Climbing Over it (Life)
Cliff Simanski, owner of GP81, an indoor rock climbing gym in Brooklyn, gazes up at a vibrant wall of colorful climbing holds. Photo courtesy of Cliff Simanski.
“I’m more attached to this space [GP81] because that struggle that Julian and I went through to get the doors reopened was so much more than the first time… where I think we just didn’t even know what to expect.”
By Leo Kirkbride
Cliff Simanski owns GP81, a rock climbing gym in Brooklyn. Despite facing significant challenges like COVID-19 and eviction, his dedicated community played a crucial role in keeping the gym alive. Discover how his perseverance and passion for climbing helped him overcome these obstacles.
Leo Kirkbride is a senior at NYC iSchool in SoHo. He is an active member of his school’s film club and jazz ensemble, playing the drums and the bass, as well as a competitive rock climber on the Vital Climbing Team in Brooklyn. He is also a voracious reader, his favorite book is “The Little Liar” by Mitch Albom. When he can, he spends his time in the mountains whether that be skiing or hiking in Colorado. He has three pets: Buster, Phoelix (both dogs), and Georgie the cat.
The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.
