Brooke Raboutou: Hard Climbs, Family Ties and Olympic Ambitions

Brooke Raboutou hadn’t climbed 9b, 9a+ or 9a before she climbed Excalibur, 9b+. But skipping grades was never the plan — she wanted a project that would push her physically and mentally. In this UKClimbing interview, Brooke explains how a call from her brother Shawn brought her to Excalibur, why she was hooked from the first day, and what she still wants to learn on rock. We also discuss growing up in a climbing family, climbing Box Therapy with her parents and brother, the contrasting experiences of Tokyo and Paris, her ambitions for LA, and navigating a shoulder injury. 00:00 Coaching and growing up climbing 01:41 Coaches, parents and role models 02:55 Climbing with Shawn 04:46 Finding a love of climbing without pressure 06:38 Box Therapy with the family 07:49 Excalibur and the jump to 9b+ 09:15 Taking competition skills onto rock 10:12 Hard projects versus volume 11:04 Olympic experiences and LA ambitions 13:25 The challenge of Olympic qualification 14:23 Handling stress and pressure 14:34 Injury and adapting her plans 15:02 Céüse and Biography ambitions Subscribe to UKClimbing for more interviews, climbing films and stories from across the climbing community.