“You could lose your leg, your foot.”
“You’re lucky to be alive.”
“You’re out for the season.”
“You might never climb again.”

NEVER QUIT.

For some, it takes only telling them; for others, being close to death — to get back to the basics, appreciate every day, know who’s always been there and want to love them well, to climb for more than grades, to live purely, without fears.

NEVER QUIT.

When Frank Mendez took a funky fall off a trampoline this January, he tore all the soft tissues inside his knee — muscles, tendons, ligaments, everything. Thirteen hospital days, four months of physical therapy, and four procedures later, and he’s back climbing (carefully). For his Finish Hold submission (and guts), he’ll get a pair of Red Chili Matadors (redchili.de), high-performance, down-turned project killers with Velcro closures and a supersharp toe profi le. Use them in good health, Frank. Get the last word in UC and win free gear — send Finish Hold submissions (350 words max; pics and artwork welcome) to finishhold@urbanclimbermag.com.