Toronto women know how to boulder

Hillary Newkirk and Alison Sexton live and climb in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They compete on Joe’s B Team at Joe Rockhead’s Climbing Gym, where the two started talking about women’s issues in climbing. “Alison and I … realized that a lot of what we were talking about was related to women and climbing and our perspective (0f) participating in an often male-dominated sport,” Hillary told RCW. A clinic, they thought, would introduce more women to bouldering and help them build technique and strength while talking about what it means to be a rock climbing woman. “We set to work planning a beginner clinic where there would be a space to talk about women’s issues and expand people’s comfort zones. We hoped that people would make friends and connections along the way, connecting them to the unique and inspiring climbing community at Joe Rockhead’s,” Hillary said. Joe’s is filled with helpful people who welcome climbers of all skill levels, she said. “We approached other women in the gym to help, and they were quick...