Alex, I'm curious whether you've ever been in a situation where you're doubting yourself

and Sonny or like another really good friend helps you through that doubt because maybe

they believe in you more than you do yourself in that moment.

Yeah, I mean, that certainly happens when a climbing partner encourages you to give something

one more try

when you think you're too tired but your partner's like no no no you can do this you have this

and whether it's well founded or not it gives you the confidence to try again and and you know

occasionally you do eke something out what does the 9a 14d grade mean to you I'm to me the grade 9A marks the entryway to elite climbing.

And I know that really 514 is hard and 513 is hard and whatever.

But to me, 9A is where elite climbing really starts.

You're starting to get into some of the hardest routes in the world.

So my local sport craig has a route called Bachelor Party, which is supposed to be 9A, and that I've worked in the past and one hung,

almost done in the past, and then worked again this year and almost did, still didn't do it.

It's kind of become a bit of a nemesis. Or in a way, I should just say that it's become a bit

of a good fitness trainer, you know,

at my home crag because there aren't that many things for me to try left around my house.

And so it's nice to have some kind of project to just beat my head against for a long time.

Does that get frustrating to you?

Is it easy for you to lose motivation when you have to kind of try something over and over and over again. Yeah, I think it's

easy to fall victim to the grind when you're when you're seaging a route when you're trying it

over and over. It's easy to get demoralized. It's easy to just lose self-confidence. Though I think the

real question though is are you losing self-confidence or do you like the ability? Because I think that

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