Growing up with a love for sports and the outdoors, it was a trip to the local climbing gym at the age of 12 that sparked Tom O’Halloran’s fascination and imagination into the world of rock climbing.
The challenge of rock climbing, both physical and mental, is what has driven Tom’s love of this extreme outdoor sport.
“You’re against yourself and an inanimate object or obstacle when you’re climbing,” Tom said.
“It’s just you, and you need to get better. There’s something fun and satisfying about that “
Moving to the Blue Mountains (from Brisbane) in 2011, the epicentre of Australian rock climbing, Tom was able to immerse himself into his craft. The shift to the Mountains life further stimulated the love of climbing and appreciation for the great outdoors, whilst he juggled work, family and fine tuning his skills.
The ability to test himself on some of the most picturesque and difficult climbs in the world and also competing in competitions is motivation enough. The immense self-discipline is worth the reward, according to Tom.
“Sometimes there’s a bit of pressure that can creep in and it can feel all a bit overwhelming and a bit hard and you just want to shy away from the uncomfortable stuff. But ultimately that’s what keeps you coming back. It’s motivating to try and push through those feelings and rise up and take on that challenge. You just always want to be pushing yourself,” Tom said.
