BOULDER, STRONGER, SMARTER

pad at Brooklyn Boulders climbing gym, Juan Guardiola (pictured above) stares at the wall in front of him, which is dotted with big, knobby holds for hands and feet. He tries to talk himself up for his first-ever attempt to get to the top of a bouldering route. But he’s stuck playing out worst-case fall scenarios because unlike in standard rock climbing, there are no ropes or harnesses in bouldering. He goes for it, reaching with his hands and pushing with his feet, as he moves up from hold to hold. In a matter of seconds, he’s 15 feet