In ‘Take the Lead,’ Sasha DiGiulian Writes Her Personal Story

Sasha DiGiulian is without doubt one of the prime rock climbers on the planet, however a number of years in the past the professional athlete confronted uncharted territory not like any of her first ascents: a double hip alternative surgical procedure. 

“Whenever you don’t have a serious element of your identification, which for me was climbing, it was a very empowering second to have numerous introspection,” says DiGiulian, who used her surgical procedure downtime to dive into her first memoir, “Take the Lead.” 

The 30-year-old climber, who majored in artistic writing as an undergrad at Columbia, had at all times wished to write down a e book, however “I by no means actually knew when the best inflection level can be,” she says. 

That time revealed itself in early 2020. DiGiulian, whose sponsors embody Adidas and Pink Bull, had lately been recognized with hip dysplasia and was dealing with surgical procedure with important restoration time, and there was rising uncertainty round COVID-19. She additionally discovered herself navigating the aftermath of a deadly climbing accident main as much as a deliberate expedition in Mexico; Nolan Smythe, who was setting traces for a photographer to doc her climb, was killed when a bit of the wall dislodged.

“It felt like an actual chapter change,” she provides. “My e book offered house for me to essentially give my very own voice and my very own narrative to how occasions unfolded.”

The e book opens with a mirrored image on her childhood, when she was launched to mountain climbing throughout a birthday celebration at an area indoor health club, and her fast ascent inside the skilled climbing world. DiGiulian writes about her sophisticated relationship together with her father, who died unexpectedly whereas she was in school, her expertise as an elite feminine climber and struggles with physique picture, a cyberbullying incident involving a climbing peer, her hip surgical procedure, and negotiating the dangers inherent to climbing.

“I’ve had my story written about by others and speculated on by others by social media and different types like movie and digital. I used to be enthusiastic about beginning to put pen to paper to inform my story,” DiGiulian says. “As I wrote the e book and went again into analyzing methods by which my profession was met with pushback, I noticed that it’s no surprise I’ve imposter syndrome, and it’s no surprise I’ve insecurities,” she provides. “However I’ve additionally had this wonderful alternative to develop and be taught and to develop extra calloused pores and skin.”

DiGiulian notes that she wrote with a younger feminine reader in thoughts, and the e book opens with a glossary of climbing phrases to ascertain a broader attraction exterior of the climbing neighborhood. “Ideally the e book can join with younger ladies going into highschool or school, who’re taking that subsequent step in life and assist navigate how you can face a few of life’s common challenges,” she says. 

Off the web page, DiGiulian’s story continues to unfold. She lately received married — this interview passed off only a couple days earlier than her marriage ceremony, held at her dwelling in Colorado — and has a number of initiatives on the horizon, together with persevering with to develop Ship Bars, the journey meals firm that she launched final 12 months. This fall, she’s working towards a purpose on El Capitan in Yosemite, is constant to work on a documentary that has adopted her by her damage and coming again to climb one of many hardest large partitions completed by a feminine staff. She additionally has her honeymoon to look ahead to: DiGiulian and her husband plan to climb the Andes peak Aconcagua together with fellow Pink Bull athlete Nimsdai.

DiGiulian, describes “Take the Lead” as her first, however possible not final, e book. “That is my first set of chapters,” she says. “I’ve numerous aspirations to return down the road, however I felt like this was the proper transition level for this stage of my life, to dive in till the shut of that chapter.”