Elliott Nguyen

Growing up, studying the piano was Elliott’s focus. Outdoor sports weren’t his thing. But, in his late teens, Elliott was diagnosed with a degenerative motor neuron disease called hereditary spastic ataxia, dashing his aspirations for a professional career in music. At a pivotal moment in handling his diagnosis, Elliott realized that while he couldn’t become a professional pianist, he could still find genuine community and build a life around fulfilling experiences. And where better to have them from the top of a mountain? Since then, Elliott has spent every spare moment pushing his body to its limit. In 2015, in his first ever race, Elliott won the wheelchair category of the Philadelphia Half-Marathon. In 2018, he thru-hiked the 170 mile Tahoe Rim Trail. 2021 was his first year doing comp paraclimbing, where he finished the season coming in 4th at the LA Paraclimbing World Cup. Currently, Elliott’s passion lies in introducing people to outdoor adventures and marine conservation. You’re likely to see him placing gear in Pinnacles choss and quaking on slabs in the Sierras. He volunteers weekly at the Bay Institute, helping with animal husbandry for their giant sea bass, wolf eels, sevengill sharks and bat rays on SCUBA. Elliott also does citizen science survey dives for Reef Check off the Monterey coast. He is founder of an inclusive, traditional scouting program for youth with disabilities in the Bay Area through Outdoor Service Guides, and he sits on the board of ParaCliffHangers. In his spare time, Elliott is Head of People at an Oakland-based healthcare technology startup. Elliott can be found at Touchstone ParaCliffHanger’s adaptive meetups. Come say hi!