Alan Watts on Setting for Snowbird, the Drama that Unfolded, and the Comp's Importance to American Indoor Climbing episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 14, 2025 · 1H 3M

Alan Watts on Setting for Snowbird, the Drama that Unfolded, and the Comp's Importance to American Indoor Climbing

from Written in Stone: Climbing History · host Plug Tone Audio

Check out our new book, Written In Stone: The 1990s! Alan Watts is widely recognized as the father of American sport climbing and a leading developer at Smith Rock. However, most don’t know about his impact on the indoor climbing industry in the US or the fact that in 1988 he set for the very first international climbing competition in the country - Snowbird. In this episode we discuss his role as route setter and judge, and how that meant he had an up close and personal view of the drama that unfolded during semi-finals. We also speculate as to what might have happened had the original rules held rather than the World Cup rules. What if Didier hadn’t been disqualified? What if Destivelle had remained out or if that huge move in the middle of the finals route had been a little smaller? Watch the finals of Snowbird 1988! Check out our website for related episodes, resources and more! Join the Secret Stoners Club for FREE and get bonus episodes. ---------------------------------- Season Two is generously supported by Rab.  This episode is supported by Tension Climbing and The Tension Board 2. Written in Stone is co-created with Power Company Climbing.

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Alan Watts on Setting for Snowbird, the Drama that Unfolded, and the Comp's Importance to American Indoor Climbing

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