Finn Battersby
Finn started climbing at the age of 15 at The Boulder’s climbing gym in Central Saanich. There he was a part of Stelly’s Secondary School climbing academy program; a very unique introduction to climbing. Prior to climbing, Finn was a competitive youth runner. He raced track, cross country, and trail running where he competed internationally before getting burned out and switching to climbing. At 19, Finn finished 4th at the 2020 Canadian Bouldering Nationals and then qualified for the Canadian World Cup Team. Outdoors, Finn puts his attention to climbing hard boulders in some of his favourite zones; Joe’s Valley in Utah, Squamish BC, Duncan BC, and Nelson BC, pushing his range into the V12 zone. Finn lives in Victoria BC, where he is a routesetter at BoulderHouse climbing gym and pursues his goals of climbing inspiring lines outdoors and competing at the highest level.
What do you show up to the gym in?
I’m generally known for being fashionable or well dressed. If you crossed sneaker dude with classic west coast style then you’ll get somewhere close to my style haha.
What are you known for?
Setting coordination boulders at the gym, hella thumb strength, and unfortunately chunky fingers!
What’s a fun/weird fact about you?
I have been recently getting into film photography. It provides a really cool unique perspective contrasted with the world of digital photos.
What’s your favourite style of climbing?
Slab/ tech stuff is definitely a strength and something that I always enjoy when I’m done falling off compression boulders. But nothing beats the exposure of a nice highball.
What do you do to celebrate a send?
Jumping in the nearest river or lake.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Sourdough, good cheese, tomato’s, you know, the good old medeteranian diet. Otherwise, I can’t live without my fan when climbing in comps or the summer — I’m a sweaty boy. I love me some Birks baby. And a camera… well… my friends can’t live without me having a camera.
If you couldn’t climb, what other sport would you do?
Trail running, and distance running.
What’s a guilty pleasure of yours?
Super chunk peanut butter.
What are your proudest climbing accomplishments?
In 2020 I placed 4th at the Canadian Open Bouldering Nationals. I was training really hard all season long and I’m really psyched that I got to show it at the event that mattered!
My best boulder would probably be The Haunting V12 in green cave, on the west coast of Vancouver Island or The Method V12 in Squamish.