Black Diamond's Kolin Powick
Episode 30

Show Notes

Kolin Powick knows about as much as anyone when it comes to cams, carabiners, and quickdraws because he’s a crucial part of climbing’s history. As the Director of Product at Black Diamond for over 20 years, he used his engineering experience to develop some of the most impactful climbing equipment of all time.

In this episode, Nils probes Kolin about the current state of climbing and the impact of indoor climbing on the greater community. The pair also dive into Black Diamond’s unlikely beginnings as a continuation of brand that stemmed from Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard.

Learn everything about the vertical world in our Climb Guide

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro
1:14 – Climbing Roots In BC
5:56 – Relocating To Salt Lake City
8:52 – Getting Started At Black Diamond
13:59 – Black Diamond History
17:06 – QA & Product Development
22:53 – R+D Influences
28:28 – QC Lab Reports
36:37 – Gym Climbing Influence
41:28 – Trail Running Thoughts
45:08 – Outro

The Backcountry Podcast is a collection of conversations with influential members of the outdoor community, including our athletes and ambassadors. We dive deep into widespread topics from guests’ perspectives, ranging from film projects to personal pursuits and outdoor industry news. The Backcountry Podcast is hosted by Backcountry athlete, professional snowboarder, University of Utah Mechanical Engineering graduate, and all-around mountain guy, Nils Mindnich.

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