Date of Birth: March 12, 1989
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nationality: American
Height: 5’6”
Favorite Terrex Product: Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 Gore-Tex
What makes you want to get outside and move? For professional climber Jon Cardwell, inspiration was right outside his front door. We spent a few moments with him to discuss his introduction to the sport, what keeps him climbing, and his favorite pre-scramble snack.
adidas: What or who inspired you to begin climbing?
Cardwell: My parents were always active in the mountains and exposed them to me when I was younger. One thing led to another, and I suppose it was nature that inspired me the most.
adidas: What’s an early climbing memory that made you want to pursue it professionally?
Cardwell: I remember becoming obsessed with the sport immediately. This was before social media, so I read through every climbing magazine I could get my hands on, and I thought “wow, I want to try those climbs someday, how do I make that happen?”
ADIDAS ATHLETE JON CARDWELL KEEPS ON CLIMBING
Cardwell caught the climbing bug early, and it never let up. Spending weeknights dreaming of climbing and weekends on excursions with his coach or climbing buddies, Cardwell naturally turned his passion into his profession. In 2012, Cardwell joined adidas while continuing to do what he does best: climb.
adidas: Who has been your biggest cheerleader? How have they supported you?
Cardwell: My parents have been my biggest cheerleaders, they’ve supported me in every way possible since I started over 20 years ago. Early on it was driving to the competitions, training, or outdoor trips. Later it became more moral support in my decision to pursue this as a lifelong journey and profession.
adidas: What does mental strength mean to you? How do you stay inspired, focused, and overall content through the ups and downs?
Cardwell: Mental strength is the ability to endure your passions through the good times and the difficult ones. I stay inspired in climbing by continuing to be open to new challenges and rethinking my goals regularly. There is always something new to climb, so why would I ever get tired of this?
Cardwell is a climber who lives and breathes climbing in every regard. He has been around the world multiple times in search of challenging climbs and unique terrain. After returning home to New Mexico in 2022, he has become fully engrained in the local climbing community. You can find him eating turkey and cheese sandwiches before he gets to work plotting new routes, testing holds, installing bolts, and of course, climbing. Give him a follow on Instagram @jon_cardwell to keep up on his travels around the world, as well as his never-ending upward ascents.
“Sometimes it’s best to drop all the pressure you put on yourself and just climb. During those moments some amazing things can happen!” – Jon Cardwell
For more info on other adidas climbing athletes, check out our other articles on Kai Lightner and Quinn Brett. If you’re looking for tips on how to help you climb, dive into our articles on Rock Climbing Workouts and Climbing Tips for Beginners. Whether you’re getting your reps in at the gym or preparing to send a new route, we’ve got you covered.