Career Highlights

Going ground-up on Freerider over eight days as my first big wall was definitely one of my proudest achievements. Climbing the Minaret in the Bugaboos is another experience that really stands out for me.

    Interview

    • Climbing

      When and how did you get into climbing and what kept you interested / fascinated in the sport?

      I was working at Mountain Equipment Co-op as a bike mechanic in 2016, and they had free passes to the bouldering gym just down the street from my house. I was having trouble sleeping because all of my preferred activities involved being outside, and the rainy Vancouver winters made that difficult. I figured indoor bouldering would be a good way to exhaust myself before bed.

      After a couple of years of that, I got my license so I could make trips to Squamish, and I was hooked. What originally drew me in was how much I loved the movement and the amount of exercise I was getting out of it, but what really got me hooked was the bouldering in Squamish.

      The second you step into the Grand Wall forest and its boulders, you're transported to a place that feels like a land before time. Huge ancient trees and thick moss blankets everything. Still to this day, I think it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

      Who was your childhood hero and do you consider yourself a role model now? Does it influence you at all that other people look up to you?

      Jerome Iginla was definitely a childhood hero of mine. He was the captain of the Calgary Flames and one of the few Black players in the league at the time. They went on an incredible run for the Stanley Cup in 2004, ultimately losing Game 7 in the final round. It got the whole city pretty excited and made me a Flames fan for life.

      I try not to think too hard about being a role model myself. I just focus on being a good person and trying my best when it comes to my climbing. If I am a role model, then it's because I'm just being myself. As long as I continue to do what feels right, both with my climbing and in my life, I don't think I'll be letting anyone down.

      What were your greatest failures / setbacks / injuries? How did you cope with them and how did you come back from them?

      No real setbacks and no real injuries to report. Climbing is mostly failure, so I've gotten very used to dealing with it.

      What is you favorite climbing related story / experience?

      My favorite climbing-related experience would definitely have to be going up El Cap for the first time. I had only been trad climbing for two years, and all I had been told was that it was going to be hard, scary, and that I probably didn't stand a chance.

      I was pleasantly surprised to find that it actually wasn't that different from climbing on the Chief back home. It opened my world up to a completely new style of climbing and showed me that maybe I was capable of more than I thought. It definitely changed the trajectory of my climbing, and I think it was for the best.

      What were the most important milestones in your life so far, both in climbing and in everyday life? Did you immediately recognize them as such or only later on?

      A big milestone for me was the day my buddy Aidan started teaching me how to trad climb. I remember him sending me up a 5.10 in Squamish called Talking Holds, and having to back off because it felt way too intense. It definitely didn't feel like a milestone at the time, but looking back, it was the first step in what would become a long journey of going on some pretty rad adventures with my friends.

    • Training

      What do you think of indoor climbing gyms in relation to climbing on actual rock?

      I think indoor climbing is a great way to start out, and it makes going outside a lot less intimidating and dangerous when you already have a base of skills to work with.

      What advice can you give to somebody looking to improve their training routine?

      Find something that doesn’t make you hate your life, and just stick with it. Consistency will take you farther than anything, and it might not feel like you're making progress every day, but over time it really adds up.

      Are you able to do a one-arm pull-up? How about a single finger?

      No, but sometimes with a little bit of a light hop into it.

      Do you have a strict training schedule for when and how you train throughout the year?

      No, not at all. For a while when I started climbing, I had a pretty strict hangboarding routine that I followed for around eight months, but other than that, I find climbing outside to be the best training for me.

      Especially with trad climbing, a big part of it is fear management, so I view the time I spend on routes as training for the mind. I find that just as valuable, if not more, than lifting weights in the gym for me at this point in my climbing.

      How much of the success as a pro climber is due to show and how much due to actual climbing skill?

      I think it's 100% about just showing up day after day. Yeah, some people are naturally more skilled, but nothing beats hard work and continuing to show up, even when it feels hard.

    • Psychology

      Is it possible for anybody to eventually perform a one-armed pull-up or get to the top of the Eiger/Matterhorn, or do you really have to be born for it?

      I think for sure anyone can achieve the goals they set out for themselves, within reason. It's crazy to see where showing up every day and working toward your goals can take you. I also think it's the little goals you set along the way, in between the big ones, that matter the most.

      How important is it to set goals in professional sports? What are your goals / targets you are working towards in climbing and in life?

      I think having goals is very important, at least for me in my own climbing. It keeps me focused and psyched, and I really love the routine that having goals can bring.

      A big goal for me right now is to just spend more time in the mountains. Lately, that's been bringing me a lot of joy, so I'm really excited to enter that chapter of my life.

      How to you deal with extremely hard climbing problems? Do you ever get frustrated and give up on them or do they motivate you even more?

      I like trying things that are right around the edge of what I think I'm capable of. I don't tend to get frustrated when something is hard, as long as I feel like there's a chance I could figure it out. That feeling of not knowing whether something is possible or impossible is what I'm constantly looking for.

      I love spending the time to work things out, try different ideas, and slowly piece the puzzle together. When you're right at your limit, that frustration can be incredibly motivating, and for me, that's a big part of what keeps climbing so interesting.

    • Future of rock climbing

      Is there anything you would like to change about the current developments in climbing?

      No, I think climbing is going in a really dope direction right now. People seem more and more psyched to get out there and go on rad adventures with their friends, and in my opinion, that's got to be the coolest way for climbing to trend.

      Where do you see the sport going in the next years, what will change and what is your role going to be in it?

      I think over the years we've been seeing, and will continue to see, strong boulderers transition into trad climbing, and I'm excited to see where that takes climbing on gear.

      I don't really know what my role is in that, but having made the transition from bouldering into trad climbing myself, I understand how much of a strong skillset it can give you while also leaving you with so much room to grow. I think that combination is really exciting, and I'm curious to see where it takes the next generation of climbers.