Why did you decide to pose for the Body Issue?

CS: Climbing is an amazing, unique sport, and I want to share that with as many people as possible. I want to be an ambassador for the sport and raise the profile. This was another opportunity to do that, and I try to take advantage of any opportunity to share climbing with the world.

How did you start climbing?

CS: I started in a climbing gym 20 years ago in Santa Cruz. When I was younger, I was always climbing, whether it was trees or houses or whatever. My parents were psyched for me to find something I loved to do. I believe that whatever it is you do -- music, sports, art, whatever -- you have to be inspired and motivated when you wake up in the morning. Having a way to channel your energy in a creative way is important to living life fully.

What do you like about climbing?

CS: One of the things that separates climbing from other sports is how independent and personal it is. With most sports, you either win or lose, but climbing is about your own personal experience. With climbing you can go to the most beautiful places on the planet and practice. I've climbed all over Europe, Asia, New Zealand, South America. Anywhere there is rock, you can climb. One of the cool things about being on the forefront of the sport is not only doing the most difficult things but also seeking out those new spots and establishing new routes, so I'm always on the lookout.

What do you like about your body?

CS: When you're in tune with your body, you have this amazing, natural connection. At a certain point, it's intuitive and ingrained in us to climb. Climbing is a full-body sport from your fingers to your toes, but at the same time, it's like a dance on the rock. It's about being strong and fit but also graceful and elegant and efficient on the rock. When we're on a 200-foot face, you have to be able to save your energy and figure out the easiest possible solution -- you're forced to pick your battles and use your body in an efficient way. It's not just about being super strong.

How strong is your grip?

CS: Some holds are less than a quarter-inch, and you might only be able to get two fingertips on, and you have to put all your weight on that little hold. There are different ways to prepare for that. The classic is one-armed one-finger pull-ups, supporting all your body weight with one finger. It sounds crazy, but quite a few climbers can. Our tendons, forearms, elbows, shoulders generate an amazing amount of force. I can do a few one-finger pull-ups in the gym, but for me, the gym atmosphere is not motivating. I'll get to 20 pull-ups and be like, "This is boring. Why am I doing this?" Whereas when I'm hanging by my fingertips on a cliff face, I have so much more energy.