#ShootingTheBreeze with Anna Clark
Welcome to our new irregular series where we chat to outdoor industry professionals: Shooting the breeze. We’re hoping to start conversations, help people coming into the industry and share interesting advice and thoughts which come up.
First up is the talented Anna Clark, founder and creative at Blunt Crayon. Anna moved from her native Canada to settle in the Peak District, and has worked for and in various outdoor performance brands including Rab, Crux, The European Outdoor Group and Lowe Alpine. Thanks for answering our questions Anna.
What quick advice would you have for someone looking to combine a love of the outdoors or sport with their working life?
Some quick advice: don’t neglect your practise. No matter how good you are, or embedded into the sport, or its culture, be good at what you do. Loving the outdoors is no substitute for being good at your profession. Produce good work, and the rest will follow.
Some longer form advice: Having worked in both (very) outdoorsy jobs and office based jobs, it’s pretty interesting to reflect on the two. The outdoorsy jobs necessarily created life long friendships because they allowed me to socialise with people in my ‘natural habitat’ and on the same level. The regular office based jobs also allowed me to develop a wider network of friends that introduced me to other creative outlets. They might have thought I was unhinged going for a swim in the snow or a climb in the dark - but it gave me the opportunity to slowly change their ideas of what risk actually was - and perhaps develop an interest in coming with.
What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the sector in next 5 years?
As we lurch from crisis to crisis, it's difficult to narrow it down to just one issue. I think thematically it all falls into the same category though. Degrowth.
Maintaining unending growth in a world with finite resources is impossible. The outdoor industry is *mostly* ethically led, which allows subjects like degrowth to permeate quickly. I think we’ll see a huge demand from industry and customers to cut ranges, limit travel and shrink companies.
Our UK national parks are having de-growth forced upon them with 40%+ budget cuts forcing the closure and reduction of services. With an explosion of use of green spaces - in particular national parks - I struggle to see how they will operate effectively and provide reserves for nature and those seeking connectivity with it.
What’s the one thing you always pack for an adventure?
A touque. Yes, a touque. Not a beanie - a good Canadian Touque….made in Sweden.
Or a hat.
And a hairband.
Anything to cover greasy hair.
Has working in the outdoors or sports ever killed your buzz? How do you stop it becoming just another job?
Absolutely 100%. There was a time when I was bored by every single climbing photo. You get so disconnected from the actual activity that it becomes like work to participate. Every interaction became market research.
It definitely helped to step back from the sport for a while and focus on running. I’m at the point where I’m restarting my climbing and viewing it as a purely personal practise - one that helps me problem solve and meditate.
And finally, tell us something Outside Of Ordinary about yourself?
I’ve been chased by many things. Some normal, like cows and some you wouldn’t believe if I told you. Geese seem to have an irrational hatred of me.
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