What Our Climbers Are Saying

Our program is designed to help climbers progress their climbing skills and improve their climbing experience. At Vertical Ascents, we’re not just about training—we’re about building a strong community and meaningful connections with everyone we work with.

Here’s what climbers in our program have to say about their experience:

Lauren, Bishop CA

“Working with Simon at Vertical Ascents has been a transformative experience. While many coaching programs focus on supplemental physical training, Simon takes a holistic approach that touches nearly every aspect of the climbing experience. His guidance on decision making, choosing which routes to try, strategy and tactics, finding the right balance of volume/intensity of both training and climbing, and overall mindset has been invaluable. Simon is a wise mentor! After just a few months of working with Vertical Ascents, my climbing has improved, I’m learning how to better guide my own progress, and most importantly I’m enjoying the experience and movement of climbing so much more. Thank you!”

Mandy, USA

“The Vertical Ascents Train program is hard to portray in a few words, but I found it to be life-changing. Simon was always very thorough with his instructions, including educational pdfs, videos, and messages, and sent me a lot of personalized feedback week by week. I went into the training program with no prior strength training experience. I was also 5 months post shoulder surgery and dealing with a chronic lower back issue of 4 years. By the end of my 6-month training phase, I am stronger than I have ever been in my life, and my shoulder and lower back are healthy again. Additionally, because the program is so educational, I now have the tools to keep up a strength routine indefinitely and feel equipped to prevent (and recover from) the frequent injuries we face as athletes. I also participated in the Move (climbing) program, and the video feedback was incredibly helpful. Seriously, I can’t thank you enough, Simon!”

Andrew Redlawsk

“Working with Simon was the best thing I've done for my climbing. He reframed the way I think about movement, how I assess my own movement, and gave me the tools I need to get stronger, climb better, and progress faster. After just a couple months of coaching, I was climbing better than ever and was sending more projects more quickly. What more can you ask for? Couldn't recommend him and Vertical Ascents more highly!”

Taimur, Bishop CA

Si and Vertical Ascents changed my climbing life. As a successful self-coached climber for more than a decade who had always been able to achieve my climbing goals, I was wary about trusting my climbing to someone else. But when I finally found a project I felt like I couldn't overcome on my own, I let Si take the reins - and its been one of the best decisions I've made as a climber. Not only did I send, not only did I become a better athlete - I actually found new ways to enjoy climbing even more than I already did thanks to my coaching experience. What sets Si and VA apart is that they understand climbing comprehensively (technical-mental-physical), they have an infectious passion for the learning process, and they're simply good folks who are fun to spend time with too. My coaching sessions with Si are as much about the philosophy and pedagogy of training and movement skill as they are about increasing my max hang personal best - something that I also do every season under Si's guidance - and this combination of passion, intellectual engagement, and effective physical training make my workouts a pleasure. I can't recommend Si and the whole VA team highly enough!

Julian Acevedo

“Working Si and the team at Vertical Ascents has been transcendental to my climbing and personal growth. Having played sport competitively for many years, my approach had always been to find a recipe and bash my head until the results came. This never worked with my climbing. It took a while for Si to help me shift away from that perspective. I am thankful for this journey and the friends I have made along the way.”

Dan, Park City UT

“I wholeheartedly recommend Si to help anyone not just improve their fitness, but to develop a framework that will enable them to evolve in their pursuits for years to come. He has a wealth of knowledge in the science of human performance from years of enthusiastic, curiosity-driven, and dedicated study, observation, and personal practice. I asked Si for a program that would balance rock climbing, strength, and endurance elements, all while managing some nagging injuries. At the end of the program I was stronger across the whole spectrum, and I have encountered no other trainer that I would trust with such a tricky request. It's clear that he doesn't rest on formulas; not only can he nimbly adapt the programming in response to feedback and performance metrics, but can explain how and why he's doing so. Like any great coach, he is both a teacher and student, eager to share and apply his understanding of the science but also learning with and scrutinizing the science as it changes.”

Casey, SLC UT

"I've been climbing for nearly 18 years, with a long history of complicated knee and ankle injuries and surgeries. I came to Simon and Vertical Ascents looking for help with technique and movement, especially given some of my perceived mobility limitations. Si analyzed many hours of video and provided a huge amount of insight and practical suggestions (as well as physical training) that has continued to help me. He also helped me reframe some of my limiting beliefs about my own mobility and helped me understand how I can work with my body instead of against it. I learned so much! I'd highly recommend him and VA to anyone."

Kiana Parkins

“Jackie, Simon, and the MIND program were phenomenal. I would absolutely recommend Vertical Ascents for anyone seeking to strengthen their mental fortitude in their climbing. Jackie's approach to her coaching practice was client-centered, holistic, and passionate. I feel deep gratitude for having the opportunity to work with her and Vertical Ascents - I truly believe I would not have progressed in the way I have without their support and expertise.”

Britton, Santa Cruz CA

“I started working with Simon as a new climber with a background as a committed athlete in other sports. I can't recommend working with him enough, he really changed the way I thought about climbing and gave me the tools to approach different aspects of climbing with both a more focused mindset while broadening my technical movement. The entire training program was both meticulous, well thought out and doable with specific goals attached to each type of workout, both climbing and lifting that really allowed for the maximum progression. What I really enjoyed working with Simon was that the program wasn't static, it changed depending on a change in goals, new strengths /weaknesses, injury etc. The fluidity of the program allowed for new insights and progression. Simon takes a vested interest in everyone he coaches from expert climbers- to someone like myself that came to this sport later in the game . He is a wonderful coach who is clear and concise and has a keen eye for movement correction on video.”

Elena Stamatakos

“For several years I have been a mostly casual gym climber who relied on friends to get outside, and was stuck as v2s. I worked with Louie for several months in order to push myself to become a more skilled, and confident climber. Louie approached our coaching with so much thoughtfulness, knowledge, and enthusiasm. My technique, strength, and confidence all grew over that time and I hit several new milestones as a result: cracking my first v4s, and being the more knowledgeable person taking newer climbers out to a crag to name a few! Most importantly, he provided me with conceptual tools and a set of workouts that I have been able to rely on since our sessions came to an end. I will absolutely want to work with Louie and Simon again in the future!”

Dave Stimson (IFMGA Guide)

“I have really enjoyed working with Vertical Ascents to develop as a climber. As a Mountain Guide, I have struggled to understand how training could fit into my life. While the job is physical, and includes many of the recreation elements I do personally, it is a job that can promote stagnation and plateau in my personal climbing. Louie has helped me to work training into my life in a holistic way that balances my personal goals while adapting to the physical demands of mountain guiding. The custom programming and personal attention from Lou has been invaluable in ways that pre-programmed exercise routines fall short. He has put together a plan that builds on the physical work already being done through my job, while helping me stay on track when work and life demands take me out of a routine.”

Mandy Keathley

“The Vertical Ascents Mind Program curriculum is amazing. The concepts were intellectually stimulating, while also being practical and actionable. Jackie customized the program to focus on my exact mindset block, which at the time was a form of anxiety that prevented me from being able to focus when trying to send a hard project. As soon as I applied the strategies we discussed in our coaching calls, the issue vanished. As we continued the program, I noticed my climbing mindset shifted in a way that makes climbing feel more fun, valuable, sustainable, and integrated into the rest of life. Personally, I believe the most important part of a coaching program is the relationship with the coach themselves. Jackie is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and simply fun to talk with. I left every call feeling inspired, motivated, and like we could have nerded out together for hours.”

Lauren, CA

“I came to Simon following bilateral shoulder surgeries, and although I had been climbing and running for years, I had a mountain of poor habits (ahererrmmmm, over-training, much?), post-surgical limitations, and HUGE goals and dreams to bring to the table. Simon took it all in stride. From day one I felt safe and confident telling him what I wanted to get out of my body and my training, and simply trusting his expertise and vision to get me from A to B. What can I say? I intended to give myself a year of coaching as a self-gift after my surgeries... three years later and I was still working with Simon. Put simply, Simon changed my life. He helped me find the magic of balanced, structured, intentional training, and how my body and my performance in all metrics could logarithmically progress with consistent work. His guidance and kind direction has been the main catalyst for so much profound change. Beyond being a science-nerd that stays up on current exercise physiology and practices... well, Simon is just a pleasure to work with. I simply can't say enough about the value of what Vertical Ascents gives to their clients.”

Caroline

“Working with Simon was incredible—not only because of how much it improved my climbing, but also because I just really enjoyed chatting with him every week. The program completely changed my approach to climbing. It definitely led to sending harder grades, but more importantly, it led to me having more fun. I was able to restructure my climbing and my goals around my enjoyment, and integrate the two in a way that's been moving and has had an impact on my life outside of the sport. Simon is a great listener and a good partner. He encouraged me to learn to make decisions for myself and to build a training program that works for me at any given time. You could say he definitely enjoys teaching people to fish, rather than just handing them the food. Beyond that, he's a wealth of knowledge and a curious mind who I feel lucky now to call a friend. I couldn't give him a higher recommendation.”

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