Career Highlights

  • Spank the Monkey (5.13d)
  • Grand Ol' Opry (5.14b)
  • Slice of Time (5.14c)
  • Free as Could Be Ascent of the Freerider on El Cap

Favorite places to live/ climb/ visit:

Smith Rock, Little Si, The Monastery, Mallorca

Favorite type of climbing: 

Sport Climbing, Bouldering

What most people don't know about me:

I studied exercise science in college, so I am fascinated by the human body and how we move. Climbing is a beautiful blend of how we move - physically, psychologically, the type of terrain, etc. I really enjoy discussing these aspects of climbing with people.

    Interview

    • Climbing

      When and how did you get into climbing? What keeps you interested? What fascinates you?

      I started climbing at 19. I ran cross country/track in college and a teammate brought a few of us to the climbing gym we had on campus. I was instantly hooked and was soon climbing as much as I was running.

      The freedom of movement, problem-solving, creativity, a space to connect with friends, strangers, and new places…all of these and more are what drew me into climbing and still keep me captivated now.

      Who was your childhood hero and do you consider yourself a role model now? Does it influence you at all that other people look up to you?

      My dad is someone I've always looked up to and aspired to be like. He works hard, cares deeply for those around him, and is extremely patient.

      I would not exactly consider myself a role model; in fact, I can be quite shy about sharing my accomplishments, etc. However, I do try my best to emulate the qualities of those who I look up to myself. There are many people from whom I draw inspiration, and if they did not talk about themselves, I would not be able to benefit from their shared experiences. So if there are people out there who are inspired by what I do, I hope it impacts them positively in the same way as those who paved the way for me did.

      What have been the most important milestones in your life so far, both in climbing and in everyday life? And did you recognize them immediately as such or only later on?

      Making the decision after graduating from college to build out a minivan and live full time on the road marked a pivotal time in my life. There was a lot of unknown, but I knew I loved climbing and was excited to pursue it further. Looking back, it is one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself and would not trade it for anything.

      What were your greatest failures / setbacks / injuries? How did you cope with them and how did you come back from them?

      I fortunately have not had any major injuries that have set me back. Coming from an education in exercise and healthy behaviors, I've approached climbing with a mindset of pre-hab, where I create daily habits of stretching, mobility exercises, etc. Climbing is quite strenuous and demands a lot of our bodies, so we need to be sure we are allocating time to take care of them and allow for proper recovery.

      I think the way in which we perceive success and failure can define how deeply we are affected by them. I personally look at classical “failures” such as falling, struggling with a move, etc. as steps in the learning process. Being able to use these pieces as part of your process can set you on a healthy path of growing and enjoying climbing!

      What is your favorite climbing related story / experience?

      I have so many fond memories the past few years have brought me. The constant in all of them is the wonderful people I've had the fortune of spending them with. I feel lucky to have found this sport that connects me with such great humans.

      One of those special times included countless days out with my friend Evan in the corner he coined as “The Nook” while I projected Slice of Time in Eldorado Canyon. It became a joyous ritual of hiking up, warming up, falling in the same spot, all the while sharing great times together for weeks.

    • Training

      Do you have a strict training schedule for when and how you train throughout the year?

      2024 was the first year I really delved into training. Half of that time was initially spent experimenting and learning how to train for myself. For me, I realized that my focus needed to be more strength-related training.

      Looking holistically at my climbing, however, I would say I've been “training” for years as I have always focused on improving myself as a rock climber: learning to move more efficiently, precisely, thoughtfully, etc. There's many ways in which we can improve unrelated to strict strength training. Being intentional is important!

      What advice can you give to somebody looking to improve their training routine?

      I would first inquire about what they're aspiring for in their training. There are so many parts to improving, and it is improbable to do them all at once. Focusing on a few pieces at a time can help to balance what is missing or what you are hoping to improve upon. Individuality, specificity, periodization, and progressive overload are all core principles of training. Incorporating these may help to structure a well rounded approach to training.

      There is also so much information out there about different ways to train, sticking to practices that work well for yourself and being consistent with them is one of the most important pieces.

      What do you think of indoor climbing gyms in relation to climbing on actual rock?

      They are two quite separate activities in my mind. There are aspects of each that you cannot find in the other. Learning and taking from each can be valuable in growing as well as enjoying climbing. It is cool to me that we can have such different spaces that facilitate the same sport.

      Are you able to do a one-arm pull-up? How about a single finger?

      I can do one poor one-arm pull-up. Not on one finger, nor can I hang one hand on an edge.

      How much of the success as a pro climber is due to show and how much due to actual climbing skill?

      I think if we look at success as the fulfillment and enjoyment through climbing, then the path of a pro climber could look like many things!

    • Psychology

      Is it possible for anybody to eventually perform a one-armed pull-up or get to the top of the Eiger/Matterhorn, or do you really have to be born for it?

      Genetic variance is core to what makes us human. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes that can make our goals easier or harder. Given two different people, one may be able to achieve those goals with no training, the other may have to train for years and years to achieve the same goals.

      Nonetheless, we can all possess resilience and grit in the face of our pursuits. I believe what's most important is our personal journey with our goals, even if it looks different than someone else's.

      How important is it to set goals in professional sports? What are your goals / targets you are working towards in climbing and in life?

      Setting goals is a fantastic way to give aim to your motivation. Short and long term goals can help to keep you on course with what you are working towards. The nice part of that too is that you can always reflect and change your goals if they no longer align with your motivation/what you want!

      My simplest long term goal is to push my climbing to the highest level possible for myself.

      How do you deal with extremely hard climbing problems? Do you ever get frustrated and give up on them or do they motivate you even more?

      Tinkering and boltering are two of my favorite terms that my friend Hunter uses. Taking however long it takes to explore and craft the sequences on a route that best suits your current abilities is the basis of these terms. It can be a really satisfying way to deeply understand a route, getting to know every hold, texture, position, etc. Or sometimes you just have to give it the beans.

      I would be lying if I said I never got frustrated with moves. I do however try my best to figure out a move in its entirety if it is giving me problems. If after weeks of effort it is still giving me heinous trouble, I've learned to take a break and come back at a later time once I've gotten stronger, or able to look at the problem in a different light.

    • Future of climbing

      Is there anything you would like to change about the current developments in climbing?

      As our outdoor spaces continue to grow in usage, I would like to see the more common spread of information on proper etiquette and treatment of these spaces. We should all be able to enjoy these beautiful places we have access to, but preservation of them begins with education on how to use them and reduce our impact.

      Where do you see the sport going in the next years, what will change and what is your role going to be in it?

      Maybe a different look at this question, but there will be more injuries!

      As the sport continues to grow, injuries will grow in turn as well. The complexities of climbing load on the body are certainly unique, and injury prevention in the sport is not fully understood. I look forward to reading up on the scientific literature as it develops and using it to share knowledge as best I can to help people implement practices into their routine to reduce the likelihood of injury. Not only is injury one of the biggest inhibitors to progression, nobody likes being injured! It is hard to be kept from doing what you love.