Ups and downs in a vertical world - a podcast by BBC World Service

As a child in the US, Ian Powell had two great loves: art and rock climbing, and he was good at them both. By the early 1990s he had made a name for himself as a sculptor and professional climber, and had taken part in global competitions. He even combined his two great passions by designing climbing holds – objects that climbers grab and stand on as they make their way up a climbing wall. But by 2010, aged 39, Ian was a homeless drug addict and facing prison for credit card fraud. He tells Emily Webb how the climbing world came to his rescue and helped him get his life back on track. He now runs a successful multimillion dollar business making a popular brand of climbing hold.

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Harry Graham

Picture: Ian Powell
Credit: Jackie Hueftle

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