk about the three critical mentors to his success in the mountains, performance-enhancing drugs in the mountains, what counts when you’re climbing without oxygen, and much more. Adrian’s Everest Base Camp manager, Emily Turner, asks Inappropriate Questions.

Adrian Ballinger Show Notes:

3:30:  Does having a baby scare him, risk moving to the US and his first climbing/skiing mentor

12:00:  Snow camping in HS, first injury in the mountains, books on climbing and performance-enhancing drugs in the mountains  

21:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast

Outdoor Research:  The best outerwear ever built just got better get 25% off all OR

24:00:  More drugs and questioning achievements, not being good enough at skiing, who he was in HS, his parents have a plan for him to be a Dr.

29:00:  Going to Georgetown, meeting his second important mentor Chris Warner, and a free trip to Ecuador

35:00:  Getting sick at 19K feet, guiding trips really young, and how the mob was involved in climbing

41:30:  Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:  Over 60 years of getting you out there

10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone

Elan Skis:  Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better

41:45:  Trying to buy into Chris’s business, the breakup, starting Alpenglow, and the importance of becoming a certified mountain guide   

55:00:  The challenge of getting local climbing permits, the hazard of being a ski guide in Colorado, moving to Tahoe, and getting a local permit

61:00: His 3rd important mentor, Russell Brice, experience on 8K meter peaks and the high-altitude gene,

70:00: The letdown of failing at Everest with no oxygen, succeeding the following year, climbing without supplemental oxygen, and being a different type of professional athlete and being an influencer to other professional athletes

80:00: Inappropriate Questions with Emily Turner