Flash Foxy did a fantastic job curating a wholesome and inclusive space for women and gender-queer climbers of all abilities at the October Gunks Mini Fest this year. I’ve been climbing for about 6 years now, and it’s been a consistent desire and struggle of mine to find climbing community spaces that resonate with my identities and goals. I’ve always seen climbing as a tool to get outside and enjoy nature, but I often am confronted with a more ego-driven mentality, and a “no-takes,” “top-at-all-costs” mindset. I feel that this takes away from the beauty and connectivity of climbing and the outdoors. Often times, this mindset comes from climbers who are men, and there’s just so many of them in the climbing sphere! I can’t express how happy it makes me to be surrounded by women and gender queer folks who have all different kinds of bodies types, passions, and reasons for climbing, but are brought together to unapologetically support one another. And this is what Flash Foxy strives to provide!
The first day at the Flash Foxy Gunks Mini Fest, I participated in the top rope meet up group. The leaders were so eager to teach and explain their top rope setup systems, and that was a continuous theme throughout the festival. Mentorship is hard to come by in climbing. I often find you have to pay for access/knowledge or be lucky enough to have a friend teach you the ropes. So, it was super special to have a group of people all willing to share, and who were driven to break down that barrier to entry.
The second day, I took the Intro to Trad clinic! The clinic was taught by a super cool, super strong professional climber (shout out eM Pellerin!), and it was lovely to learn technical skills from someone who looks like me! They had invaluable advice, and a friendly and eager to teach attitude. I’m so grateful to Flash Foxy for providing an opportunity for professionals to instruct in diverse communities that allow more folks to get into climbing. I’m currently working towards getting my Single Pitch Instructor certification, but have been consistently discouraged by the male-dominated and sometimes toxic culture in climbing. However, my passion for helping folks of all backgrounds and ability levels get outside has kept me moving forward in this goal, and Flash Foxy not only restored my confidence that the climbing community can be an inclusive space for me and others, it also gave me the skills and knowledge I need to pursue a career in the climbing world!
