ARC'TERYX SYSTEM_A - DROP 09

When did you first start climbing? And how have you seen climbing, specifically bouldering, change and grow?

Alvin: Liam and I were the first from the Caviar crew to start climbing back in 2020 - briefly on the ropes at our local Hangdog, before getting quickly psyched on bouldering at Dynomite. We were shortly blue-balled by Covid.

The shutdowns hit, the gyms closed, and we were out of climbing. But there was a silver lining - the Wollongong area is massive, and Mount Keira became our local gym. With the sport’s boom prior to Covid, most climbers took a break while the gyms were shut down, and a small part of the community took to the outdoors. Wollongong’s outdoor scene was the biggest it had been. Many of the community discovering each crag for the first time, at the same time. Old lines were getting cleaned up, and entire new areas being developed. Despite boulders around Mt Keira being littered around the mountain, tucked behind the bush, you’d frequently run into other climbers out there in the wilderness. Eli (my roommate at the time) and I were out of work due to the shutdowns, so with heaps of spare time we’d be taking off to the Mt Keira most days of the week, binging Mellow videos and beta videos on the couch on off days while waiting for our skin to grow back. Part of Caviar is wanting to share that experience, the excitement of discovering a crag for the first time, having twenty last goes, wanting to head back as soon as you get home, ruminating about beta in your sleep, and ultimately coming back for your tenth session and topping the boulder out. There isn’t a better feeling.  It's been amazing to see how climbers around the world are getting stronger, sending V17s every second week. At the same time, we’re equally excited to watch our own community progress, with classic lines getting repeated and wild new FAs going up at our local crags.  Australia has so much untapped rock and we’re keen to see what comes next.

Since bouldering is still a relatively new sport in AUS, what gap is Caviar trying to fill in? Do you take any inspirations from other brands/movements?

Alvin: Throughout the magazine we explore the journey of climbing culture around us.

In the past, climbers took to the outdoors first, with indoor climbing coming later as a means of training. Now it's the opposite. Most climbers start indoors, eventually growing curious enough to try the outdoors, and with the sport booming, our crags are only going to get busier.

As our crags were first developed with much less framework in place, there are real ecological and cultural sensitivities that we as climbers need to act collectively to protect, to keep the balance and maintain access.

Some of us were lucky enough to have mentors who inspire us but also show us how to appreciate what we have, passing down knowledge for us to act with care. But not every climber gets that. Many will make the transition outdoors without anyone to show them the ropes, and that gap in knowledge and appreciation, is what puts our crags at risk.

The sport will keep growing. The crags will get more popular. Through Caviar, we want to pass on that knowledge and appreciation, to share the sport we love, and to help us as climbers act collectively to treat our crags right.

As for inspiration, there are so many brands and movements we look up to. Balancing Acts, Arrival at One, Steep Learning Group and Karma8a. They are all brands each have uniquely used their creative ability to build communities with purpose.