UnParallel Athletes - Sophie Buitendyk – Climb UnParallel 🇨🇦

Sophie Buitendyk

Sophie is 24 years old and recently graduated with a Geography degree from the University of Victoria. She started climbing at the age of eight at Project Climbing Centre in Abbotsford, and it quickly became a central part of her life—both the sport and the community. Throughout her youth, Sophie competed in various national and international competitions. Recently, she decided to step away from the competitive scene to focus on outdoor bouldering and sport climbing. One of the things she loves most about climbing is the incredible places it can take you, and she’s excited to keep exploring.

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What I climb in:

My favourite shoes are the Flagships and TN Pros. I spent this past summer in France, climbing in Fontainebleau and Ceuse. Being such soft and comfortable shoes, I wore my Flagships nearly every day, and so quickly wore through them. Near the end of my time in Ceuse, with no access to another pair, I had no choice but to tape over the large holes that had developed in the toe of my shoes. Funny enough, this strategy actually worked surprisingly well, and in this fashion, I ended up sending one of my hardest climbs of the trip (Face de Rat!). Ultimately, the whole situation made the experience even more memorable. Since then—although I still love the soft rubber of the Flagships—I’ve tended to opt for the TN Pros for the bulk of my outdoor climbing, which have a stiffer and more durable rubber.