Caldwell on resilience<\/p>\n
Tommy Caldwell has accepted career setbacks the way he sees big climbs: a challenge. There will be setbacks, new problems, lessons learned, and a way through.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u2019m up on a mountain, and we\u2019re in a storm, we\u2019re super tired, and you can start making jokes. That\u2019s almost when I feel like I thrive the most,\u201d Caldwell said of his climbing mindset.<\/p>\n
In his early 20s, he lost part of his left index finger in an accident. He chose not to have it reattached since it wouldn\u2019t help his climbing. \u201cIt turned out that missing my finger affected me less, and maybe even redirected me into the style of climbing that suited me better.\u201d<\/p>\n
After 40 years of climbing, an Achilles injury kept him from his sport for nearly two years. \u201cI was so pleasantly surprised to realize that I don\u2019t need climbing to be happy. Actually, I found happiness in other things super easily, and that was liberating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He spent time away from climbing to be more present as a father during a crucial time in his young children\u2019s lives, to tackle writing projects, and to immerse himself in environmental work.<\/p>\n
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Photo: Pablo Durana<\/p>\n
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Caldwell initially wrestled with whether filming took away the personal experience of climbing. He came around to feeling that not sharing his experiences was selfish. The videos also help keep his family in the loop. It remains a balancing act.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have people tell me that the highlight of their day at work was learning what Kevin and I were doing on the Dawn Wall, and so I started to feel like sharing was really important,\u201d Caldwell said. \u201cI also had to learn when to put down the phone. I dropped my phone off the Dawn Wall at one point. And that turned out to be a pretty nice thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Double-airbag protection<\/p>\n
Caldwell continues to film and share his videos with a smartphone, which he often clips into his climbing harness. His on-the-go lifestyle requires a protective phone case without the bulk.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt one point it was hard for me to say this, but the phone these days is the most useful thing that I own,\u201d he said. The most useful material thing, at least.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why Caldwell and TORRAS have officially partnered to promote the Ostand Air Pro phone case to climbers and anyone who takes their phone on rough-and-tumble adventures. It uses Air Duet technology to cushion critical corners and edges. The outer airbag intercepts impact while the inner airbag disperses the residual shock from drops up to 16 feet. It even has a multilayered coating to resist scratches.<\/p>\n
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Photo: Pablo Durana<\/p>\n
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From navigating a morning commute to filming climbing videos, Caldwell\u2019s smartphone is a constant companion. Other days, it\u2019s a training tool that operates a kilter board and lets him evaluate his training metrics. It\u2019s also how he stays connected with family when he\u2019s away on climbs.<\/p>\n
The TORRAS approach continually rethinks the phone case to be more than just protection and an integral piece of gear for phone users with an outdoor lifestyle. You don\u2019t have to be Tommy Caldwell to appreciate a case that keeps up with your pursuits, from everyday moments to grand adventures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing that really strikes me about this phone case is that with just a few features, you can do a lot of things,\u201d Caldwell said.<\/p>\n
Caldwell as a Climbing Dad<\/p>\n
As a father, Caldwell wants to give Fitz (the younger of two children) the freedom to develop confidence and discover his own relationship with climbing. Fitz has been on a few multi-pitch climbs already, but Lover\u2019s Leap is his biggest challenge so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to create an experience which would challenge him, but not so much that he wouldn\u2019t want to do it again,\u201d Caldwell explained. \u201cSometimes we\u2019ve gone a little too big, and the kids don\u2019t want to come back, so I wanted to hit that sweet spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Photo: Pablo Durana<\/p>\n
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In addition to the new route, this was the first time Fitz was filmed. Caldwell felt he\u2019d be up to the physical demands of the climb, but might get a little self-conscious about having to hang on the rope too much.<\/p>\n
Both of Caldwell\u2019s children started climbing from a young age, and he\u2019s confident in their safety protocol. But he\u2019s also a dad, and was locked in on how Fitz tied in and what he clipped into. \u201cI feel way more responsible for that with him than I do with my other climbing partner,\u201d Caldwell explained.<\/p>\n
Caldwell wants Fitz to be his own person, yet feels like climbing gives him confidence and opens his eyes to the beauty of the world and the diversity of the climbing community. Recording their shared adventures helps preserve family memories and share experiences with loved ones away from the walls.<\/p>\n
An Easy Hold<\/p>\n
Climbers love a good hold. The TORRAS Ostand Q3 Air Pro case is lightweight with grippy sides and textured buttons, giving it an intuitive feel. An 18N MagSafe hold lets you post it on metal surfaces, while the ring-shaped stand works from every direction. You can also hold the ring clip in for security.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can put your fingers through [the ring stand] to make it more secure when you\u2019re up on a wall. It allows you to set it on top of tabletops, both vertically and horizontally. So you have this seemingly one piece that can do like 10 things,\u201d Caldwell said.<\/p>\n
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Photo: Pablo Durana<\/p>\n
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That streamlined design keeps things quick and simple, which matters in climbing, where reducing complexity can also improve safety. Caldwell\u2019s phone often dangles from his harness, scrapes against rock, and ends up covered in dirt and chalk. With dual-airbag protection, TORRAS Air Pro helps absorb and disperse impact, protecting his phone through the demands of climbing.<\/p>\n
For an admitted \u201cplodder,\u201d Caldwell sees the challenges of climbing as a way to absorb the experience, adapt, recover, and continue forward. These are the lessons he hopes to pass on to his children and video audience.<\/p>\n