Brian Kim (US)

Brian's an amazing athlete and is one of those quiet guys who doesn't spray just sends...and some sends..up to 14c (8c) sport and some way gnarly trad too

"I started indoor rock climbing at a gym around the corner from my house when I was around 10 or eleven years old. They eventually offered me a job since I was there all the time. You could probably say the four years that I worked there was my incubation period of my climbing career.

Brian on a cool send of Still Life 14b/8c, 3rd ascent West Virginia...

My gym eventually closed and left me to learn how to fly on my own. It was actually good in a way that my gym closed since I got out climbing outside much more, which got me stronger. I particularly like to push my climbing skills on trad, but I love all disciplines of climbing.

I still continue competing at local and national climbing competitions. Adding a competitive aspect to the sport of rock climbing is fun and addicting, and I still love to compete.

 

Currently, I'm very busy studying architecture in Philadelphia, PA at Drexel University. But I'm managing to keep in shape by training hard by bouldering in the gym about once or twice a week. I take advantage of every opportunity that becomes available for travel to some rock (even if for a brief excursion).  This year I'm concentrating on pushing myself further on difficult single-pitch trad lines.

I’m originally from New Jersey. I used to climb a lot at the Gunks. And I’ve been climbing for about 12 years now. I’m still young and have a lot of ambitions in life I want to travel more and climb more rock!

I've put a few of my recent highlight below, but not too many - I don't like to boast...."

 

Traditional

Monumantle 13d (1st ascent) Gunks, NY

Iron Monkey 14a (3rd ascent) Eldorado Canyon, CO

Cybernetic Wall 13d (3rd ascent) Gunks, NY 

Clairvoyance 13b Gunks, NY 

Survival of the Fittest 13a Gunks, NY

 

Sport

Sick Dimension 14b; Potrero Chico, Mexico

Still Life 14b (3rd ascent); Summersville Lake, WV 

China Beach 14b; Rumney, NH 

 

Competition

Attended North American Continentals Mexico City, Mexico.

Attended 2005 Youth World Cup Beijing, China.

2005 National Team member

 

Brian on a cool send of an 8a+ Neophite Life, Mormon Hollow.