Chris Van Der Linden
I was raised in Orange County, California and grew up hearing stories of my dad's rock climbing days, back when his homemade gear wasn't so out of place. Even though he used to take me to the Long Beach YMCA to climb on rainy days, climbing didn't click with me until after college.
In middle school I broke my leg playing football and my life was changed. Many of the sports I used to play (hockey, baseball, football) were no longer in the cards, so my uncle decided to build me a mountain bike and introduce me to cycling. Since then, bikes have been a centerpiece in my life. I've worked in the bike industry since 2005 and it is what brought me to continue my career as a graphic designer in Wisconsin.
Most of my teen years and early 20's were spent racing mountain bikes, and only after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did I realize what a joy rock climbing is. The problem solving and creativity of movement caught my attention, but the adventure and partnerships are what have kept me climbing for the past decade. I love getting to go to places other people don't venture, and I love sharing the joy of climbing with others.
