24 November 2022

EXPLORE FUND RECIPIENT: Affinity Initiative

Affinity Initiative was founded as part of Women Uprising to challenge the status quo in the outdoor rock climbing community by empowering, uplifting, and holding space for women-of-colour.

 

Credit photo: Angi Kim.

Last month, Affinity Initiative held an outdoor projecting masterclass, led by The North Face team athlete, Angie Scarth-Johnson. The workshop was for women-of-colour (WOC) and gender non-conforming climbers-of-colour who were looking to push their limits and increase their climbing abilities. 

Participants had the opportunity to spend valuable time with Angie for a one-day workshop, where she presented ideas and strategies that she uses herself when it comes to pushing limits in the projecting world of climbing.

Credit photo: Angi Kim.

The day started with a warm-up at Descent Gully Wall (grades 14 – 19), followed by a projecting strategies session at Thompson’s Point (grades 19 – 25), Yuin Country.  

This workshop not only contributed to the participants’ personal development as climbers but played a significant role in empowering WOC in their own climbing communities. 

Credit photo: Angi Kim.

Words from Participants:

“Meeting new people from different parts of the climbing community has always been something incredibly valuable. For this specific workshop, I felt inspired climbing with people like me and just try things far beyond our limits. I love the energy we created and made me realise that I need to climb with women more often. This is the first time I've had a chance to climb with an all-women group and I really appreciated how we pushed each other and were able to share the experience of crushing hard climbs.”

“The workshop has contributed to my personal development as it has allowed me to push past my usual boundaries and begin projecting more than I usually would. It has given me a renewed frame of mind when it comes to projecting and breaking down routes in a way which I hadn't done before.”

“The impact was positive for me. I felt supported and challenged at the same time. I felt more included in the community and has reinforced in me the drive to continue taking people outdoors and helping them along their climbing journey. It was the right amount of kindling to feed the stoke. Please keep it up!”

Credit photo: Angi Kim.

Interested in getting involved in the next Affinity Initiative workshop? Follow the group on Instagram to stay in the loop.

 

Credit Video: Angi Kim.