HIGHFLYER

Andrew King grew up in Detroit, a city that has reinvented itself several times over the past 100 years and has certainly shaped Andrew. Today he lives in California. His goals seem almost unattainable, and yet he has already achieved a number of them, exploring his personal limits through clear vision, the highest level of discipline and the irrepressible will. As a top surfer and enthusiastic mountaineer, this resulted in one of the most unusual sporting wish lists. His goal: to climb the seven highest peaks and the seven highest volcanoes of all continents. Moreover, best of all to find peaks where he can combine his passion for water, rock and ice. However, his heart does not only beat for top sporting performance, it is paired with great empathy for the environment, health and sustainability. It is his greatest desire to give something good back to the community through his actions and, if possible, to make the earth a better place where it is needed most. That is why he accepted Hallstein Wasser's invitation to climb the Dachstein, home of perhaps the healthiest water of all. Not only is Hallstein committed to health, but also it donates a large portion of his profits to projects that bring clean water to people that previously seemed unattainable. So also for people in African Mozambique. Hallstein Wasser is a small but special brand among the giants of the water industry. Out of personal passion and the knowledge of the importance of excellent water quality, the family set out in the USA for about two years not only to research the perfect composition of almost perfect water, but also to search for this water worldwide to find. Interestingly enough, it takes the family back to their old homeland, the Dachstein Mountains, in the depths of which this perfect and very healthy water slumbers. The importance of water has long been known, but awareness of the quality of water still has room for improvement, just like Andrew King's goals.

Do you have to train a lot to achieve such sporting achievements?
Of course! I went to Italy from Chamonix to go climbing and in July I climbed something like six to eight mountains in four days. Climbing in the Alps requires a lot of equipment. Then in August I climbed the Matterhorn, Eiger and Mont Blanc. And over the course of three more months, there were another 18 to 19 peaks.

Are you afraid of a special mountain? Or have you never been afraid?
That is a good question. I think fear is part of my reality for me because I always want to come home at the end. So I don't put myself in a situation where I'm overtaxing my abilities. I push myself to the limits of my abilities, but never beyond. There is not a mountain in this world worth risking my life for. When we climbed the Dachstein, it was like jogging for me. It was easy. Because I trained a lot beforehand.

Was the Dachstein much easier than other mountains?
Yes, it was simple and very beautiful at the same time. The Kilimanjaro, which I also climbed, is similar to the Dachstein. The rock is very sharp and one should not fall. I remember one experience clearly: You know you will not fall, but my hands were wet and I slipped and tried to catch myself. It felt like I cut my leg and I was like "Oh wow I'm bleeding". The rock is super sharp, but at the same time very beautiful. I wanted to ski down so I could fully see and experience this beautiful mountain. I would climb Kilimanjaro again and again.

The water of the sea, frozen water as snow and ice, but above all drinking water is very important to Andrew King. He shares this mindfulness with the Hallstein Waser brand, one of the world's healthiest water.

What was your first mountain?
Manakara was probably my first major mountain. Another was Diamond Head. It is not that big, more vertical and steeper... I started out climbing volcanoes to be honest. I love climbing volcanoes. Then I go all the way up, meditate, come back down and surf. So I started climbing the highest volcano on each ocean. The only one I have not climbed is in the Arctic.

And did you already combine it back then? The climbing and surfing?
Yes always. I love this swap. For example in Bali, from the mountain straight to the sea, where everyone is surfing. Or you climb on the harpsichord, enjoy the sunset, and then you surf the Philippine waves. This has always been a way to connect with nature in a deeper sense. This year I decided to go one-step further and go climbing and surfing in Nazaré in Portgal. It has always been a big wish.

So the huge waves! And why did you start mountaineering?
Nobody taught me how to climb. I taught myself that. At first, I was just like, "Oh, I'll just take a walk and keep walking. I would just go up that mountain, meditate, clear my mind and body, and see what happens... At some point over time I thought about that I I also like to surf and so the idea was born to do both in one day.You know the Atlantica Mountain or the Kilimanjaro and you know that both are very high and you need a lot of time. Two or three years ago, I switched to technical Climbing. So more with crampons, the clothes, equipment and things like carabiners and I fell in love with it spontaneously. Nobody taught me it at the beginning...

Has anyone helped you in the last three years?
Yes, the last few years I have worked with guides. In each country, I learn so much from the guides, not only about the mountains but also about their country's culture and how they climb. I just take notes and make friends with them. So yes, I have learned a lot over the last few years and have prepared myself for the bigger mountains.

And how long did it take to be a real mountaineer for yourself?
This is a very good question. I am still learning. I think about me people say I am a climber, even if I´m not but people think I am. I would say if you practice every day you need about 5 years. I have been doing it for ten years and I started with volcanoes. As you get more technical over time, it is very much in the details. So if you want to be a good climber you need 5 years but if you want to be very good I have a feeling it takes 10 to 20 years. However, if you want to be one of the best, we are talking about a lifetime.

And sometimes it's never possible because it depends on the person itself. I do not want to stop. Even here in Greece, after I got off the plane, I looked at the rock and my hands were already going towards it, wanting to grab it. It feels like I feel calm and safe when I touch it with my five finders.

For example, when you travel all over the world, do you have specific groceries you need in the days before you start climbing?
I eat a lot of bread So much bread! You really need many carbohydrates for a lot of energy. I do not eat chicken or beef, but I do eat fish, mostly for protein and of course veggies. When you are on the mountain, you will burn the calories.

And how did you come into contact with the Hallstein Water company?
They contacted me when I was in Kenya climbing. And I really didn't know much about it. But the way they think about water, win it, but also how they care about people and the environment got me excited. And those are the things that are also very important to me, because I want to leave every place better than I found it.

So you are also involved in this project?
Yes, we are working to find a way to make water accessible in Mozambique's communities. When I work with Hallstein or any of my other partners around the world like Black Diamond or Seven Summit, I usually say, "How can we make this more accessible to more people? How can we get more climbers and people to do this?" And Hallstein said, "Let's think about how we can get more water?" We did. So we're working on it. Next year we plan to fly to Africa to check it out and see how it goes.

You are also building your own foundation "The Between World Projects"...
"The Between World Projects" is something I started seven years ago and I funded it myself from the income from my regular job. I believe that every individual in this world, no matter what they look like or where they come from, should have the opportunity to be who they want to be. And I work with partners to create a space for people to just sit back and relax. The Between World Projects is a giving back and non-profit foundation and I am sure we can push it forward.

"The Between World Projects"also shows that you have traveled a lot. You have collected many memories. Is it primarily a kind of gift for you? Because not everyone has this chance to do that. But maybe it is also to be between the worlds, a reflection of one's own life for what one does between the sea and the mountains. It is like your own life, isn't it?
Yes, I think the project means for me that I am going with this unique experience and that one can grow in life. For me it has always been between the worlds, between the oceans and the mountains. What is it like to be how do I really connect with people? I connect through my projects, through my extreme mountaineering. I will surely climb 100 peaks in the next ten years. It teaches you so much! When I stop climbing, I will hand my project over to someone else and they will tell a new story.

You also said once that it is all about the connection. What is the best way for you to connect with nature?
Is it more the mountains or the sea? This is such a difficult question because I know and love them both so well. For me it is both... I guess it depends on the day. For example, when I climbed the Dachstein and meditated on the summit, it was so cool to connect with it. I did not know how beautiful Austria is. But if I go to Mexico or Indonesia or Hawaii, you see a wave and it's just huge and massive. That is just as nice. So it depends on the day. But I would say both.

But maybe this question will bring you closer... If you die in 100 years, where should your grave be?
Should it be on a mountain or by the sea? Oh, that is a profound question... I will start on the mountain and then be blown off towards the sea. I hope so.

Do you believe in the power of positive thinking?
Yes, I like positive thinking.

Positive thinking is not always easy. Especially at the moment, when so many people in the world are thinking negatively because of all the problems. What do you do to stay positive?
I think it is about growing and learning and having people around to help you. Working on yourself a lot and having people around you to look up to, that is what helps me to stay positive.

Even if you climb, surf, do mental work forever, I ask myself: "Am I doing what makes me happy?" and as I do what makes me happy, I will keep asking myself, "How can I help other people reach this stage?" It is hard to be positive all the time, but at the end of the day, it is all about the one question when you fall asleep: "Are you feeling happy?" and when you wake up, "Are you thankful to be here?" You know when you really think about it, "What are your goals for the day?" and am I able to, for example, apologize, stand up and move on to be better. And if I'm not, I'll pretend. Also to create the space for other people to develop themselves.

And how do you help the others?
I think it helps the others enormously if you are open and genuine. If you let them know that, they can just be themselves. That it's okay to make mistakes and that you don't always have to strive for perfection and that you're only here to improve. That is the best way to think about it. You will fail. It’s okay, it's cool to fail. Because then you really feel it and you are like "oh, that really hurts" and you will grow from it. People looking at my Instagram say "You don't have any comments"... It is like a diary for me. I look back on that. And so I look back at how I was and I'm like, "Og wow, you grew up so much from there." And when people look at it that way, they see it as a story of a person progressing and growing between these worlds.

You also bring a lot of diversity to the world of mountaineering. What do you think is still the reason why many more white people climb mountains?
Good question. I think the question is more of a choice. Not everyone has the opportunity and choice. What Hallstein is doing is giving people the opportunity to choose that water. Some people do not know where to start. And when you go to a place like Greece you might feel like people don't look like you and you're not sure if you can make it. But when you create a space where you can be different and you try to get the things you need. Then this is my way. You have to make a choice and just really decide if you want to do it and then do it.

It is only through hard training and excellent preparation that Andrew Kind gains the physical self-confidence to survive difficult situations.

What does success mean to you? Being successful also means achieving your goals. Yes, I think when it comes to your goals, you should not be afraid to fail. And it means being realistic with yourself. Ultimately, it also means being vulnerable and open, knowing that you will be okay. You may not get what you want, but you will learn a lesson and gain experience. It is like green positivity and you feel like that's success. Everything else like fame and money will come and go. If you wake up every day feeling happy and grateful for what you have then you are already successful. Then you are on the right path. You just have to try to be patient.

Do you remember a situation that pushed you to your personal limit? Is there a situation that was difficult for you?
Yes, I think there are still some things I have to deal with, how I communicate e.g. B. How to become a better writer as I am trying to write more poetry in the last 2-3 years. The situation where I really grew was when my grandmother died. Then suddenly I grew up. Not only for me, but also for my family: my brothers, my sisters, my mother and also for my grandmother. Everyone in my family had an image and an expectation of me. They looked to me for strength and comfort because they perceived me as positive thinking and calm. But I never saw myself like that at the time. It was very difficult for me that everyone in my family looked at me like that. I cried a lot and meditated a lot. I read books from Eastern philosophy to Western philosophy and meditated. After that I decided to go my way to make a difference by changing my direction.

What was the most helpful book you have read?
"Meditation" by Marcus Aurelius. The second srekke is Yung Pablo "Clarity & Connection". That was it. Marcus Aurelius is historical, but he teaches me that the only thing you can control every day is your attitude. That is the only thing that really gets you going. It is about how you can surpass yourself. "Clarity & Connection" are just short poems that teach you to be patient with yourself. Sometimes we forget where we came from and then we get frustrated.

Has anything physical ever happened in the mountains or in the sea? Do you remember something?
Yes I remember I was very skinny had lost a lot of muscle and my body just shut down. It was bad and I had to go to a safe space in my head. In this house, I am safe and let my body understand that everything is fine and mind, body and heart and soul are connected to be in harmony with each other. Because when you are not in tune, you are made of parts that are not connected. And at that moment, I just ducked low. The mountain was in Kenya and that was the first mountain and second time we had to technically climb for 9 hours. we were climbing like 3,000 feet and I woke up and said, "Ok, let's go up, I'm ready." I did not have a lot of energy, but I made sure I got there by setting myself up in a way that I could focus and force myself to do it. And this is the time of the body to rule the mind and to be safe in the house. Then you just have to go through with it. And I did.

Perfect idea! But I've never had a problem like this. Maybe it will help me sometime in my life. Who knows, we will see. The mind is a beautiful thing.

The moment you connect with with your heart and body can be so amazing. Because everyone talks about the flow state and when you are in it, you just do not think about it. You are just trying to be there and present in the body in a natural way. And just like my first major international technical climb, I just knew I had to train for it. That is the point where you just let the mind and body do their thing.

Thank you for the very interesting conversation. I will definitely take some of the information with me.

There are many ways to be with yourself. Andrew King not only comes closer to this through hard training and athletic excellence, but also through meditation and philosophy. One of his unforgettable experiences was climbing Kilimanjaro. Here, too, a close relationship developed with the local mountain guides.