Show Notes
Episode Intro: Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. Welcome back. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today, we are joined by a true trailblazer, Norie Kizaki.
Bornin a remote Japanese village where her family oversaw a Buddhist temple, Norie’s path to the mountains was anything but traditional. After moving to the U.S. for graduate school and falling in love with the Rockies, she navigated therigorous AMGA certification process to become a mountain guide. In this episode, we dive into her transition from the corporate world to the outdoors, her experiences as an immigrant in a male-dominated industry, and the deeplypersonal choice she made to prioritize motherhood alongside her professionalaspirations. Let’s welcome Norie Kizaki.
Quotes: On her rural upbringing: “We didn’t really have much of a mountaineering culture really when I was growing out… outdoor exercise was for rich people. It didn’t really occur to me that people do that.” On her “American Dream”: “I started to dream about going to America… just growing up in this tiny little village I just wanted to see outside world and outside world it wasn’t just Japan.” On her mentorship with Angela Hawse: “I met female guides including Angela Hawse and I was very inspired. I didn’t know that profession existed and I didn’t know that woman could do it.” On the difference between guiding and personal climbing: “If you wanted to be a really good talented rock climber, you should not become a guide… guiding is completely different from personal climbing.” On shifting priorities during her fertility journey: “I really did struggle with I really want to do this course… and I just decided that what? It’s not really worth it. I need to stop this for now [to focus on becoming a mother].” On what she wants to be remembered for: “I think I want my grave to say caring mother even if it doesn’t say I am a guide… that was it. And then I decided what if I wanted to say caring mother even if it doesn’t say I am a guide.” On overcoming intimidation as an immigrant: “I realized I had to work much harder if I look different and if I speak differently… I didn’t want to be a victim, I didn’t want to be sorry for myself for looking different or being different or speaking differently.” On the “Mama Guilt”: “I always have to balance motherhood and guiding… it’s always a balancing act and it never ever feels like it’s balanced and it’s never going to be balanced unfortunately.” About Norie: Originally from rural Japan, Norie moved to Colorado in 1996 for graduate school and has been guiding for more than 20 years. She completed her AMGA programs in 2021, marking several historic milestones: she is the first mother to complete the Mountain Guide Program, the first Japanese woman to achieve IFMGA status, and the first woman of color to become an AMGA/IFMGA guide. In recognition of her expertise, she was named the 2023 Guide of the Year by the American Mountain Guides Association. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Norie spends her winters ski guiding in Japan. She and her husband also sponsor the Kizaki-Wolf Scholarship through the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) to support underrepresented populations in the outdoors.
More from Female Guides Requested
Episode Intro: Welcome to another episode of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. This is Ting Ting, you host from Las Vegas. In this episode, we sit down with Krystina Maixner, an AMGA-certified rock guide, talented painter, and the owner of Chalkfox Studio.Based in Bishop, California, Krystina shares her inspiring journey from living out of her car in San Francisco to discovering her inner power and independence through climbing and guiding. We dive into her experiences working for NOLS, her decision to transition into a balanced lifestyle of graphic design and guiding, and her passion for educating and empowering other women in the outdoors. Tune in to hear how Krystina combines her creative artistry with herlove for the mountains to build a fulfilling, dual-career life!
Welcome back to theFemale Guides Requested Podcast. I’m your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas. Today, I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Nikki Smith to the show. Nikki is a true powerhouse who wears many hats in the outdoor industry—she is a sponsored climber, an athlete, a remarkable photographer, and a guide. Nikki has been guiding since 1999, but in this episode, we dive deep into how she found her true niche around 2018 by shifting her focus to affinity spaces. We discuss herincredible work co-creating the successful LGBTQ+ Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course and how she integrates outdoor activities with a group therapy style to better support specific communities. Nikki also generously shares her personal experiences navigating the outdoor industry as a trans person, the financial realities of this often low-paying profession, andher inspiring work with the Open Aperture photography program, which provides scholarships and mentorship for underrepresented storytellers. We even talk about her current journey to get her Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling to merge trauma-informed practices with outdoor instruction. I enjoyed tremendously chatting with Nikki during our interview, and when I was editing this episode I thought "wow I could listen to the conversation over and over." Warm, honest, professional Nikki provided many thought-provokinginsights naturally brought me to reflect on my guiding and life. Without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Nikki Smith.
Episode Intro: Hello listeners, and welcome back to the Female Guides Requested Podcast. This is your host, Ting Ting, coming to you from Las Vegas. I apologize that it took me a little while to publish this episode; I broke my tib/fib in a climbing accident six weeks ago. However, when I relistened to my interview with today’s guest, Patty Lankhorst—a woman who has faced multiple setbacks and always bounced back stronger through sheer grit—I gained the courage and faith to do the same.
Welcome to another empowering episode of the Female Guides Requested Podcast! This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today we sit down with the incredibly inspiring Carol Simpson, a trailblazing climber and guide who is proving that age and societal expectations are meant to be challenged. Raised in the 1950s South where athleticism in women was heavily discouraged, Carol didn’t embrace her inner athlete until her late 20s. But once she did, there was no looking back.
Show Notes: Resources for Candidates and Providers: Scenario overview video Scoring rubric + guidance Updated SPI Program Handbook New textbook release (May 5): Rock Climbing: The Official AMGA Single Pitch Manual Related Links: AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Page EP 20 – Everything SPI 01 – Professionalism and Risk Management EP 29 – Everything SPI 02 – Site Selection & Group Management EP 34 – Everything SPI 03 – Current SPI Eval System EP 38 – Everything SPI 04 – Teaching & Curriculum Design I Andrew Megas-Russell Instagram https://www.instagram.com/megas_sends/