Climber Interview: Adeline Wright

My name is Adeline but I mostly go by Ady. I’m a 27 year old climbing instructor aiming to both compete in Open Nationals and become a Physical Therapist for climbers. I also use my resources to make climbing more accessible to POC’s, especially Black climbers.

How did you start climbing?

My Mom works at a hospital that has a small top rope wall or staff and family to try. It’s run by the students attached to the associated college and we tried it when I was in the 10th grade. I didn’t try it again until college as a way to work out and I took multiple long term breaks from it. It wasn’t until I got a membership at a rock climbing gym in 2013 that I learned about bouldering, grades, competitions, and sponsored athletes for the sport. My true climbing started then.

What impact has climbing had on your life?

The climbing community is where I can interact with other people that enjoy the outdoors and this sport that I love. Its also a space that allows me to have superpowers. I get to be as tall as I want to be and flow smoothly up a challenging route at my own pace. My progression is always measured by my past and where I am at the moment. I don’t need a particular body type to succeed because I can build up the strength I need to complete a task. It's incredibly rewarding to be able to climb because it's given me all of my physical self confidence and taken me out of my shell.

What are some other things you do that you find most fulfilling?

Some other activities I really enjoy are learning about animals and ecosystems (I studied to be a vet before fully stepping into the climbing industry), watching anime, and just being active outdoors when the weather is nice.

If you could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

We all have to do our part to improve this country and our world. Silence and complacency don’t help, in many cases it causes greater harm. Its been an incredibly tough year, I’d never cried so much and felt so broken. I keep emotional fatigue at bay by finding just 1 thing to be thankful for everyday and get back to fighting the good fight (dismantling white supremacy).

Is there something you're working on that you'd like to tell our community about? We love a good story.

I’m currently creating and gathering content with a close friend to start a youtube page. Its in very early stages and I’m nervous about it, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

 You can find Adeline on Instagram at @adyclimbs

Want to get to know more of the climbers in the amazing Dynamite Starfish community? Check out our archive of Climber Interviews here.

We hope you have enjoyed these sneak peeks into climbers' lives. We're on a mission to share diverse stories about rock climbing. Let's push the boundaries of who we know as climbers. Let's use our energy and passion for the outdoors to love our environment and inspire one another.

Have someone you think we should feature? Send us a message and let us know!