So PH members, are you one of those Asians like Chao?

[theking]

 :

Why are Asian Americans exploring the world of rock climbing? It's 'inclusive' — Chao



As an immigrant kid from Taiwan growing up in Queens, Peter Wang always had a rebellious streak. While his parents ran a family restaurant in Fair Lawn, Wang dropped out of high school and eventually ended up earning a general education degree.

"I didn't like to be told what to do," said Wang, 42.

He eventually became a professional medical technologist. But he yearned for more to life than work. In 2014, he found his life's meaning on a trip to Yosemite National Park when he discovered rock climbing.

"I felt challenged, not just physically, but mentally as well," Wang recalled.

Climbing became Wang's all-consuming passion as he sought out other enthusiasts to join in the hobby. Two years ago, he felt the need to create a new group dedicated to Asian American rock climbers. He was motivated by what he said he saw during a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, who were scapegoated for the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in China.

"We saw an incident where someone who turned to the climbing community for comfort and support was met with by an individual who was unsympathetic of the situation," Wang said. "We realized that Asian climbers may feel unsafe ... and may need to connect with people who are experiencing the same issues."

Soon, Wang and some of his fellow climbers started talking about a group in which Asian American climbers could socialize and promote local Asian-owned businesses. In December 2021, the first meetup brought together people at The Cliffs at Harlem. Asian Climbing Tribe was born.

No longer a sport dominated by white Americans, climbing is now a trendy "it" sport, attracting people from all backgrounds. With indoor climbing studios opening at a breakneck pace in 2021, the number of climbing gyms in the United States will surpass 600 by the end of 2022, according to Climbing Business Journal.

At Method Gym in Newark, more than three dozen climbers from Asian Climbing Tribe focused on scaling the walls with pegs. Method is an Asian-owned gym that the group wanted to support financially, meeting in New Jersey for one of its regular get-togethers. The group consists of more than 1,300 members from around the Northeast region who travel to different climbing gyms, Wang said.

Rock climbing exploded in popularity in recent years, prompted by its entry as an Olympic sport at last year's Tokyo games, Wang said.

"We definitely also witness this popularity extend into the Asian American community," he added.

Richard Song, a partner at Method Climbing Gym, tapped into the popularity of rock climbing in 2020 when he and his business partners opened the gym in Newark.

"It's a social and inclusive sport," he said. "We're really proud of how we bring people together."

Beyond Asian groups, Method has hosted social events for Black women rock climbers and LGBTQ groups. Climbing is as much of a mental challenge as it is a physical challenge, Song said. It's especially popular with Asians because it was introduced as an Olympic sport with Asian athletes excelling, he said.

Asian parents enrolled their kids in the sport after seeing it in the Olympics, Song said.

"You can be 5-foot-7 and 120 pounds and do really well," he added.

Climbers range in age from 8 to 70, Song said. The image of the lean, buff white male climbing mountains is no longer the case, he added.

"We really made it more inclusive," Song said.

There are climbers from all age groups who attend Asian Climbing Tribe's meetups, Song said, adding that the group welcomes anyone who supports the cause, and the climber doesn't have to be Asian.

There are sometimes social activities after a meetup, such as dinner, Wang said.

[Reporter]

They don't count us tree climbers? Like deer hunters do?

[theking]

I used to do this back in Laos and Thailand:

[ProudLao]

No interest whatsoever.

[Visualmon]

Rock climbing is good especially fighting off boredom and daily stress from toxic people & work.

[DuMa]

play stupid games like the white men and win stupid prizes

different strokes for different folks

This skill set probably be useful for the end of days when you climb as high as  you can because all those at the bottom are dying off. 

[Cali Guy]

My kids love to climb but haven’t taken them since covid.