#82 Climbing the World’s Hardest Big Wall by Sailboat — How Living Your Values Elevates the Goal, and Why the Right Partner Makes It Possible

Seb Berthe isn't your average elite climber. He doesn’t just send 5.14s—he sails to them. Literally. When he set his sights on the Dawn Wall—the hardest big wall climb in the world—he refused to fly, instead making three ocean crossings by sailboat, living simply and training creatively along the way.

In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, we talk about:

• Why how you chase a goal matters as much as what the goal is
• How living by your values can deepen the meaning of your accomplishments
• What it takes to train for a 32-pitch 5.14 big wall on a sailboat
• The role of emotional partnership—Seb’s story with Soline is unforgettable
• His quiet call for more sustainable choices in the outdoor world

Seb’s journey will inspire you to reflect—not just on your physical goals, but on the way you live your life.

💬 Highlights + Takeaways

• 🎯 The Dawn Wall: How Seb chose a route halfway across the world—and refused to compromise his values to get there
• ⛵ Training at Sea: Creative strength training routines on a moving sailboat
• 🧠 Momentum and Mindset: Lessons from ocean sailors that shaped his mental approach
• ❤️ True Partnership: The incredible support of Soline—warming frozen toes, belaying through storms, living side-by-side on a wall for weeks
• 🌱 Living With Less: Why Seb believes small personal choices can ripple into broader cultural shifts

🔗 Links + Resources Mentioned

• 📸 Seb Berthe on Instagram:
• 📹 Seb Berthe on Bon Voyage in Annot, France

Cover pic credit: Alex Eggermont

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