Julian Swanson

From the Climbing Wall to the Grid

While most 17-year-olds are busy figuring out college applications, Julian Swanson is shaving tenths off his lap times while building a local climbing club. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Julian has spent the last four years balancing the physical grit of real-world karting with sim racing precision.

In sim racing, Julian qualified for the Prodigy Racing Radical Challenge on iRacing and is currently a driver with SRN Esports. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf car setups, he treats the sim like an engineering laboratory—testing suspension, tire pressures, and aero settings to master vehicle balance for his next major target: the Porsche Cup Esports NA Competition.

On track, Julian has banked top-three championship finishes at his home circuit and competed in the Western Canada Rotax Max Challenge. Across seven club races, his goal wasn't just chasing trophies; it was about methodically testing mechanical changes, gathering data, and learning exactly how a kart reacts under different track conditions.

Julian brings that same energy to rock climbing and skiing. He is currently setting up a youth climbing club in his area to share what he's learned and help other young athletes grow.