The Varsity Rock Climbing team started as a group of students who liked rock climbing and wanted to form a club. As the interest from students and teachers grew, the program did, too. Now, in our fifth season as a varsity program, we aim to develop our climbers. We have a mix of new climbers and experienced climbers. The varied range of skill levels helps to bring a sense of team building as there is always someone to help and give “Beta” or advice to. We train on the wall three days a week and focus our strength and mobility on the other days. The core value of the team is community. We all work together to accomplish challenging tasks and trust others when we are on the walls.

How We Train
Our typical practice begins with a 7-minute dynamic warm-up and a 30-45-minute session focused on skill development. During those drills, the climbers will do various exercises depending on the day to develop a broad range of skills. Next is a 15-20-minute conditioning session, where the goal is to get as much volume on simpler climbs as possible. The following 10-15-minute block is dedicated to individual projects, whether boulders or sports climbing. The practice will always close with a short core and mobility cooldown.

Player-Focused Philosophy
The coaching team's approach is based on encouragement and support through practicing the fundamentals of climbing. Our daily practice focuses on a fundamental skill to build and grow. The climbers are encouraged to work in a small pod when projecting or developing skills. That way, as coaches, we can travel between the different groups and observe and adjust. As coaches, we see a different perspective and can help others by pointing out the subtle differences.