Polestar portraits with pro rock climber Margo Hayes
We live in a fast-paced society dominated by quick dopamine highs and short attention spans. Within this world, multi-talented Margo Hayes strives to lead a balanced and present life. In a more literal sense, balance, along with grip, is also crucial to her career as a groundbreaking rock climber. In this episode, Margo lets us in on how rock climbing has shaped her perspective on life itself.
Reaching new heights and insights
Margo refuses to be put in a box. And we get it. Being boxed in is limiting and suggests a lack of freedom or flexibility, which are adjectives that aren’t in Margo’s vocabulary. The opposite is true of the multi-talented pro rock climber, singer, songwriter, model, and history-maker. The 27-year-old is a lover of the natural world and the sense of freedom that rock climbing elicits. In fact, to Margo, rock climbing is not freeing but provides perspective (literally and metaphorically) in a way that few other things can.
“Climbing gives me this opportunity to see the world from a perspective that many people don't get to see the world from. And because of it, I have so much appreciation for the natural world and for the Earth. When you experience nature in this intimate way, you just realise how much you want to protect it,” Margo comments.
Margo has climbed rocks for most of her life and throughout the years she’s learned things not only applicable to climbing but also to life. “It teaches you to be brave, and not necessarily only in the sense that people would assume, like being high above the ground and doing things like that, but I also think it takes a certain amount of courage to challenge yourself to try the unknown,” she comments. “The process of learning and figuring out what you're capable of is so important."
Rock climbing is a sport of next-level variety. “You're never going to find the same kind of climb,” Margo declares. “That’s because there's so much variation and diversity within nature, which is part of the beauty of it and so it's also part of the beauty of the sport.”
From challenging routes to mindful routines
Beyond the challenging climbs, mindfulness is a big part of Margo’s life as is keeping with routines. Margo calls the different sections of the day “chapters,” which take her from early morning meditations on the beach to the gym, and later through to the recovery chapter at the end of the day. The ambition throughout her day is to be present with whatever she’s doing and to avoid artificial highs —both in terms of nutrition and in terms of social media-induced dopamine traps.
For Margo, one definite way to get into her preferred state of mind is through cold plunges. “When you do something like a cold plunge, it’s like you can't even think. You're just in the moment and in your body. It really forces you to come into the present, and I think once you start feeling that feeling of being present, that can actually be addictive,” says Margo. “Like its own dopamine release, you know, and a lot of endorphins come with it as well.”
Many of Margo’s routines are practised alone, which is her preferred way of going about her day. “I think you have to set aside time throughout your days to be like ‘I'm going to be alone right now.’ I think that's why I love meditation too. It can be difficult to just sit there in boredom, but boredom is actually one of the most beautiful gifts because from it comes the most beautiful creative ideas,” Margo concludes.
Driving is my escape.
Solo road tripping
Many use driving as a way to get a break— an escape to clear one’s head of thoughts. Margo belongs to this group. “Driving is my escape,” says Margo. “Whenever something’s going on in my life, I always get into my car to get away.”
She also belongs to the group of solo road trippers. “I love solo road trips,” she enthuses. And we believe her, because not once, not twice, but several times, Margo has gotten into her car and made the 17+ hour drive from Colorado to California by herself. Singlehandedly. Independently. Solo. (Please note the choice of words.) Margo tells us that she doesn’t agree with society’s negative view on being alone. “I think being alone has such a negative connotation in our society, but I don’t think it's such a bad thing. I believe that when you can be alone and you're okay with being alone, that's when I think you actually have the most to give to others,” she declares.
Driving also plays a role in her climbing preparation. “When I'm driving to a climb I want to do, I'm thinking about the route. I'm visualising it. I'm imagining myself and thinking about the movements. I think that lead-up time to a climb is really important to feeling prepared for me.”
She also tells us that she enjoys driving to and from rock climbing places around Colorado. “It’s just so beautiful. It’s part of the journey, and it just adds to the whole experience,” she says. “My car is my safe space.”
You can read more about Polestar 3 and how it sticks to the road with its unique torque vectoring capabilities here.
I think that the word “challenge” should have more of a positive connotation. The more challenging the climb is, the more elated I feel when I reach the summit.
It’s not about the destination, but the journey
“Challenge” is another word that Margo believes doesn’t have the rep it deserves and uses an analogy to prove it. “I think that the word “challenge” should have more of a positive connotation. At the end of the day, pressure makes diamonds. It’s the same with climbing; the more challenging the climb is, the more elated I feel when I reach the summit,” Margo declares. “Challenges can actually make the destination that much more beautiful.”
When she finally reaches the summit, after mentally preparing and physically enduring, there’s this moment of silence in her mind. And then it hits her. The sense of accomplishment, and astonishment of being somewhere you’ve never been. The treat of experiencing something novel with each climb.
Watch our previous episodes of the Polestar portraits series on our YouTube channel.
