30 November 2023

Kai Whaley (17) does Sleepwalker (8C+)

Kai Whaley has skipped three grades by completing Sleepwalker (8C+) in Red Rock. The previous PB for the 17-year-old was an 8B that he sent in October.

Words can’t describe how much sending Sleepwalker means to me. Growing up in Las Vegas, I watched Jimmy Webb during the process of the first ascent when I was only 11 years old. I’ve always wanted to try the boulder but back then I was too short and was not powerful enough to do any of the moves. I did make quite the big grade jump this season but that’s mainly because I decided to focus all my time on Sleepwalker after a few promising sessions. I have also gotten close on other hard climbs that will fill in the grade gap. It was a big physical and mental battle for me after some regression in the middle sessions that I had to battle with, but in the end it was all worth it because I was able to do one of the most iconic climbs where I grew up.”
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