GB TEAM MEMBER & INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION CLIMBER
Thank you to Jim for letting us interview him during the Battle of Britain 2018 at the Depot in Manchester on 20th October.
Who are you and what do you do?
I started climbing when I was 6 years old, with my parents up in the Lake District, just climbing outside and then started climbing indoors in London coz that’s where I lived and then I started competing.
What was your first climbing experience?
I first started in the Lake District. My Dad used to take me top-roping so I was just climbing outdoors mainly for the first 3 years. Once I was 9, they let kids climb inside in London, so I started then.
How did you know that climbing was your thing?
I think coz my parents did it, I was bought up around it early and I kind of clicked with it. I got to quite a good level pretty early on and I just enjoyed it and kind of wanted to invest a lot of time into it.
Where is your favourite outdoor climb?
I think, this summer I went to Norway and climbed a lot in the Hanshelleren Cave there. I think, probably, my favourite climb is there.
What has been your proudest climbing moment? I think climbing Digital Crack in Chamonix; I’ve always wanted to do that climb since I was really young and then doing it this summer was, maybe not my proudest moment but my highlight of my climbing career so far.
What are your ambitions?
Well, obviously, climbing is now an Olympic sport so I’m gonna try and get selected for the Olympics but we’ll see how that goes. I always wanted to do the World Cup circuit so if I’m not in the Olympics I’m still going to carry on doing those.
Lead, Speed or Boulder and Why?
Lead is my favourite but now I’ve got to do all of them I’m not too fussed about it really. I mean everyone likes to moan a lot but I don’t know; I kind of find speed quite fun actually just coz it’s like climbing from brand new again. You get better every time coz I’m so bad at it, every session I go I’m getting better and better so it’s kind of satisfying.
What are your most liked and hated healthy foods?
Hmm … most liked, I really like leeks, yeah, I cook a lot of leeks. Most hated … I dunno, raisins, not a massive fan of raisins.
If not climbing, what sport would you be doing?
I think, probably, swimming. I used to compete in swimming before I started climbing.
Give us an inspiring quote (either yours or someone else’s).
“If you don’t let go, you won’t fall off” from Jerry Moffatt
For more information about Jim, check out his website
