Episode 43: Daniel Joll, From The Ground Up

Welcome to Episode 43 of the Ω Powerband Podcast - a podcast dedicated to rock climbing in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this episode, I speak with father, businessman, alpinist, ice climber, rock climber and big waller, Daniel Joll.

Daniel is one of New Zealand's best all-round climbers. From the Hawke's Bay to the Himalaya via Whanganui Bay, the Blueys, Patagonia, Yosemite and the Darrans, he has climbed more hard pitches and rapped off more V threads than you've had hot dinners.

Perhaps best known for his role in establishing the New Zealand Alpine Team or for being part of a team of 3 that claimed the first repeat of the infamous west face/rib on Changabang in the Garhwal Himalaya, Daniel has also climbed 8a sport routes in Europe, established grade 28 multipitch routes ground up in the Darrans and freed El Capitan in Yosemite (one of only 3 New Zealand climbers to do so). In short, his résumé is deep and impressive. And yet you probably didn't know that because Dan prefers to let his climbs do the talking....until the Powerband Podcast twisted his arm, that is.

In our conversation, I try to get to the bottom of who Dan Joll is as a person and as a climber and what makes him tick. I'll let you decide how well it went. Enjoy!