Build My Own FeedBD athlete Kyle Dempster awarded 2010 Piolet d'Or for Xuelian West climb
Black Diamond athlete Kyle Dempster, along with his partners Jed Brown and Bruce Normand, received a 2010 Piolet d'Or for their ascent of China's Xuelian West. Below is an email Dempster sent us recently regarding the award and the climb. Congratulations, Kyle from all of us at Black Diamond!
From: Kyle Dempster
Subject: An inbox full of congratulations
Date: April 20, 2010 4:21:44 PM MDT
As many of you know, last Saturday here in France Jed Brown, Bruce Normand, and myself won alpine climbing’s most coveted award, the Piolet d’Or. The selection process took place here in Chamonix and was drawn out during the week as the five nominated teams were paraded through the Alps. Meeting with town mayors, press conferences, fancy banquets, slideshows, days on the hill, and speeches by Reinhold Messner and Walter Bonatti were all on the agenda. On the final night, before a crowd of over 600 our route was selected by an international jury of badasses as the most innovative, creative, and inspirational climb of 2009. It is a great honour.
Receiving the award and participating in the single greatest celebration of our sport has been an amazing experience, however, your numerous emails of kindness, congratulations, and respect have meant much more. My climbing has consisted of fourteen years of dynamic events that have been a wonderful way to live the process of discovery and growth, a journey made possible by your never ending support. The outings that you and I have shared both in the mountains and elsewhere have contributed to this achievement and so we should all be proud, it is everyone’s award.
I am glad that the bright lights and glorifying fame of the celebration are finally finished. I had been growing weary of talking about past climbs in ways that diminish from living in the present, after all, the true essence of climbing is experienced only when doing. I look forward to returning to Utah for sometime, burying my feet in the cool red desert sand, and being among friends.
Thanks for your kindness
Lots of love
Kyle
United States / English 
