Team Touchstone Coaching Team

I have been climbing since 1997. Climbing has allowed me to travel around the world, visiting 24 countries on six continents pursuing my passion. I have met life long friends and developed problem solving skills... and a work ethic that I will carry with me throughout my life. I competed in the youth climbing series from age 7-19 and was able to obtain 11 top five finishes at National Championship events. While I always greatly enjoyed competitions, outdoor climbing has always been my true focus in climbing. Some of my most memorable achievements include; being the youngest person, at age 11, to climb The Nose of El Captain in a day as a fundraiser for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, sport climbing 5.14b and recently bouldering my first V13. I have been coaching now for five years. My aim as a coach is to help each and ever individual realize their highest potential and do everything that I can to help them reach it. Coaching is unique in how each athlete requires a different approach to problems for success. Trying to figure out not only the best way to solve a problem, but the best way for that particular athlete is a very interesting and engaging process. I am a very positive person in everyday life, and that is something that I carry with me to coaching. I am a firm believer in positive reinforcement and motivation to try and get the best out of each athlete. One of my favorite things about coaching is that I have had the privilege of working with extremely motivated athletes. Through this, I have developed a coaching style that is based around hard work, while having as much fun as possible at the same time. Because at the end of the day, even if you are getting better, climbing is supposed to be fun! I have had many fond memories throughout my coaching career, but my proudest moment was at the 2013 ABS Nationals in Colorado Springs, CO. I was coaching for Zero Gravity, and 10 out of our 16 climbers made finals. To add to that the team walked away with four 1st, a 2nd, a 3rd, a 6th, two 8th and a 10th place finish!

I’m a 22 year-old climber, coach, and student born and raised in the Bay Area. I currently live in Oakland and study philosophy as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley. I spend much of my time... engaged in climbing-related pursuits: I work as a climbing coach, I train 4-5 times a week for my own climbing goals, I climb outside as much as possible, I enjoy climbing photography and videography, and I’m an avid consumer of climbing media of all kinds. Other than that, I enjoy reading, watching films, riding my bike, and cooking/eating awesome food. When I discovered climbing, I fell in love with the movement; the subtleties of body positioning, the aesthetic of gymnastic moves, the thoughtful nature of deciphering sequences, and the pure kinesthetic joy of moving on rock or plastic. Competition climbing blends all of my favorite aspects of climbing into one activity, and coaching competitive climbers allows me to share my love of climbing with the raddest young climbers around.