Partner Feature: Allie Redshaw
Sometimes adventure carries you beyond the boundaries of the greater Richmond area. We love seeing our partners rep Beyond Boundaries wherever they go, especially as they’re reaching new heights.
Recently, we had the opportunity to partner with accomplished para-climber Allie Redshaw as she went on a globe-trotting adventure to climb one of the best locations in the world. During her 10-day trip, she was the only para climber, joining athletes worldwide as they climbed in Majorca, Spain.
Allie returned from her trip with some incredible stories and a unique perspective on what it takes to rise to the challenge as a para-athlete. As well, she brings a unique perspective to how the climbing world welcomes and adapts to para-athletes, something that we try to mimic in our climbing programming.
“The trip was physically challenging; everything in Majorca was salty and ran steeply down to the water. So the approach to the climbs was also really tough and everything took a lot of courage and bravery to work through,” says Allie- re-telling some of the shock and awe that she experienced upon arrival. For her, this trip was an opportunity to climb into a whole new world.
“It ended up being a pivotal growth experience and different perspective because this was the first time I hadn’t been on a trip surrounded by other climbers with a disability or amputation. It was a cool and tough experience for me,” she explains.
We chose to sponsor Allie because of her amazing approach to being a para-athlete. Having suffered her injury at 28 years old, she underwent a life-changing alteration of both her abilities and her perspective. Her resilience and perseverance helped her reclaim her strength and continue her climbing career. Now, she’s a vocal leader for inclusivity in the outdoors and climbing communities.
“I think the opportunity is there in the climbing community to be more inclusive, so many people want to be inclusive and are willing to open these spaces to physical and cognitive diversity. But, it takes people to the forefront having bravery and pushing their comfort zone,” explains Redshaw.
Her trip was not without difficulty, however. As she worked and struggled to overcome the physical challenges of the climbs and the mental toughness it takes to be working so hard, so far from home, she often relied on her community here to give her support.
“I’d look down at my chalk bag that Beyond Boundaries gave me and see the “adventure is for everyone” and it would help to pick me up and bring me into a better state being fully focused and feeling supported by that group,” she states.
However, Allie also discovered that her climbing partners on the trip were there to support her as well. “Brette Harrington was the leader of the trip, she's on the North Face Climb team, and is taking a range of climbers to do these trips. That was a huge draw for me, she is so humble and so willing to take people of different abilities and she encourages people to take the trip no matter what their ability or climbing experience is,” she says.
Before and during the trip, Brette worked with Allie to build an inclusive experience. “It was great to see her team help to plan the trip and the climbs to be accessible and to see them think through everything from the ascents to the routes,” explains Allie.
Everyone at Beyond Boundaries would love to congratulate Allie on this huge undertaking and thank her for bringing us along as part of her adventure.
Make sure to follow Allie on Instagram and visit our website for opportunities to volunteer on our inclusive climbing trips.