Catherine Vaillancourt

Climbing has been a great ally throughout the past fifteen years. It helps me conquer both mental and physical barriers – and I guess that’s why it never gets old. I face a different challenge every time I try a new problem or route. It’s that complex relationship between body and mind that makes me crave new projects. Of course, some of them go, and others remain incomplete, and that’s all part of the game. Yet succeeding is worth every try, every bit of skin lost, every minute of freezing my ass off all day at my local crag during late fall sessions. For a moment, the top of that small rock, or the anchor of a route, somehow feels like the top of the world, and for me, that feeling is worth gold.

With my partner Olivier Turgeon and our son Octave, I travel every time I get the chance to escape from routine. Together we have been to many beautiful places, where we have met wonderful people.

My favorite Flashed Product is the Sumi Brush. I love this brush for two reasons: it has durable boar’s hair bristles, and it’s made of biodegradable materials. Plus, its bright colors make it easy to spot, so you’re less likely to lose it. Make sure you write your name of it, though, because every climber has one!!