Slakey is a Georgetown University physicist — and he’s the world’s first person to summit the highest mountain on every continent and surf every ocean. His book chronicling his journey will be published this month, and he will speak about his experiences at the National Academy of Sciences on May 10.
When did you start mountain climbing and surfing?
I started climbing in my teens. I first got on a surfboard in my twenties. Now I’m 48, and it’s time I find a sport that’s easier on the knees. Maybe I’ll take up shuffleboard.
Why did you want to climb every continent’s highest peak and surf every ocean?
I realized if I pasted those two sports together, I could be the first person to complete the first global surf-and-turf. I started working on it more than a decade ago, and I knew it would push my physical limits. It was the perfect complement to my working world of physics.
What climbs and oceans have been particularly memorable?
I met my wife on [Mount] Everest, so that climb is unforgettable. And surfing the Arctic Ocean was memorable — it’s where all the crazy and unlikely pieces of the journey fell into place. When I was climbing in the Himalayas, a lama gave me an amulet etched with letters that sherpas told me were ‘life’s meaning.’ I finally discovered the meaning of those letters when I was in the Arctic.
And you had some challenges?
More than I ever expected. My climbing partner and I survived a blizzard on the summit of Everest; I faced soldiers in the jungles of Indonesia. I’ve seen extraordinary acts of heroism and selflessness.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start climbing and surfing?
Don’t ever borrow a wet suit from a Norwegian. And keep your balance: on the board, on the mountain and in life.
— Emily Babay