Ambassador Spotlight | Miriam Borgstrom
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV and Salt Lake City, UT
Q: What’s your climbing style?
A: I enjoy bouldering inside and out.
Q: What is your proudest accomplishment in climbing, and outside of climbing?
A: This year I went from climbing V3 outside to V7. My favorite V7s were Buried Alive and The Dirty Rail in Red Rock Canyon (a photo of The Dirty Rail send made it in Climbing magazine’s September/October re-gram feature). Outside of climbing, Dancing Girl Press will be publishing my poetry chapbook next fall.
Q: What advice would you give to your first year climbing self?
A: Find out about Butora and buy all their stuff!
Q: Who do you take advice from and why?
A: Intelligent climbers who focus on climbing with their entire body. These people have changed the way I climb.
Q: How has your training for climbing changed in the last year?
A: This year I began doing daily injury prevention exercises, and before I climb, I do dynamic stretching and activation exercises.
Q: How has climbing affected the people you choose to surround yourself with?
A: I want to surround myself with smart, strong, motivating people who challenge and encourage me to succeed.
Q: What have you done to give back to the climbing community?
A: I’ve participated in the Rock Project.
Q: What have you learned from failure?
A: I love this quote from Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried, ever failed, no matter, try again, fail again, fail better.”
Q: Who are the climbers that inspire you the most and why?
A: I’m so motivated by Alex Puccio and Shauna Coxey. They’re such strong female climbers and have a climbing style similar to mine.
Q: What is your favorite climbing location and why?
A: Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas is the place I’ve climbed the most and has some of the most fun and most challenging problems I’ve climbed (although it’s miserable in the summer).
Q: Why Butora Climbing?
A: I love the meaning of Butora, and the shoes rock.
Q: What are your favorite before and after climbing meals?
A: Before climbing, I like chickpea salad sandwiches (actually, I like chickpea sandwiches all the time). After climbing, I like protein smoothies. I also eat avocados 24/7.
Q: What is your spirit animal?
A: According to a quiz I just took online, my spirit animal is a lion. Rarr!
Questions from the Internet
Q: What differences have you found in climbing Narsha versus climbing in Acro?
A: I’ve heard that Narsha is better for climbing outdoors and the Acro for indoors. I wear the Acro indoors and out, and my brother wears the Narsha indoors and out.
Q: What are some tips you would give to new outdoor climbers about crag etiquette?
A: Share the space and make sure everyone is safe.
Q: Tips you would give to someone who is stuck on their project? How do you stay motivated when you are stuck?
A: I’d have them watch Margo Hayes in Reel Rock 12.
Q: How have you overcome fear in climbing (fear of falling, fear of failure, etc.)?
A: Climb with spotters and belayers you trust, take every failure as a learning experience, and always keep smiling.
Check out our next Ambassador, Nat Baird
