Meet the Climber: David Liang
KAYA crusher, David Liang, left the gym to try his hand at outdoor climbing two years ago. In that time, he has remarkably racked up over 30 double-digit sends and now has his sights set on Grand Illusion (V16) after having two-pieced it this past season. We sat down...Levels on KAYA
What are each of the levels?Levels on KAYAWhat is level?Climbing Level is basically how hard you consistently climb. Kaya tracks and awards Level badges for three dimensions:Flashing first trySending “Hard” Intensity projects fastSending “Limit” Intensity or lifetime...Tops Rate on KAYA
What it is and how to use it.What is Tops Rate?Tops Rate measures your success rate. It’s like a baseball batting average for climbing. Of the climbs you try, how many do you climb successfully? A Tops rate of 100% would mean that a climber sent every single climb...Velocity on KAYA
What is it, how it’s calculated, and how to use it.What is Velocity and how is it calculated?Velocity refers to the rate at which you send climbs. This is measured by the average number of attempts or sessions to a send at a given grade level. An increase in Velocity...
The Fall of America’s Last Iconic Projects?
The Dark Side, Devilution, and Event Horizon (V16). Think of North America’s most iconic and trafficked bouldering destinations.In all likelihood, one or all of the following came to mind: Yosemite, Bishop, and SquamishThey have all the components. Laden with mind-melding, iconic media from Rampage to Reel Rock, generation-defining testpieces such as Midnight Lightning (V8), Evilution…
Gym Rat Newsletter // Edition 1
James Ratcliffe Magnesius (Jim Rat Mag, to his friends), listening to “NEVER ENOUGH” by Turnstile and getting psyched for a session. Welcome to Gym Rat, the world’s first-ever indoor climbing newsletter! Hi readers, This project came about because I (your editor, Callie) am bad at directions and became very confused while attempting to locate the…
KAYA 2025 Data Ethos & Retrospective
Where we are today and how we got here In recent months, it’s come into focus for our team just how disruptive KAYA (and digital products like it) can be to the current status-quo of climbing information sharing and guidebooks. We’ve been moving very quickly in the last few years, striving to build an awesome…
New River Gorge Bouldering: How, When, Where
New River Gorge Bouldering Overview Located Just a three-hour drive from Pittsburgh and Richmond, and within 5 hours of the DMV, The New River Gorge region is arguably the best climbing area in the mid-atlantic. Designated in 2021 as a National Park, the NRG is worth a visit even without the world-class climbing. Traditionally most…
Gym to Crag: Skin Maintenance 101
A complete guide to outdoor climbing skin maintenance Whether you’re transitioning from the comfort of climbing gym plastic to the unforgiving sharpness of granite, sandstone, or limestone, one truth becomes clear fast: real rock wrecks your skin. Outdoor skin maintenance is an entirely different game, and if you don’t manage your skin well, it can…
Squamish Bouldering Guide: How, When, and Where
Squamish Bouldering Overview Tucked between the ocean and alpine peaks along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Squamish, British Columbia is one of the most iconic bouldering destinations in North America. With thousands of problems scattered throughout lush forests and granite corridors beneath the towering Stawamus Chief, Squamish offers a unique blend of scenic beauty, technical variety, and…