When we enter into a new year many of us start off by setting new goals and making resolutions. As the year goes on, it can often be hard to stick with them. To help our readers stay motivated all year long, we’ve put together a list of rad women to follow on Insta who are crushing it, both on and off rocks, and will get you excited to do the same. They shared their own goals as well as advice they have for sticking with them in order to succeed. Enjoy and happy sending!
1.Rosemary Saal @everywhere.rose
Rosemary started climbing at age 12 at Smith Rock in Oregon and has been a climber ever since. Nowadays you can find her sport climbing at Mount Lemmon in Tucson or at her favorite spot: Red Rocks. When Rosemary isn’t climbing she stays active by running and dancing but also enjoys reading, drinking bubble tea and of course, Netflix! Rosemary has found that climbing helps her push to higher limits and learn more about her inner-workings, identity, and interactions with the world around her.
2. Wish Sison | @wishsison
Wish has been climbing for about two and a half years. She climbs most frequently at the Touchstone gyms in the Bay Area where she co-runs queer climbing meetups. Unfortunately, Wish sustained an injury at the end of last year and is working this year to recover and regain her climbing skills. In the meantime she is working to keep her mental game strong while dreaming of landing a job a route setter. Follow Wish this year on her recovery journey as she trains to get back in top form. Wish’s advice to others trying to stick with a goal this year is to “get some buddies! Having community support will help keep your spirits high and help you stay accountable to your dreams and goals.” She also shared this quote from Octavia Butler “First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.”
3. Taynara Magarotto | @taymagarotto
Tay has been climbing for two and a half years and is usually found at the crags around New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. While she enjoys all styles of climbing her particular favorites are trad and ice climbing. “I love the fact we can climb pretty much anything with gear and love the idea of ‘leaving no trace’. You see, pick the line, get stoked, climb and the rock ends up clean. And ice climbing is just one of my favorite things to do during winter. It’s a lot of suffering, I’m not gonna lie, but I’m stoked at each kick and swing.” Follow Tay this year as she tackles her goals of climbing The Armadillo, a technical multi pitch line in Maine, as well as the Pinnacle, a mixed route found on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Tay’s advice to our readers: “Don’t let anyone tell you you cannot or you’re not capable of doing something you want. If you really want it, you train, you fight [for] it, and you pursue it on your own time and terms. Just listen to yourself.”
4. Genevive Walker | @walkergenevive
Genevive has been climbing for over six years, mainly at Rumeny in New Hampshire, but a year ago moved into her Honda Element to take her love for climbing on the road. Keep an eye on Gen this year as she works to send her first .13a outside. When she isn’t putting up hard sport routes, Gen enjoys hiking, playing tennis, slacklining, mountain biking and her newest obsession: ping pong! Gen’s advice for anyone working toward their own goal this year is: “Don’t feel discouraged if you hit a plateau or stop seeing progress. Sometimes it’s a sign to switch things up or try a new approach. Another tip is to set small sequential goals that will lead you to your main objective. This makes it easier to track your progress, which in turn will motivate you to keep working hard.”
5. Mahtisa Djahangiri| @mahtisa.leigh
Tisa got her climbing start in central Texas about six years ago at places like Reimer’s Ranch and Enchanted Rock. Now you can find her climbing in the Tetons, Lander, the City of Rocks, and in various garages in Jackson, WY as the town doesn’t have a gym. When asked her prefered climbing style Tisa said, “I’m definitely a master of nothing when it comes to climbing styles which makes it hard to choose. I love sport climbing because of the movement and the fact that is is (mostly) type one, bolt clipping fun. I love trad climbing because of the puzzle solving aspect and for the places those skills can take me in the mountains.” Watch Tisa as she tackles her first 5.12 outside, spends time in the Wind River Range, and (hopefully!) takes a climbing road trip. Tisa’s advice if you’re trying to stick with a resolution this year is: “Consider what motivates you and your goals. Acknowledging where the motives behind your ideas come from can help you authentically give it your all.” Tisa has also offered up a standing invitation for anyone who wants to climb with her in Wyoming this summer!
6. Paris Brown | @paris_mvmt
Paris has been climbing for about three years. She has spent most of that time in the gym at Earth Treks and Sportrock. Over last year Paris has started venturing outside more and more. Her favorite style of climbing is bouldering. This year Paris plans to start climbing specific training to push herself past her current limits. When she isn’t climbing you can find Paris enjoying the outdoors. She especially likes hiking.
7. Heidy Khlaaf | @hak90
Heidy started climbing 5 and half years ago. She usually climbs at Yonder in North London. When describing her plans and goals for the year, Heidy said, “In the past, I’ve spent the climbing seasons outdoors focusing on projects. It’s mentally draining and my climbing holiday can often seem like a chore. So this year I’m focusing on volume instead! It’s more fun, and I believe teaches you technical skills in climbing that projects can’t.” Heidy uses climbing to take a break from her career. She’s a Computer Scientist PhD. Her advice for you is: “If you are a woman or a WoC, it may seem that the physical strength and technique required for climbing are unattainable and unnatural, especially if you didn’t come from an outdoors-y family. There is no inherit body type to climbing (and only a small subset of people have the “natural” inkling for it).”
8. Olivia Long | @oliviasends
At eleven years old, Olivia is the youngest climber on our list and has already been climbing for five years. Olivia says she has “always loved climbing, even when that just meant going on the monkey bars, or playing on the furniture at my house”. When she isn’t climbing on the playground, you can find her at Mesa Rim Climbing in San Diego where she is part of the climbing team. Olivia prefers bouldering, especially problems with toe hooks, heel hooks, and stemming. An seasoned competition climber, Olivia’s goal for this year is to place in the top 25 as a first year C climber at Youth Nationals. After sustaining an injury last year during competition season she has worked hard to regain her strength and is excited to be back in the comp circuit. Her advice for other’s working towards their goals is “think of something that is possible and then push past it. But [it] will take a lot of hard work.” When she isn’t climbing you can find Olivia reading or coding in her free time.
Author: Laura Edmondson
