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Climb So iLL

As of late March, Climb So iLL is the most recent addition to the St. Louis climbing scene. Over the course of three years, brothers David and Daniel Chancellor and friend Ian Anderson turned their passion for the sport into a reality when they decided to take the next step into turning their climbing hold company, So iLL Holds into a climbing gym. The gym is located in Lafayette Square's Historic City Hospital Power Plant. David Chancellor talks about the gym and his personal journey of learning to climb to the top.
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Prepping to climb.
Alexis Hitt
Prepping to climb.
Chancellor's interest in climbing began over 15 years ago when his uncle took him and his brother climbing for the first time.
Alexis Hitt
Chancellor's interest in climbing began over 15 years ago when his uncle took him and his brother climbing for the first time.
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"The connection with the outdoors is a dynamic factor," Chancellor said. "We were just very hyperactive kids and we were looking for an outlet go get all that energy out, so climbing was a really good fit."
Alexis Hitt
"The connection with the outdoors is a dynamic factor," Chancellor said. "We were just very hyperactive kids and we were looking for an outlet go get all that energy out, so climbing was a really good fit."
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Soon after his first experience climbing, Chancellor turned his love for the sport into a business. He started with charging the neighborhood kids to climb in his parents' basement - on a wall they built themselves - to producing their own climbing holds, to eventually opening up their own climbing gym, Climb So iLL.
Alexis Hitt
Soon after his first experience climbing, Chancellor turned his love for the sport into a business. He started with charging the neighborhood kids to climb in his parents' basement - on a wall they built themselves - to producing their own climbing holds, to eventually opening up their own climbing gym, Climb So iLL.
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"The time that it took (was one of the biggest challenges) to open the gym," Chancellor said. "If it was easy, I think everyone would open a business. It was about putting all the right pieces of the puzzle together."
Alexis Hitt
"The time that it took (was one of the biggest challenges) to open the gym," Chancellor said. "If it was easy, I think everyone would open a business. It was about putting all the right pieces of the puzzle together."
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Prepping to climb.
Alexis Hitt
Prepping to climb.
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"It's this adrenaline rush to get to the top of wall," Chancellor said. "And then you get to the point where your movement on the walls becomes a self-expression of your personality. It takes a while to develop your own style, but it's interesting to see that manifest (through climbing)."
Alexis Hitt
"It's this adrenaline rush to get to the top of wall," Chancellor said. "And then you get to the point where your movement on the walls becomes a self-expression of your personality. It takes a while to develop your own style, but it's interesting to see that manifest (through climbing)."
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"If you can climb a ladder, you can climb a wall."
Alexis Hitt
"If you can climb a ladder, you can climb a wall."
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On his way up.
Alexis Hitt
On his way up.
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"Things have been put into perspective for me," Chancellor said. "I got into an auto accident, and it destroyed my shoulder. So I've been out (of climbing) for almost eight months."
Alexis Hitt
"Things have been put into perspective for me," Chancellor said. "I got into an auto accident, and it destroyed my shoulder. So I've been out (of climbing) for almost eight months."
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Now I'm starting to ramp back up, and finding this new passion for the sport once again. I'm basically reteaching myself to move on the wall."
Alexis Hitt
Now I'm starting to ramp back up, and finding this new passion for the sport once again. I'm basically reteaching myself to move on the wall."
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On the climb
Alexis Hitt
On the climb
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Having fun
Alexis Hitt
Having fun
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"I'm getting older - almost 33 - I'm not competing on a circuit, not pushing pro-sponsorship anymore," Chancellor said. "Now it's about connecting with people and impacting lives through the climbing gym."
Alexis Hitt
"I'm getting older - almost 33 - I'm not competing on a circuit, not pushing pro-sponsorship anymore," Chancellor said. "Now it's about connecting with people and impacting lives through the climbing gym."
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"The best part is that all my friends come to visit the gym," Chancellor said. "Social circles take up a lot of time, you want to invest in people."
Alexis Hitt
"The best part is that all my friends come to visit the gym," Chancellor said. "Social circles take up a lot of time, you want to invest in people."
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Various climbers at Climb So iLL
Alexis Hitt
Various climbers at Climb So iLL
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Various climbers at Climb So iLL
Alexis Hitt
Various climbers at Climb So iLL
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Various climbers at Climb So iLL
Alexis Hitt
Various climbers at Climb So iLL
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Various climbers at Climb So iLL
Alexis Hitt
Various climbers at Climb So iLL
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Climb So iLL
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