Arc’teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance outerwear and equipment, welcomes climber Ashima Shiraishi to the Arc’teryx athlete team.
Born in New York City to Japanese artist immigrants, Shiraishi discovered climbing at age 6 at Central Park’s Rat Rock. She caught the attention of the climbing world when she became the youngest person to climb a V10 (Power of Silence) at 8 years old. At 9, Shiraishi was the youngest to scale a V12 (Martini Right), at 14 she became the youngest female to send a V14 (Golden Shadow) and was the first female to climb a V15 (Horizon) at 15.
“Since Ashima first started climbing at age 6, her truly exceptional strength and skill has led her to many jaw-dropping ‘firsts,’ including several very notable first-female-ascents and youngest-person-ever ascents,” said Jonathan Siegrist, Arc’teryx Athlete. “Even as a teenager, at just over five-foot-tall, she has climbed damn near the limit of human capability. Her resume reads like that of a boundary-breaking veteran, despite only now reaching the ripe age of 20!”
Based in Los Angeles and balancing her athletic pursuits with studies at UCLA, one of Shiraishi’s biggest motivators is to make rock climbing a more inclusive sport.
“As I’ve matured as a climber and a person, something I’ve come to appreciate is the community aspect of outdoor activities,” Shiraishi said. “I love that Arc’teryx also shares my ethos of wanting to help make the outdoors more accessible and I’m hoping that together we can amplify the voices of those who’ve historically been left out of the conversation.”
In 2020 she founded All RISE with creative collective, Braindead and Long Beach Rising climbing gym to increase access and opportunities for youth. On April 2, Shiraishi co-hosts the All Rise climbing festival at the Long Beach Climbing Gym in Los Angeles. A day-long celebration of the outdoors, it will feature live-streamed climbing competitions and live music, with proceeds going towards the ALL RISE program.
“Having a creative background, I’m also excited to collaborate with Arc’teryx designers, particularly on their circularity initiatives,” Shiraishi said. “I like their emphasis on reusing gear and repurposing materials via their ReBird program. It’s important to me that we reduce our impact on the environment.”
The Arc’teryx athlete program supports up-and-coming and well-established professional athletes by offering personal and professional development. As members of the Arc’teryx family, athletes trust Arc’teryx gear to perform when they need it most. Shiraishi joins a team of talented athletes and ambassadors dedicated to a range of mountain activities, including climbing, mountaineering, mountain running, skiing, and snowboarding.
