Community Feature: Will from Youth Performance

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A big cheer was heard across the gym from the back end of the CBD last Friday evening, and it’s all about one of our rising Performance stars: Will, who just clipped the chains on his first ever grade 25 lead climb — a huge milestone for any climber!

The climb? A technical route through the overhanging face, the Blue grade 25 at the CBD, notorious among climbers for its pumpy, steep crux and committing moves.

For Will, it wasn’t just about strength — it was about focus, persistence, and dialing in every detail of his beta after many attempts in the weeks leading up.

“I’ve been working on this climb for a few months,” Will said after topping out. “The crux shut me down at first, but once I figured out the footwork and got the sequence dialed, it started to feel possible. Once I started to cut my feet, and move more dynamically through the overhang (pictured), it almost felt like I was jumping past the 6th clip. Sending it on lead felt amazing — it’s kind of more of a relief than anything else.”

Those who’ve climbed with Will know this wasn’t a fluke. He has been chipping away at this for some time and is incredibly driven to achieve his goals and become a stronger climber. It was only a matter of time according to his fellow Climbing Club members Hamish, Austin and Artie. “We thought he was going to get it last session but he was absent, so we knew that tonight he was a big chance,” they agreed.

So what’s next for Will? He’s already eyeing the yellow 28 and hopes to make some inroads into it and link up a few sections.

Congrats, Will — your send inspires us all! Keep crushing it.