Magnus Rastrom

Sweden

I‘m a plus-30 Swede currently living and working in Basel, Switzerland with the task of selling as much BD gear as possible around Europe. I'm always motivated for some outdoor action, skiing or climbing. I have been bumming around and seen a lot of crags in Europe. I’m doing my best to get away from my desk as much as possible to climb or ski. Achievements: Found the best girl ever and married her. Goal for the future: More powder skiing days and avoid getting a beer belly.

Birthday? 28/09/1977

Year you first started at Black Diamond? November 2005

Memory/story of your first week at Black Diamond? Everything was in German and I could not understand a word!

What does working at Black Diamond mean to you? Challenging tasks in the right industry. Two nice bonuses are all the interesting people I get to meet and the gear I get to test.

If you weren't working for Black Diamond, what would you be doing? I would probably sit behind a computer with a suit somewhere and discuss mortgages in the lunch break with my colleagues and wonder what happened to my life. Either that or I would be the head of marketing for Reef.

Worst job you've ever had? I have had many, including bar keeper, supermarket cashier and bike courier. But the worst one was probably selling baby strollers. I was young and I had only climbing in my head, I did not know anything about kids and I had to convince all the pregnant women that our stroller was the best on the market.

Do you have any pets? I had an ant, which I got as a wedding present from a friend, but it died a month ago. That was a very hard time for me and my wife.

Favorite sports/activities? Squeezing rock as much as possible and in all forms. In the wintertime I always try to improve my skiing skills, which means that my poor climbing legs have to suffer the pain of two-meter powder in Andermatt. Life is hard in Switzerland.

Favorite climbing area and why? Basel Jura rules. First climbing area is five minutes from work. The climbing is so technical and painful that no one goes there so all the rock is empty for the BD crew & friends. Thank you Mike for digging out all the boulders!

Best climbing experience? Every Thursday evening after work going bouldering in Basel. When it gets dark we just turn on the lamps and keep going for a couple of more hours until the skin is gone.

What's your dream trip? Where? With who? For the moment I’m more focused on the adventures here in my backyard.  Live simple, enjoy the small things in life.

Guilty pleasure? There is no guilt in pleasure!

BD gear you use every time you go climbing/skiing? Can’t live without my Icon headlamp or Apollo lantern. They make it possible to do stuff outdoor after dark so I do not have to squeeze that much plastic.

What/who inspires you? Older guys that are still out there pushing their limits and also people with never-ending positive vibes. In Albarracin last year I met a 45 year old British guy who was there bouldering with his wife. They were trying 6a highball problems, always falling at the top but always laughing and never giving up. Guys like that!

What's in your iPod? For climbing: Turbonegro & Mustasch

Three things you'd never travel without? Music, literature and good friends.

Superstitions? Nööö

What's your dream job? What I’m doing right now but 80 % so I would have more time for family and sports.

If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be? I would like to grab a beer with Arne Naess (cool philosopher, unfortunately dead), the most inspiring adventurer ever Sven Yrving and the singer and songwriter Lars Demian (thanks for all the nice lyrics!)

Do you have any tattoos or piercings? Tattoos, of course.