2023

Halil captained the National Speed Climbing squad in the Singapore Climbing World Cup 2002. He has been climbing actively since 1994. Halil has had travelled far and wide, climbing some of the world’s best crags and competed against some of the world’s best climbers in the World Cup circuit. After being ranked No.1 in Singapore for 5 years and being in the top three in regional competitions, he decided to give back to the community through Climb Asia.

In 1990 Henrik Suihkonen ascended Alibi (7c) in Nummi. The founder of Moments Climbing.

Guillermo has been the Manager of Sputnik Climbing for the past 5 years.

Alice discovered climbing while living and working in London in 2008, following a difficult breakup. She was inspired by the healing and self-discovery that climbing brought her, which led her to co-found Sender One in 2011 upon returning to the United States with her business partners.

Alice hates following rules but loves rallying people to believe in an idea. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is not afraid to cry in meetings. She was born and raised in Taiwan and moved to the US when she was 12. Alice’s superpower is her ability to ask for help relentlessly — because no one has all the answers!

Alice graduated from UCLA in 2001 with a degree in International Economics. She is a member of the Entrepreneur Organization (EO) and Young Presidents Organization (YPO). She serves on the board of USA Climbing, the National Governing Body of Climbing, and is an advisory board member for StartUp UCLA. Alice resides in Torrance, CA with her husband Wes and their two daughters, Sydney and Adelaide.

Matilda Söderlund is a professional climber and the co-founder of Moumo,a boulder climbing gym. She began climbing at the age of 11. Within three months, she placed second in the junior Swedish championships, establishing herself as one of the best junior climbers in Europe. At the age of 20, she qualified as the first Swede for the world championship finals in climbing and came sixth at the world games in climbing the following year.

From 2013 to 2017, Matilda studied at the Stockholm School of Economics. After graduating, she decided to shift her focus from indoor competitive climbing to outdoor climbing.In 2019, she became the first (and still only) woman in the Nordics to climb a route with a difficulty level of 9a. In 2020, she climbed a boulder with a difficulty level of 8B, making her one of the very few women in the world to climb a 9a and 8B respectively outdoors.

In 2022, Matilda, along with Sasha DiGulian and Brette Harrington, climbed Rayu, the hardest big wall ever for a female team. She plans to continue pushing the limits in sport and big wall climbs all around the world.

Ian Powell is an accomplished climber, setter, and shaper with decades of experience. He is the founder and CEO of Kilter and Setter Closet and has shaped thousands of grips for some of the biggest companies in the climbing industry. Widely regarded as one of the world’s best shapers, Ian is also a talented fine artist. His expertise in shaping and climbing has earned him a reputation as a veteran in the field, and his work continues to inspire and challenge climbers around the world. Ian has been climbing since his teenage years, and his passion for the sport has led him to design hand-crafted climbing holds at his studio in Boulder. Starting in 2013, he released his first sets of holds under the brand Kilter, which has become one of the largest lines in the industry. Kilter has won the Climbing Business Journal Grips List five times and was named All Time Favorite Brand in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, Kilter became an official IFSC Authorized Hold Brand.

In addition to his success with Kilter, Ian co-founded eGrips in 1996, which quickly gained recognition for its innovative styles, shapes, and use of materials for climbing holds. The venture proved lucrative, and Ian also pursued his passion for sculpture, selling his art creations for tens of thousands of dollars.

With his expertise in climbing and business, Ian has made a significant impact on the climbing industry. His dedication to creating innovative climbing holds has pushed the boundaries of the sport and inspired climbers around the world.

Celso “Finuco” Martínez is an eminence of block climbing in Spain, he is even considered as the father of the sport in the country. He has dedicated his entire life to it, both as an athlete and as an organizer, ideologue, and mentor.

As a climber, Finuco has achieved incredible feats, including becoming the sixth man in the world to climb the Yosemite classic ‘Midnight Lightning’, and setting the record for the youngest climbers to send El Capitan in 1983, which stood for an impressive 36 years.

In addition to his accomplishments as a climber, Finuco is the founder of Top30 and Deep Eyes, and has designed climbing gear and clothing lines. He has also been instrumental in organizing some of the most important climbing events in Spain, including the National Circuit, the Spanish Cup, and the World Cup tests.

More recently, Finuco has brought his passion for climbing to the masses with the creation of Street Games, a festival that showcases a variety of urban sports and culture, including Psicoblock, skate, parkour, highline, boulder, and slackline. He is the organizer of the Redbull Creepers, a highly anticipated climbing event that attracts the best climbers from around the world.

Through his tireless work and dedication, Finuco has become a true legend in the climbing community. His influence can be seen not only in the accomplishments of other climbers but in the evolution of bouldering in Spain and beyond. Finuco’s legacy is one of innovation, inspiration, and passion, and his contributions to the sport will undoubtedly continue to shape it for generations to come.

Frank Bogerman is a professional route setter and climbing hold maker from the Netherlands, with 30 years of experience in the climbing industry. He is highly regarded for his expertise in creating innovative and high-quality climbing holds, and his skill in designing challenging routes for all levels of climbers. Thanks to his vast knowledge of climbing holds and routesetting, Frank has earned a great deal of respect within the climbing community. His years of experience have given him a wealth of insights and expertise that he is always eager to share with others.