the skill of just being disciplined being able to stay on track and just
being able to stay on track and just
being able to stay on track and just fight and even take a few knocks and get
fight and even take a few knocks and get
fight and even take a few knocks and get back up and just keep you know on that
back up and just keep you know on that
back up and just keep you know on that path or whatever you choose in life
path or whatever you choose in life
path or whatever you choose in life that’s a skill I think that’ll be with
that’s a skill I think that’ll be with
that’s a skill I think that’ll be with him forever
him forever
him forever I think that discipline to me means
I think that discipline to me means
I think that discipline to me means being able to work hard at something
being able to work hard at something
being able to work hard at something that you strive to achieve and staying
that you strive to achieve and staying
that you strive to achieve and staying focused on that goal and never letting
focused on that goal and never letting
focused on that goal and never letting it go no matter what you should always
it go no matter what you should always
it go no matter what you should always have that ambition and that drive to do
have that ambition and that drive to do
have that ambition and that drive to do the thing you love to do ever since I
the thing you love to do ever since I
the thing you love to do ever since I was a little kid I really liked climbing
was a little kid I really liked climbing
was a little kid I really liked climbing used to climb everything from fly poles
used to climb everything from fly poles
used to climb everything from fly poles to before I could walk I used to climb
to before I could walk I used to climb
to before I could walk I used to climb baby grates and eventually he moved to
baby grates and eventually he moved to
baby grates and eventually he moved to basketball goals and he was gonna climb
basketball goals and he was gonna climb
basketball goals and he was gonna climb regardless and someone just introduced
regardless and someone just introduced
regardless and someone just introduced him to rock climbing and it was almost
him to rock climbing and it was almost
him to rock climbing and it was almost like love at first sight he was hooked
like love at first sight he was hooked
like love at first sight he was hooked the first time he ever walked into a gym
the first time he ever walked into a gym
the first time he ever walked into a gym my mother has no interest in climbing my
my mother has no interest in climbing my
my mother has no interest in climbing my mother grew up in the area where
mother grew up in the area where
mother grew up in the area where climbing wasn’t even an option no one
climbing wasn’t even an option no one
climbing wasn’t even an option no one even knew been climbing rock on it was a
even knew been climbing rock on it was a
even knew been climbing rock on it was a sport
sport
sport the fact that I got into it I guess it’s
the fact that I got into it I guess it’s
the fact that I got into it I guess it’s kind of unique because not many people
kind of unique because not many people
kind of unique because not many people get to it the way I did my name is Kai
get to it the way I did my name is Kai
get to it the way I did my name is Kai Lightner and I am 14 years old I have no
Lightner and I am 14 years old I have no
Lightner and I am 14 years old I have no idea what got him so hooked on
idea what got him so hooked on
idea what got him so hooked on competition climbing
competition climbing
competition climbing I think of heating forever that competed
I think of heating forever that competed
I think of heating forever that competed at my first Nationals in 2007 he won the
at my first Nationals in 2007 he won the
at my first Nationals in 2007 he won the pan-american Championships in Ecuador in
pan-american Championships in Ecuador in
pan-american Championships in Ecuador in bouldering and sport climbing in 2010 a
bouldering and sport climbing in 2010 a
bouldering and sport climbing in 2010 a woman first ICS national championships
woman first ICS national championships
woman first ICS national championships and so far off when it was four years in
and so far off when it was four years in
and so far off when it was four years in a row he recently placed fourth at the
a row he recently placed fourth at the
a row he recently placed fourth at the World Championship in his first time
World Championship in his first time
World Championship in his first time going which is a huge accomplishment
going which is a huge accomplishment
going which is a huge accomplishment he’s won anything you can win in America
he’s won anything you can win in America
he’s won anything you can win in America you know you wake up and brush your
you know you wake up and brush your
you know you wake up and brush your teeth he wakes up does it work out
teeth he wakes up does it work out
teeth he wakes up does it work out brushes teeth because the school comes
brushes teeth because the school comes
brushes teeth because the school comes home does homework it out go to the
home does homework it out go to the
home does homework it out go to the climbing gym and that’s his day and
climbing gym and that’s his day and
climbing gym and that’s his day and that’s what he does it’s like who he is
that’s what he does it’s like who he is
that’s what he does it’s like who he is um usually I don’t have time to hang out
um usually I don’t have time to hang out
um usually I don’t have time to hang out with my friends after school come on
with my friends after school come on
with my friends after school come on personal I think I have work I have take
personal I think I have work I have take
personal I think I have work I have take care of basics at the home and then
care of basics at the home and then
care of basics at the home and then there’s climbing I’m the single mom I
there’s climbing I’m the single mom I
there’s climbing I’m the single mom I think education is very important it’s
think education is very important it’s
think education is very important it’s probably the most important thing I do
probably the most important thing I do
probably the most important thing I do at the moment and it plus it’s the only
at the moment and it plus it’s the only
at the moment and it plus it’s the only reason that my mother lets me climb
reason that my mother lets me climb
reason that my mother lets me climb basically our deal has always been as
basically our deal has always been as
basically our deal has always been as long as you continue to bring home the
long as you continue to bring home the
long as you continue to bring home the grades I’ll give you my time I’ll give
grades I’ll give you my time I’ll give
grades I’ll give you my time I’ll give you my money and I’ll figure out how to
you my money and I’ll figure out how to
you my money and I’ll figure out how to work everything out and he’s been
work everything out and he’s been
work everything out and he’s been holding up his end of the bargain so and
holding up his end of the bargain so and
holding up his end of the bargain so and 2 ahora collaborative traveling you’re
2 ahora collaborative traveling you’re
2 ahora collaborative traveling you’re always on the go
always on the go
always on the go at the end of the day it’s sorted
there’s not much climbing in
there’s not much climbing in Fayetteville he loves the people loves
Fayetteville he loves the people loves
Fayetteville he loves the people loves the environment but it’s not the same as
the environment but it’s not the same as
the environment but it’s not the same as the competition walls or even the
the competition walls or even the
the competition walls or even the competition type routes that eave any
competition type routes that eave any
competition type routes that eave any clients are compensate and work with
clients are compensate and work with
clients are compensate and work with what I have so that I can improve the
what I have so that I can improve the
what I have so that I can improve the triangle Rock Club is about a hour and a
triangle Rock Club is about a hour and a
triangle Rock Club is about a hour and a half away and so we end up going there
half away and so we end up going there
half away and so we end up going there once a week
I know what you want and I know what you
I know what you want and I know what you want what you want to win practice is
want what you want to win practice is
want what you want to win practice is over what what that stakes that yeah
over what what that stakes that yeah
over what what that stakes that yeah yeah that’s what I think
yeah that’s what I think
yeah that’s what I think yeah we’re going to the nerve of gorge
yeah we’re going to the nerve of gorge
yeah we’re going to the nerve of gorge so do some awesome climbing
so do some awesome climbing
so do some awesome climbing [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
he just discovered the outdoor climbing
he just discovered the outdoor climbing actually gives him a different thrill
actually gives him a different thrill
actually gives him a different thrill also some of his more recent
also some of his more recent
also some of his more recent accomplishments that he’s more excited
accomplishments that he’s more excited
accomplishments that he’s more excited about or climbing outside he’s not so
about or climbing outside he’s not so
about or climbing outside he’s not so concerned with the grade he just likes
concerned with the grade he just likes
concerned with the grade he just likes to push himself so I finally got out in
to push himself so I finally got out in
to push himself so I finally got out in 2002 it’s just really awesome
in 2011 I went out once and I got my
in 2011 I went out once and I got my first 13a which was snicker and it was
first 13a which was snicker and it was
first 13a which was snicker and it was really exciting for me
really exciting for me
really exciting for me this year it was the first year I got to
this year it was the first year I got to
this year it was the first year I got to go outside more than once a year I’ve
go outside more than once a year I’ve
go outside more than once a year I’ve done for 40 days and 14 B and a 14 C
[Music]
[Music] the main differences is a completely
the main differences is a completely
the main differences is a completely different terrain rather than just
different terrain rather than just
different terrain rather than just climbing you have to deal with the
climbing you have to deal with the
climbing you have to deal with the atmosphere the weather the bugs and the
atmosphere the weather the bugs and the
atmosphere the weather the bugs and the terrain and what you’re climbing in so
terrain and what you’re climbing in so
terrain and what you’re climbing in so actually pay attention to your
actually pay attention to your
actually pay attention to your surroundings more and make sure the
surroundings more and make sure the
surroundings more and make sure the conditions are right whereas the indoors
conditions are right whereas the indoors
conditions are right whereas the indoors you can go any day and it doesn’t matter
you can go any day and it doesn’t matter
you can go any day and it doesn’t matter everything’s going to be the same so
everything’s going to be the same so
everything’s going to be the same so that’s the kind of a different thing to
that’s the kind of a different thing to
that’s the kind of a different thing to get used to it didn’t take long because
get used to it didn’t take long because
get used to it didn’t take long because things to meet climbing is climbing no
things to meet climbing is climbing no
things to meet climbing is climbing no matter where it is whether it’s outside
matter where it is whether it’s outside
matter where it is whether it’s outside or inside
or inside
or inside [Music]
my mom’s awesome I mean the fact that
my mom’s awesome I mean the fact that she could support me during my rock
she could support me during my rock
she could support me during my rock climbing even when she doesn’t like the
climbing even when she doesn’t like the
climbing even when she doesn’t like the outdoors or bugs or trees or effect is
outdoors or bugs or trees or effect is
outdoors or bugs or trees or effect is like any of those things and she decides
like any of those things and she decides
like any of those things and she decides to climb and Blamey outside just shows
to climb and Blamey outside just shows
to climb and Blamey outside just shows that she had the dedication she’s just
that she had the dedication she’s just
that she had the dedication she’s just very motivating and she helps push me to
very motivating and she helps push me to
very motivating and she helps push me to be the best that I could be no matter
be the best that I could be no matter
be the best that I could be no matter what you choose to do in life there
what you choose to do in life there
what you choose to do in life there going to be obstacles with climbing if
going to be obstacles with climbing if
going to be obstacles with climbing if you set your goals high enough there is
you set your goals high enough there is
you set your goals high enough there is no way you’re gonna walk through the
no way you’re gonna walk through the
no way you’re gonna walk through the door and just immediately just reach
door and just immediately just reach
door and just immediately just reach those goals so it’s almost like just
those goals so it’s almost like just
those goals so it’s almost like just through the nature of the sport itself
through the nature of the sport itself
through the nature of the sport itself like you have to be disciplined and so I
like you have to be disciplined and so I
like you have to be disciplined and so I think that that definitely makes
think that that definitely makes
think that that definitely makes climbing an essential pieces life that’s
climbing an essential pieces life that’s
climbing an essential pieces life that’s so much bigger than the competition or a
so much bigger than the competition or a
so much bigger than the competition or a podium or a medal there’s always been
podium or a medal there’s always been
podium or a medal there’s always been two very prominent figures and those
two very prominent figures and those
two very prominent figures and those figures are my coaches and my tailor and
figures are my coaches and my tailor and
figures are my coaches and my tailor and Shea Messer
Shea Messer
Shea Messer they are the reason here today being
they are the reason here today being
they are the reason here today being served in the spotlight I would say has
served in the spotlight I would say has
served in the spotlight I would say has really helped him to grow up as an adult
really helped him to grow up as an adult
really helped him to grow up as an adult and helped him to be a young
and helped him to be a young
and helped him to be a young professional but I mean when he gets
professional but I mean when he gets
professional but I mean when he gets away from cameras
away from cameras
away from cameras he’s a kid like he’s a goofball I get an
he’s a kid like he’s a goofball I get an
he’s a kid like he’s a goofball I get an amazing feeling from tell me that I
amazing feeling from tell me that I
amazing feeling from tell me that I don’t give in to really support I get
don’t give in to really support I get
don’t give in to really support I get kind of that feeling of euphoria when I
kind of that feeling of euphoria when I
kind of that feeling of euphoria when I complete a goal that I will work on
complete a goal that I will work on
complete a goal that I will work on whether it’s an outside route or it’s a
whether it’s an outside route or it’s a
whether it’s an outside route or it’s a competition inside that I really want to
competition inside that I really want to
competition inside that I really want to win that’s what I really like about
win that’s what I really like about
win that’s what I really like about climbing
[Music]
[Music] you
[Music]
[Music] Oh
”
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