Our Athlete & Influencer Programme spotlight for May focuses on Jan Virt, @janvirt.official, a vertical specialist ready to tailor the production footprint based on your needs.
Jan is fascinated by people operating on their edge. Constantly on the search of untold human stories, from the hardest rock climbing grades to explorers, to Olympic medallists pushing their limits and redefining the current status quo.
Everyone has a story that can change the world, and often the most meaningful messages come from the most unexpected characters.
We Spoke to Jan about his sporting background, and how the best moments at ISPO come from spontaneous encounters.
1. Tell us a bit about you and your sporting background
I was a competitive swimmer for almost ten years, until I was eighteen. But I started falling behind my peers too many times, lost motivation, and chose university over training twice a day. It was five years later that I discovered climbing, always driven by an inner passion for adventure and to explore new places.
2. What is your favourite sport
I'm knee-deep in love with all sorts of climbing disciplines, from bouldering to ice and mixed climbing in the Alps. I've done some big walls in Yosemite and ventured into thin air in South America and the Himalayas.
3. What are you most looking forward to at ISPO
ISPO has always been the event for connecting with outdoor brands, colleagues, and friends who share the outdoors as their playground. As a content creator, the most important thing is connecting with people, and constantly showing up is the key. Some of my favourite ISPO moments are accidentally bumping into friends I haven't seen in a while.
4. If you could train with any athlete (past or present), who would it be?
Alex Megos, a world-class climber from Germany and a friend who makes any training session feel like just hanging out. I'm in total awe of his handstands, though I'll admit I don't have nearly enough patience to learn them myself.
5. How do you use your social media channels to connect with your audience?
I see social media as basically texting on steroids. I want to feel genuinely connected to the people who follow me, those who share an interest in photography, filmmaking or climbing, so I try to respond to every DM I get. It comes down to pure curiosity: who are these people, and why do they connect with what I do?
6. What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you (fun fact!)
When I get my hands on Skittles, I eat them one colour at a time.