Welcome to Episode 35 of the Ω Powerband Podcast - a podcast dedicated to rock climbing in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this episode, I speak with paddler, canyoneer, instructor, climber, father and lover of marine life, Keith Riley.

Keith hails from Invercargill, one of four children in a 'typical' Kiwi outdoorsie family. Tramping, camping and riding inner-tubes on the local rivers led to a early passion for slalom kayaking. That gave way to 'free kayaking' (I just coined a new phrase) and other adventurous pursuits, including climbing.

A stint in Dunedin as a 'year on, year off' university student led to more kayaking and climbing and, to fund those adventures, a move into outdoor instruction and guiding. He never really looked back. 

In our conversation, we chat about a life of outdoor adventure, life working in the outdoor industry, building his own outdoorsie family and, no matter what the discipline or terrain, the endless search for that feeling of flow in the outdoors. Keith is a humble master of many trades, a man with a thirst for adventure (mostly of the 'prolonged suffering' type) and just an all-round good bugger. If you want to know more, just Google: 'Keith The Great'.

Enjoy!