In November of 2021, Patrick was walking along the Calçada da Tapada past two of the many pillars supporting Lisbon’s Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. These tall, imposing pillars are currently a canvas for local urban artist Tamara Alves and others, while doubling as the central point of a parking lot. Patrick, a burgeoning climber and established entrepreneur in adventure tourism and hospitality, wondered how they could be repurposed for the community, and an idea struck. With the help of climbing enthusiasts Alex Padalka and Ellis Dixon, co-founders of the online community website AtlasLisboa.com, he made that dream a reality just a few months later.
What brings you to Lisbon?
My dad is English and my mom is Brazilian. I was born in Cambridge and came to Portugal when I was a toddler. I do have some Portuguese family as my maternal grandmother is Portuguese, so we were fortunate to have a built-in community living here from day one. I grew up here and then was lucky enough to travel a lot after the age of 18 working in tourism development, adventure tourism, and sustainability as a consultant in Asia, the Australian outback and more. I ultimately returned to Portugal because of the close relationships I have built here and the opportunities you can find if you really look. Portugal has so much untapped potential! Upon my return, I began to embrace the outdoors even more than I had previously through surfing. When my partners Alex and Ellis introduced me to climbing, I felt like it was the missing link in my life and the idea to fuse my adventure tourism background with this new discipline became something that eventually I couldn't ignore. That, and passing the bridge every day on my commute made me understand that something had to be done. The bridge is the perfect place to put a climbing wall!
How did the Escala 25 come along?
We've had our ups and downs to be sure, but we are lucky in that the project came to life and was approved by Turismo de Lisboa, Infraestruturas de Portugal, and the Pilar 7 project so quickly. Walltopia helped us bring our concept to life while key partners in outdoor equipment, namely Yupik Outdoors and Decathlon helped us build up enough steam to get the job done. We're currently under construction now, but we are set to open on schedule in the middle of June if all continues to go well!
Features of the project will include 12-metre high walls, an open-arch design, a bouldering area, a kids club and dedicated climbing space, a lounge for their parents and resting climbers, and auto-belay systems that will allow visitors to climb securely, without needing a partner as is typical in most gyms and in the outdoors.
“It’s been almost unbelievable how far we managed to get in such a short time, all thanks to committed support from all the right places.”
Much like the sport of climbing itself, this has truly been a team effort.
Can you pinpoint key turning points in your life?
As I mentioned, being introduced to climbing had a major impact on me because it fused together so many of the things about life that I truly enjoy: the outdoors, physical discipline, problem-solving, travelling to amazing locations, catching amazing views from a place you have accessed that many others couldn't, and becoming ingrained in the Portuguese climbing community. Climbing isn't just about physical fitness or exercise, it's so much more than that.
Any words of wisdom?
Quem não arrisca não petisca! (it’s my work ethic).