Five Siblings Follow In Their Father’s Footsteps In Rock Climbing

By Mohd Afiq Zulkifli

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) – While many are more inclined toward hiking hills or mountains, few are drawn to the extreme sport of climbing artificial walls.

For Mohd Zamri Hamid’s family, however, this challenging activity has become the sport of choice for all five of his children, including the youngest,  who is only eight years old.

Having introduced his children to the sport as early as age three, veteran climber Mohd Zamri, 53, is no stranger in the world of extreme climbing. With over three decades of experience, he has proudly represented the country in numerous climbing competitions.

Most recently, he won the CRANK Lead 2024 championship in the Master Lead category after a 15-year hiatus from competitions. Notably, two of his sons, Dzukram Alzam and Dzuhair Alzam, secured second and third places in the 17-18 year open category.

"Since they were young, at the age of three, I would bring them along to watch me train at the Youth and Sports Complex in Kedah, where I practised with other climbers. At that time, they would just observe, but they began learning to climb walls when they were around five or six years old.

"From there, they developed an interest in wall climbing, even though they were also exposed to other sports like football and athletics at school. In fact, whenever we had free time, I encouraged them to participate in wall climbing competitions from a young age," he told Bernama.

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He never pressured his children to follow in his footsteps or engage in a sport that isn’t widely popular. However, to his surprise, what began as a casual activity to occupy their free time laid the foundation for two of his sons, Dzukram Alzam, 21, and Dzuhair Alzam, 17, to become athletes in the sport.

In addition to the CRANK Lead 2024 championship, his eldest and third sons have also represented Malaysia in extreme sports events, including the 2023 IFSC Sport Climbing Asian Olympic Qualifier in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the 2023 South East Asia Climbing League in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Besides taking them to the youth and sports complex, I didn’t mind investing in building a 12-foot (3.7-metre) artificial wall in our garage to give exposure to my younger children, Dhiya Sufiyah, aged 12, and Dzukryz Alzam, aged 8," he said.

When asked about the difference between climbing hills and mountains versus wall climbing, the coach from the Kedah Youth and Sports Complex, who has also represented Malaysia in the X-Games, explained that each sport presents its own unique set of challenges.

He explained that just as wall climbing requires agility, high stamina, and strategic planning based on experience and knowledge, climbing hills or mountains also demands mental sharpness and intense focus to reach the summit.

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"However, in wall climbing, the holds can be rearranged to create different routes, while in rock  climbing, this is not possible because it involves natural rocks. Nevertheless, the challenges in both are the same. Climbing a difficult route is tough, and an easier route is easier," he said.

 When asked about his reasons for choosing climbing, Dzukram Alzam said that the sport remains relatively unexplored by younger generations. He hopes that by participating, he can inspire more people to take up the sport.

Considering it a form of 'puzzle,' where strategy is key in determining the right route, Mohd Zamri's eldest son said that while the sport is quite extreme, it is also enjoyable because it activates the entire body.

"This means the whole body gets a workout while also training the mind to stay focused. I have a dream to compete at the highest levels, like the IFSC Climbing World Cup, within the next five to ten years, and aim for a podium finish as a step toward qualifying for the Olympics.

"Competing internationally is expensive, including transportation, annual licences, registration fees, and training costs. I hope sponsors will come forward to help me participate in more overseas competitions, which will also elevate the status of Malaysian climbers to world-class levels,” he said.

Dzukram, who excels in the three climbing disciplines—lead, bouldering, and speed—expressed pride in having a family that shares a passion for the same extreme sport, inheriting it from their father.

"In Malaysia, it's rare to find a family with the same interests, especially in climbing. So, when there’s a competition and the whole family is there to show support or even participate, it makes the experience much more enjoyable and strengthens family bonds," he said.

-- BERNAMA