Paul Robinson

USA

From the moment Paul first touched an indoor rock climbing hold, at the age of 11, he was hooked. Over the past decade Paul has proven himself among many of the current greats in rock climbing and continues to strive to push the sport to the next level— a level in which people have only dreamed of achieving.

Growing up in New Jersey, it became quite apparent that becoming a professional rock climber was going to be quite difficult for Paul. However, he never gave up on his aspirations and with the help of family and friends he has gotten to the place where he is today. Paul began rock climbing at a small climbing gym in southern New Jersey called Vertical Reality. In the beginning, Paul was merely the scrawny little boy who came into the gym with his father on a daily basis, having the time of his life climbing on plastic holds on a 20-foot toprope wall. As time went on, he began competing in indoor rope climbing competitions. Paul did this circuit for about three years and never felt truly successful. As he began growing up Paul finally felt as if he had found his place in the climbing world and that was through bouldering. He began to travel the world in search of all the most amazing climbs to be done as well as competing in national and international competitions. As senior year of high school came and went it was only obvious that the next step was college at the climbing capital of the country, Boulder, Colorado.

Now that senior year of college is nearly complete for Paul, two major changes have been occurring. One of which has been his new look into the world of route climbing. Having climbed V15 and now 5.14d on a rope he has become the multitalented climber he has always wanted to be, but does not plan on stopping there. He knows V16 is a possibility and wants more than anything to climb one and also bring his bouldering power to the routes and establish some extremely hard, moderate-length sport routes all over the world. Paul still feels like he is just scratching the surface in climbing and looks forward to a bright and successful future. The road is endless and he is embracing it all as it comes.

Birthday? August 28, 1987.

Year you first started climbing? 1997.

Three climbing achievements you are most proud of? Lucid Dreaming (V15/16) Bishop, CA (first ascent).  Meadowlark Lemon (V15) Red Rocks, NV (first ascent). The Story of 2 World (V15) Cresciano, Switzerland (second ascent).

Favorite climbing area and why? Fontainebleau, France.  I love the culture, the people, the food, and the rock is better than any other rock in the entire world!

Best climbing experience? Too many to be accounted for! Just any day I feel strong, the weather is good, and I get to climb on an amazing boulder I have not done before.

Worst climbing experience? Breaking my ankle in Switzerland when the weather finally was getting perfect and having to go back to the States.

What's your dream trip? Where? With who? To be honest, I am living it!  I am traveling the world with my girlfriend meeting new people staying away from too hot of weather and climbing first ascents on amazing rock in amazing countries! No complaints here!

Guilty pleasure? Girly TV shows.

BD gear you use every time you go climbing? Demon pack, chalkbag, brush kit and pads!

Something that annoys you while climbing? People downgrading boulders they haven't done or people using flashes when I am clearly trying to shoot video.

Favorite après-climb meal? Prosciutto and marscapone and mushroom pizza.

Favorite climbing flick? Dosage 5.

What's in your iPod? Gmix!

Strangest place you've ever woken up? In a closet of a hotel room next to the room door in New Hampshire.

Three things you'd never roadtrip without? Climbing equipment, computer and friends.

Superstitions? I dislike the number 3. I always roll my pants four or five times on either leg before climbing.

What's your dream job? I am living it.  If not this, then a professional surfer.

How are you training when you are not climbing? By lifting pizza into my mouth!

If you could steal one thing and not get caught, what would it be? Either the RED Epic or a Phantom (both video cameras $40,000+).

If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be? My dad, three times. I have so many things to tell him, I don't think I could ever do it over one dinner, or 3 for that matter.

Do you have any tattoos or piercings? No.