Climber Story: Bex Ballow

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself 

Yo I’m Bex! I’m 15 and I’ve been climbing for 9 years now.  

How did you start climbing?

When I was 6 years old, I went to a first grade birthday party at a local rock climbing gym. I had so much fun that I was already begging to go back by the time the party ended. 

I've basically loved climbing since the first time I got on the wall. I spent three months on a youth recreation team before being asked to join the competitive team at Movement LIC. 

What impact has climbing had on your life?

Climbing has given me so much so much confidence and I’ve gotten to meet so many people through climbing. The community is so amazing and friendly. I don’t know what I could do without all my climbing friends!

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

Whenever I get the chance I like to read while sitting on my roof where I can see so much of New York. I’ve also rescued all 3 of my cats from the street. With so many cats being abandoned in New York, it felt good to provide a new home for them. 

Favorite thing about Dynamite Starfish?

The shirts are always super comfy, and you have built a super cool community! 

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

I've been starting to climb outdoors more over the past year. So far I've climbed in The Gunks, Smugglers Notch, Lorimer Park near Philadelphia, and Ice Pond. It's so addicting!

Right now there’s a few climbs in the V13/8B range that I’m looking to project in the next few years. I've been training hard in the gym and making plans to start projecting my #1 dream boulder soon. 

You can find Bex on Instagram at @bex.ballow77

Want to get to know more of the climbers in the amazing Dynamite Starfish community? Check out our archive of Climber Stories 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!