While on Facebook, we spied a comment from a guy named Samuel Wood. He claimed to have Chris Sharma’s signature tattooed on his forearms, so we emailed him to find out more. We’ve heard of people getting signature tats before. (For example, a woman named Melissa Burech — according to several web vids — has over 80 celebrity-signature tattoos). But proclimber- signature tattoos? Now you’re talking!

How’d you meet Chris Sharma?
It was on a Friday night at the 2007 Rocktoberfest, in the Red River Gorge. I’d been climbing a few months and was addicted. I’d only just heard of Chris Sharma, so I knew nothing of his accomplishments. He stood up that night and introduced the movie King Lines. In the film, Sharma talked about how he got frustrated when working on Es Pontas. Seeing him persevere and make it to the top was so inspiring that I had to shake his hand . . . . I wanted something to remember him by.

So you asked him to sign your arms?
It was the best thing I could think of while waiting in line. He probably doesn’t remember me because of all the people he’s met, but I said, “Dude, I can’t buy [a copy of your movie], but you’re amazing, and I’d be stoked if you could sign my arm!” [Note: Sharma signed both arms.]

When did you decide to make his sigs permanent?
I was the first person in the tattoo shop (Electric Ink) on Saturday morning. They kept the signatures exactly the way Chris had signed them, adding nothing.

Do you have any other tattoos?
I have 11, but these two are really the only ones with personal meaning to me. I’d do it again in a heartbeat; no regrets!

NAME
ADDRESS 1
ADDRESS 2
CITY
STATE & ZIP
EMAIL (req)

NAME
ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2
CITY
STATE & ZIP
EMAIL (req)