Interview with Anna Hazlett, Slab Climber

 @annahazelnutt

About me:

I was born in Illinois and currently live in Barcelona, Spain. I’m climbing, studyingKinesiology and working as a video editor. My goal is to become a climbing trainer.

From running to climbing

My grandpa used to run up volcanos barefoot. My Mom’s side of the family is from the  Tarahumara tribe, a running tribe in Mexico, and my Mom has running in her blood; she is really inspiring. She has been running throughout her life; she ran competitively in high school. She's a powerhouse. Every morning, she gets up and runs. She has 4 kids and has done a 5K with a double stroller! What’s special about her is that she doesn’t train for running, she just goes and does it. She has shown me how to put what you love into your life.

From the age of 8, I was running cross country, and, in high school, I would run up to 13 miles. I was very dedicated. But, after a while, I realized I wasn't having fun with it. I was just running, because it had become a habit.

For me, climbing was love at first try.

My friend brought me to a climbing gym at the end of high school, and when I got to the top of the wall, I thought “I want to do this for the rest of my life.” 

Slab is sexy!

This is my catch phrase. There are so many different styles of climbing, but by far the most feared and hated is  slab. The angle of the climb is a little less than vertical and leaves you hovering over the wall. The holes are really small and it's all about balance. I think of it as a dance up the wall. The challenge is that sometimes the holes are so small they don’t really exist, and if you fall we call it “cheese grating.” It’s not a clean fall, because you fall onto the wall, and I’ve had my fair share of falls. This type of fall is why everyone hates slab, but I love this way of climbing! 

Overcoming a fear of falling

In certain areas, I’m still overcoming the fear, but, ultimately, it's all about confidence. If I look up and don’t see any holds, but I 100 percent believe I will do the climb, then I know I won't fall. The other side of things is that I have taken falls and I know how to fall and bounce off walls. There's a method to it; you need to be like a cat. For slab, you push with both hands as hard as possible onto the rock, which limits your impact and makes you fall away from your wall. 

Top tips for the FRÉ community 

1. Have a routine and stick to it, because training is about consistency more than anything else. Whether you want stronger legs or arms, it's not about one intense workout; it's about doing something again and again.
2. Have confidence in yourself and push yourself. Explore what it means to take on challenges, and don’t be afraid to push your limits. Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from starting. On the wall, you can’t always know what the next hold will be like, but you can’t let that stop you.

Women’s Day

Women’s day is so important! Some people say, “We have equal rights now and don’t need it,” but that’s so wrong. Our grandmothers and mothers were denied so many opportunities and we are still catching up. Today, so many fields are still male dominated. And there is still a stigma attached to strong women who want to lead. There is so much negative language like “she is bossy,” “she is crazy.” Thankfully, in 2020, women have more opportunities to shine and things are becoming more progressive. 

Why I love FRÉ

I lived in a van for most of the year, which makes it hard to motivate myself to have a solid skincare routine. It’s cold outside, and I climb out in the mountains for 10-12 hours, so when I get back to the van, generally, skincare isn’t  the first thing I think about. But I am using  123FRE Set and it’s great because it’s simple and it’s right there. It's helping me to get my skincare routine together. The products are so smooth; it doesn’t feel like I’m putting anything heavy on my face.

My favorite FRÉ is  PROTECT ME, because I’m outside all the time and get so much sun exposure. Climbers are very conflicted about sunscreen. They often won’t apply sunscreen, because it makes their hands oily, and, thus, they frequently get burned while climbing.

What I like about FRÉ is that it’s much less oily than other products, and I often recommend it to other climbers.

Rapid Fire:

• Favorite exercise?  Skin the cats on on the gymnastics ring. It’s a circus exercise. 
• What comes to mind when you think of FRÉ?  Healthy
• What are you most excited about in life right now?  Adventuring
• If you were a hashtag, what would you be?  #slabissexy
• Who do you admire the most?  My family 
• What is your mantra?  Keep a clear head and wild heart
• What’s one skincare tip you swear by?  Using sunscreen!
• What does sweat mean?  I feel powerful when I sweat. 
• What cause is important to you?  I am passionate about women uplifting other women when climbing, and about queer and intersectional rights. I’ve created campaigns around these causes on IG. I also believe in eating more plant-based food when possible. 
• Anything else you want to share?  I’m obsessed with moose (the animal). Did you know they can swim and dive up 5 meters? Orca whales actually hunt them!!! You can see more moose facts  HERE on my IG.