When senior Brody Dickson decided to join his friend Iki Takahashi in a rock climbing session, he didn’t expect it would change his whole summer. What started as a hangout quickly became a commitment, and Brody has tested his limits, whether climbing with two feet or one.
“I got into rock climbing in June,” Dickson said. “I got into it because my friend Iki, he started rock climbing. He invited me out, and then me and him just started rock climbing every week.”
What started as a hangout quickly became an addiction. Dickson quickly got a membership at First Ascent Climbing and Fitness to start practicing. His weekly fun climbs soon turned into routine.
“So I started climbing, like five days a week, and I’ve suddenly gotten better. The progression is very standard with climbing, so this growth isn’t a surprise,” Dickson said.
What Dickson has found most addicting is the mental and physical characteristics of climbing. He has built lots of muscle and endurance since his first climb, and he’s also seen growth in his mentality. Dickson learned that climbing is a mental game, as he’s faced heights and fatigue the higher he goes. He has learned how to pace himself and also fight through the challenges of climbing.
“What I love about climbing is it keeps me active through something I enjoy. When I’m climbing, I’m locked in and at peace. I’m just focused on the climb and nothing else,” Dickson said.
Dickson’s skills were developing quickly, but his progression was met with a roadblock. In late November, he slipped off the wall and tore several tendons in his ankle, and was forced to take a break from climbing.
“After the injury, I took a couple days off to let my foot heal. Injuries are annoying because they take time to heal and it also keeps you out of the gym,” Dickson said. “What was worse was I was signed up to compete in a bouldering competition, and I didn’t know what to do.”
Dickson made the obvious decision, and decided to compete in the tournament down a foot. He quickly got back into the gym to continue training for the tournament. The tournament was in Humboldt Park with a mix of climbers competing, from collegiates to newcomers.
“ I knew I could beat a lot of them, but I didn’t know how well I’d do due to the injury,” Dickson said. “Surprisingly, I got 19th out of 120 which was pretty nice. I would have scored better if I could use my left foot too, but I still placed relatively well.”
As rock climbing continues to grow in its popularity, Dickson is already setting his sights on bigger heights. As long as his ankle continues to heal, he plans to keep competing. Come March, he plans to compete in the qualifiers for a chance at regionals and nationals. For the future, he plans to continue climbing through college.
“It’s become one of my favorite hobbies,” Dickson said. “And I’m excited to see how far I can actually take it.”