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kush

@kush.climbs

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@toprockclimbing Head Setter & Head Coach
@hogtownboulders Setter

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Worm World Cave Low - V10

First of the grade outdoors.

This post is unofficially sponsored by @aliceandbrohm (we went 8 times in the span of 2 weeks)

Squamish continues to have my heart ❤️ What an amazing trip filled with great people, delicious food, spectacular climbing, calf burning walks, evil raccoons, and crazy airport issues. Easily the best climbing trip I've been on, so many awesome moments and memories made.

I went on this trip with the goal of doing my first outdoor V10. Truly didn't expect it to be this one.

I remember watching people work on the low last year while I was trying the stand, which also happened to be my first outdoor V9, and thinking it looked vastly different, insanely hard and quite antistyle for me. Heel hooks/ mobility have always been a struggle.

First sesh managed to do the climb in 2 overlapping links. Next sesh was spent slipping off the holds due to high humidity. 3rd sesh, was potentially my last opportunity to send with rain on the forecast. Managed to get to the last pinch, but couldn't put it together. Had to cross my fingers for one more dry day.

3 days later, my last day in Squamish I returned, ready to give it everything I had. 4th move felt very desperate and kept dryfiring the top. Then nearing the 20th ground burn something clicked and I was cruising to the top every time, but punting the last sequence. It took me 5.5 hours, 23 ground attempts that day, but I finally did it!

I remember walking in confident that I was going to send. Then throughout the burns I let go of that feeling and just wanted to give it my absolute best, my everything, so I could leave without any regrets if I didn't get it. It felt surreal at the top, literal max effort.

I truly couldn't have done it without all the support of the homies who kept motivating me throughout the process and some who chose to spend the majority of their last day in Squamish sitting at one boulder for 6h. Thank you @matthew_conlin @sheldon04_ @punt.lee @leo_wolfe @lukeclimbs_ @_jaayz as well as the rest of the Ontario crew.

After I sent we promptly left for ice cream to celebrate. Best tradition ever. 🍦 taken in Sḵwxwú7mesh by @kush.climbs

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80

a month ago

Black Eagle - V9

Sent October 13, 2025

So stoked to put this one down. Tried it here and there since way back when I sent orient. Felt strong enough to do it this year and was getting into the bathang in April, but was really struggling to get the pocket. Was really determined to do the bathang, but getting shut down was tough. Tried the bump beta late into a night sesh one day and it became pretty evident that it was just way easier for me. I tried my best to put it down during some hot summer days and almost caught the pocket while sliding down the holds. I knew I just needed one good day and it'd go.

Oct 13th was the perfect day. I took some of the @toprockclimbing team kids to the Glen and watched them have fun on some climbs. Finally came time for me to try it and I sent it 3rd try. With all the work I put in it felt like 50% effort. I didn't even have either of my shoes strapped (phantom velcro is brutal). Big shoutout to @emgan.b for recording, felt full circle having you support me on a project ❤️

Just want to give a big shoutout to everyone who has sat with me in this cave and watched me grind this thing. Climbing wouldn't be the same without you all ❤️

Its been over a year since I've posted. A lot has happened and I'll slowly post some climbing related updates. Maybe some life ones too.

Really enjoyed the process of putting this together (even if it might be a bit over the top), it's been too long. Really missed this.

More coming soon! taken in Niagara Glen Bouldering by @kush.climbs

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a year ago

PLEVEN STYLE DG - V10

Had this one saved in the drafts for a while, but it didn't feel right to post it for a while. Sent this beauty on Feb 5th.

Bar none the sickest climb I've sent. From the techy, crunchy opening sequence to the crimpy, powerful ending, this climb is a masterpiece. Took me 5 sessions to put it down, which is on par with how long it took me to put down my other V10 send. I had got the opening pretty dialed on my first sesh. The push out to the 2 crimps was a challenge, I was jumping for those holds until @matthew_conlin showed me the handfoot beta, which completely unlocked the move for me. Over the next couple of sessions, that movement became quick and locked. The punch out to the second crimp was always a daunting move and remained that way even when I sent, but nothing compared to the campus catch. I had stuck that move 2 times in isolation, but it became very apparent that it was just a low percentage move for me. It would just be a numbers game. @jeremybaziw and I tried analyzing video to see if there was anything I could do to make it consistent. A couple of small adjustments made it a bit less low percentage, but even when I sent, I wasn't really thinking about them, just let my body flow through what felt right. My 4th and 5th sesh consisted of me getting to that move and firing off. Lots of skin was lost. Until finally, it went. I remember meeting @matthew_conlin when he sent this climb a couple of years ago and thinking how crazy it was. I still can't believe it's something I was capable of doing.

Truly appreciate everyone who was rooting for me while I was working this! Big shoutout to @t7davis for the second camera angle and for working this climb alongside me. Was really cool to put it down before you :P I'm never going to let you live it down... unless maybe you finally send it :P

I may send harder climbs or cooler climbs than this in the future, but this one will always have a place in my heart. It was the last climb I sped home to show my mom. That's something I'm really going to miss. This one's for you, Mom ❤️ taken in Toprock Climbing by @kush.climbs

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3 years ago

I'm incredibly excited to share that I'll be taking on the role of Head Setter and Head Coach at @toprockclimbing !

Toprock is where I learned to climb. It's where I've made some of my closest friends, and it's a place that has helped me through some of the toughest times in my life. The community here has meant so much to me over the years, and I genuinely love being a part of it.

My journey of working at Toprock started in September 2023 after pestering Trevor for months to give me a shot. I began by picking up last-minute shifts that needed covering, slowly earning more opportunities as time went on. In April 2024, I started coaching, and in September 2024, after once again pestering Trevor for the opportunity, I started route setting.

It's been a lot of work, a lot of learning, and a lot of growth. Looking back, it feels incredibly rewarding to have put in the time and effort and to have worked my way through the ranks to this new role.

I'm excited to continue pushing myself, learning, and helping shape the experience for everyone who walks through the doors. I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Thank you to the entire Toprock team for all the feedback, mentorship, and support you've given me along the way. I've learned so much from all of you and am excited to continue growing together.

A huge thank you to @t7davis for believing in me, giving me opportunities, and supporting me throughout the years. I wouldn't be here without you.

Here's to the next chapter. ❤️ taken in Toprock Climbing by @kush.climbs

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4 months ago

⛷️⛷️⛷️ by @kush.climbs

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4 months ago

@metricclimbing sent me back from Canadian Nationals in Calgary with a new hold they’re working on to test out. I really wanted to showcase the shape with this set—using it as a toe hook in a bat hang, then as a handhold, and finishing with a heel hook. I also set both a stand start and a low start so more people could get on it and try the hold out.

I’m excited to experiment more with the bumpy texture and pinch potential in future sets.

Also, be sure to check out their portable hangboards. They’re my favourite out of all the ones I’ve tried—especially for outdoor sessions.

Really looking forward to working more with Metric in the future!

As always, banger sets at @toprockclimbing . Come check them out—new sets every Wednesday.

And don’t forget: our 9th Anniversary Party is coming up April 24th, 7 PM – midnight 🎉 taken in Toprock Climbing by @kush.climbs

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7 months ago

GIBBS' CAVE V8
8/16/2025

Couldn't do the heelhook triple bump beta that everyone else was trying so I had to abuse my strengths. Crimped a sloper, caught a compression on another and then locked hard to hit the rail. Not a huge fan of highballs, but luckily it was pretty chill after the opening, just had to find the holds. (Chopped up the vid so I could use music, I was on the wall for over 2 mins)

This was my last attempt. Last go best go I guess. Also, the last boulder I climbed before spraining my ankle on the hike back. Shoutout to the crew for carrying me out of the woods, taking me to the hospital and dealing with me in crutches for a few days. I appreciate you all 💙

This area had so many cool lines including a lower start which I can't wait to try.

This is my last post of from my 2025 trip to Squamish. Can't wait to return again this year. taken in Sḵwxwú7mesh by @kush.climbs

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8

8 months ago

Stone Fort - Tennessee
Dec 26, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026

What a trip! Awesome boulders with even better friends ❤️

First time climbing on Sandstone and wow was it fun. Worked a bunch of harder stuff alongside these crushers, but wasn't able to put down any of the projs. Got Celestial Mechanics v7, Spyro Gyro v7 (to the lip, but Matt stopped recording), and Super Mario Extension v6 amongst a bunch of other moderates.

We froze our asses off camping, dealt with some insane wind (that blew down Alan's tent in the middle of the night), spent way too much time in the heated bathroom (where a guy tried to convince us to find Jesus in our hearts at 10pm for like 20 min), played some disc golf, celebrated New Years, and probably went to Walmart everyday. Honestly every moment not bouldering was just as fun and memorable as what we came to do, climb rocks.

I can't wait to return to check out what else the south has to offer and get some redemption on some of these boulders.

Last pic Grimace on Grimace. Fell after crux 🙃 taken in Stone Fort Bouldering by @kush.climbs

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8 months ago

NO PROBLEMSOLVER - V10/11

Sent this one back in September of 2024 and just never got around to posting it. Still one of my most proud sends to date. Definitely deserves to be shared, especially with the amazing clip of the entire crew spotting me and the @alan_ataeimehr psych at the end.

Trying to get on top of the backlog and just decided that this one will always keep getting the back burner to new stuff unless I just post it.

Took me 6 sessions with many punts and 2 crux moves that I had to really work through, the big shoulder move and the agressive foot stab. I remember figuring one out and then loosing the other, annoying :/.

This climb was a v11 (setters grade) when I sent it and since has been downgraded to v10. I'm taking 10/11 because it felt harder than the other 2 10s I've done on the 2016 board.

Started boarding and training again. Hoping 2026 is a good year :)

💙 taken in Toprock Climbing by @kush.climbs

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8 months ago

Worm World Cave - V9

Sent August 21, 2025

First of the grade outdoors.
Squamish has my heart ❤️ what an absolutely magical place. Beautiful views, stellar climbing, great food, and lovely people are just a few ways I can describe it. I still I feel like I'm not doing it justice. It just feels like there is something in the air that makes you smile and feel at peace.

A lot went wrong this trip. My tent pole snapped as soon as I went to put it up. Luckily @james_da_ali was there to weave some tape around it. It held the entire 2 week trip. Unfortunately, it made a divot in the tent fly which pooled water and caused quite the leak during some extreme downpour. Big shoutout to the crew for getting drenched fighting the rain and putting up a tarp for me.

The worst was still yet to come. On the 16th, 4 days into my 2 week trip, I slipped on a wet rock hiking and sprained my ankle pretty bad. I had to be carried out of the forest and taken to the hospital. The doctor told me to rest and maybe on my last day I'd be able to do some light activity, then sent me back to the campsite with some crutches. 2 days of hobling around in crutches and 2 more days of light low grade climbing later, I managed to send my highest outdoor V grade, my goal for the trip.

My first sesh on WWC was on the 13th, my 2nd day in Squamish. That first move felt so close, yet so far. I lost a lot of skin latching and spinning off the catch crimp. I believed it was just a numbers game, it'd latch one go and I'd just cruise the top. I returned 8 days later on the 21st with a compression sleeve on my ankle ready to fight. Literally had to wear my comfy shoe because my ankle wouldnt fit in my solutions. Many micro tweaks later, I managed to latch the first move and then fell going to the shoulder move. Damn. This continued a few more times until I finally figured out the motion and finally walked up to the top :)

I guess everything happens for a reason. I still remember is smiling in the hospital, because I was here in Squamish. No matter what happened I was with my friends in this magical place. taken in Sḵwxwú7mesh by @kush.climbs

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10 months ago

"Hey Kush"
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#climbing #climbinglife #climbinginspiration #climbingphotography #indoorclimbing #sonyphotography #sonyalpha taken in Hogtown Boulders by @kush.climbs

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a year ago

STATIK - V9

This one came outta nowhere! I had worked this climb on and off for a while and remember getting really close, but the cross move onwards was always a battle. Was getting shut down by some other 9s this past Tuesday and saw it in my list, so I thought I'd give it a go. To my surprise, I punted the top twice and then sent 3rd go! Peep the French blow before I match 😂 An Alan classic 😂

Tuesdays late night sesh was a ton of fun! Fueled by a BIN of chocolate chip cookies @_mhrichardson made earlier in the day, I sent, @alan_ataeimehr put down a nemesis problem, and Mel crushed another V4 benchmark as well as made a bunch of progress on a V5! Slowly converting my slab queen into a moonboard crusha 💪

Feeling really strong and healthy rn, tons more to come!

#moonboard #moonclimbing #climbing #moonboard2016 #moonboardbenchmark #climb taken in Toprock Climbing by @kush.climbs

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2 years ago