Kimmie Tu

ABOUT ME:

I wasn’t always athletic. In my younger days, I tried multiple sports but was terrible and clumsy at them all. Traditional sports were not for me, so instead, I found myself excelling in the arts. I trained in classical piano, flute, violin, and sang in the school choir. I also ranked top of the class in all my art classes

Sports were never interesting enough for me to keep trying, but climbing resonated with me. With rock climbing, I can creatively solve a problem with unique movements and the right sequence. To me, climbing feels like a form of art and not quite a sport, although it very much is. It took me 25 years to find a physical activity I enjoy, but better late than never.

Climbing to me is more than just a sport. It’s a lifestyle, community, adventure, and therapy for my ADHD. These are the reasons why I climb.

Fun fact: I learned how to climb through YouTube! Currently, I’m advancing my knowledge through climbing books.

From 2015 - 2017 I bouldered indoors. I climbed outdoor sport from 2018 - 2019. In 2020, I started dabbling in trad climbing. I’ve been lucky enough to climb in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, China, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, USA, Thailand, Hong Kong.

I am honored to be on the La Sportiva team because of its sustainability values and because they make a broad range of high-quality shoes for the outdoors.

I am of Han Chinese descent, and I am a first-generation American. My parents were born in Vietnam and arrived in the USA as war refugees in their teens. We currently reside in Los Angeles County, California.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Mar 2018 | After three years of indoor bouldering and some sport climbing, I took my first outdoor sport lead fall! It took me an absurdly long time to let go of the fear of falling outdoors on a rope, but I finally did it! This is ultimately my greatest climbing accomplishment, haha.
Nov 2018 | I climbed 29 routes in a day for my birthday. Sublaxed my right shoulder before climbing the 29th, popped it back in, climbed up, it popped out two more times, pulled the top (crux) with one good arm, and still sent. It was a steep 6b+ (5.10d/5.11a) (November 2018)
2018 | Drove a motorcycle from North to South Vietnam and around Cambodia and back into South Vietnam. (2018)
2020 | I said I’ll never try trad climbing but now I’m flashing Joshua Tree trad 5.10 a & b! (2020)

All I ever wanted to do was send outdoor sport 5.11a and V6. However, after my first 5.11a (onsight), I redpointed the following within a year: Day Of The Phoenix 5.12a, Muhammad Ali 5.12b, Hard Rock 5.12b, Ball and Chain 5.12a, Gschaftlhuber 5.12a, and L4 One Of The Best 5.12a (2018 - 2019). I sent my first V6 in Hampi, India (2019) and sent my second V6-V7 in Mammoth (2020). I’m currently planning out my trad climbing goals.

Q+A: 

Who is your favorite climbing partner?

My favorite climbing partner is Stephen Le. He bolts routes and replaces hardware all around Southern California. He has been climbing for over 14 years and provides mentorship to many climbers. Stephen is always organizing trips, producing climbing books for free, and taking many of my photos. Stephen is the best because he’s a pleasure to climb with and he’s always ready to help.

What is your go-to hype song?

I have a few explicit hip hop songs that hype me up, but my favorite pop hype song is BTS - Dynamite for 2021!

What was the first La Sportiva product you tried?

The Muiras climbing shoes are the first La Sportiva product I have ever tried; five years later, they are still my most trusted shoe.

Which charity/advocacy organizations do you support or belong to?

I regularly donate to Access Fund and One Family Memphis.

APE INDEX: 

5’3 ¾ with 0 Ape Index. With my subluxated shoulder injury, I’m a negative Ape Index =(.

Bio photo: © Debbie Myung  |  Banner photo: © Carl Wilhelm Linder Rosen