Meet The Founder: DJ Kim
'this is my new hobby.'
Gonzo
If you don’t like something, build it yourself. That’s exactly what climber DJ Kim did. He discovered climbing in 2017 after a coworker invited him to a climbing gym in New Jersey. 'After that, I was sold—it was official,' he said, 'this is my new hobby.' DJ then left his nine-to-five job in New Jersey and moved to California, where he started his own marketing agency in the food and beverage industry. But it was climbing that really captured his imagination.
As DJ got more into the sport, he realized he was constantly brushing every hold, both indoors and out. However, he wasn’t satisfied with any of the brushes available on the market. 'Some had issues like the angle or the grip, which just didn’t work for me,' he explained. This frustration sparked the idea to create his own brush and eventually led to the launch of his climbing brand, Footless Bird.
DJ told me that designing even something as small as a brush is no simple task, especially since he had no background in product design or manufacturing. 'My first prototype was basically paper, just glued together,' he laughed. At the time, the climbing community wasn’t as large as it is today, and there weren’t as many specialized products available. This gap in the market motivated him to create a brush, and eventually other products, tailored to his own needs as an avid climber. 'Who wouldn’t want specialized products for such a detailed and specific sport like climbing?' he mused.
Over time, DJ made incremental improvements to his designs, like adjusting the angle and enhancing the ergonomic grip—details that might be overlooked in mass-produced products. It was all done through a trial and error process, but DJ learned the ropes of product design through hands-on experimentation and a dedication to solving his own needs as a climber rather than trying to cater to broader market trends.
I asked DJ about the inspiration behind the name 'Footless Bird'—it’s such a unique name. He explained that it was inspired by a specific bouldering problem near his hometown in South Korea, a V6 problem that he managed to send on a visit back home, and yes, he did it without any pads. Besides designing brushes from scratch, he’s also been relentlessly working on perfecting a climbing balm for over three years, a task he deemed challenging given his lack of prior experience in product development. Another testament to his tenacity and passion for climbing.
When asked about the journey of starting a brand from scratch, DJ shared, "Starting your own brand, especially something as unique as custom climbing gear, can be an incredibly rewarding journey. Even without prior design experience, creating something from nothing—a brush with specific bristles or a uniquely curved head, for example—allows you to bring a personal vision to life. The advice DJ would give to anyone starting out is to begin small. Whether it's designing T-shirts for a holiday sale or creating a custom chalk bucket for friends, these small projects can be a fantastic way to learn and gradually build confidence. It's not just about potential commercial success; it's about the personal fulfillment that comes from seeing your idea take form."
Continuing, DJ emphasized the importance of taking the leap, "The motivation to start something new often stems from a desire to avoid future regrets. Trying something new, particularly in your youth, involves minimal risks and opens up immense possibilities for personal and professional growth. Many successful entrepreneurs began with a simple concept and a deep belief in their potential. For DJ, seeing someone use a product he designed, a product that began as a mere idea, not only validates DJ's efforts but also significantly boosts DJ's confidence in his work. It's a testament to the fact that with enough perseverance and passion, anything is possible. And why do I try? Because I don't want to look back when I'm 50 or 60 years old and regret not trying when I was young. That would be a huge regret. Trying something new doesn't often cost much, so why not? It's about not leaving any stone unturned and not having to wonder, 'What if?'"
So, we shifted our objectives to somewhere we didn’t need a plane to reach. Boomer and Sarah pulled some strings with their friends in Baffin and secured us a boat! About 200 km southeast of Iqaluit, surrounding the Grinnell Glacier, they had spotted some big walls during a kayak trip a year or two prior, and thought they might be good for climbing Angijuqqaaq, a beautiful mountain visible from miles away, is surrounded by many aesthetic peaks lining the coast. A short six-hour, gyrating boat ride southeast of Iqaluit brought us there.After being greeted by a polar bear in the cove, we decided to move one cove down to unload. In this area, the mountains rise 2,000 feet from the Labrador Sea, offering excellent views of whales in the ocean below, the Grinnell Glacier, polar bears around your tent, and the occasional rabbit. Initially, I was skeptical of the rock; it looked much different from the granite I had climbed on before, and since no one had ever climbed in this zone before, no one knew what to expect. We established our base camp on some soft tundra near a glacier stream—perfect for keeping the beers cold. Although it was already 2:00 p.m., we wanted to at least go touch the rock. We racked up and set out. Starting up the cliff nearest us, we meandered through 5.8 cliff bands until we reached the steep headwall we had all been eyeing. Up close, we realized we were in for a great trip. This granite was solid, with bomber cracks! We continued climbing through untouched splitters, and about three-quarters of the way up, I asked Boomer what time it was. "MIDNIGHT," he replied. In shock at how much light still filled the sky, I was energized. "We can climb forever!" Around 2:00 a.m., we topped out and decided a short shiver bivy was in order before figuring out how to descend. We named the route The Power Nap—5.10, 12 pitches (Grade III)—featuring excellent tundra nap ledges.
After a day of rest, we set out to tackle the line that had brought us there in the first place: a beautiful prow running down the face of a silhouetted mountain. Noticed from satellite images and Boomer’s photos, it looked promising. We started up from the small glacier, beginning in a rock scar that we quickly climbed out of. Working our way up, over, and right towards looming headwall splitters, we were impressed by the route’s quality cracks. For a ground-up first ascent with minimal preparation, it felt a little like "Faffin in Baffin"—14 pitches, around 5.10.That night, the four of us shared the ledge and a fire made from what was left of the tree, swapping stories of our past trips and adventures. Arthur and I talked about big walls in Zion and Yosemite, while they regaled us with tales of Baffin Island and the Arctic, describing the incredible potential for big wall exploration that still exists in Baffin. We were hooked. That night, we made a plan to make it happen. As Baffin Island planning goes, it took two years to bring it to fruition, but we made it. We landed in Iqaluit, preparing for an ascent of Mt. Asgard. After packing up, we set off for Pangnirtung. However, after almost landing in the ocean, the plane returned to Iqaluit. On the ride back, Boomer explained the game of flying in Baffin—it’s basically roulett. We spent the next six days trying to fly to Pangnirtung, but with no luck.
It was an excellent climb with many options and a beautiful summit. From there, we spotted our next line on Angijuqqaaq.
Following the polar bear that had nearly attacked Sarah, we approached up and left around the crevasses on the glacier. From there, we embarked on our steepest and hardest climb: Polar Frenzy. Picking and choosing the cracks we thought would lead us where we wanted to go, we ascended. The route gradually grew more challenging as we climbed up and away from the glacier, finding ourselves in enjoyable 5.10/5.11 cracks that just needed a little lovin’ and scrubbin’. Climbing over roofs, around corners, and across slabs, we were having a great time. Erik dislodged one of the largest car-sized trundles either of us had ever seen, and after many hours of climbing, we found ourselves atop Angijuqqaaq, feeling elevated. Polar Frenzy—5.11, C2, 12 pitches (Grade V).
All in all, the zone is incredibly suitable for exploration and leisure. Just watch out for the polar bears and the frequent rockfall.