My Climbing Journey

My first standout memory of climbing was a guided climbing day in Yosemite (USA) back in 2010. It immediately resonated with me and aligned with all that I loved about being in the outdoors: the sense of adventure, the breathtaking scenery, the feeling of accomplishment, the freedom of movement, the connection with nature, and the relationships you build.

In 2011, I decided to spend my gap year doing a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester in the Pacific Northwest (USA & CAN). The course would consist of four month-long expedition-style trips, learning and developing various wilderness and leadership skills, while mountaineering, hiking, climbing and sailing throughout the region. As well as developing my passion and competency in the outdoors, this time really fostered my love for teaching and facilitating such experiences.

I returned to Australia in 2012 to start a Bachelor of Outdoor Education and Nature Tourism at La Trobe University, Bendigo. At the time, this was regarded as the leading outdoor education course in the Southern Hemisphere, with a focus on practical experience in nature and time spent on trips. In addition to deepening my experience in the outdoors, the course helped develop my understanding of pedagogy, naturalist studies, and environmental interpretation. I graduated in 2016 with a focus on bush, climbing, and flat-water environments.

After studying in Bendigo, I moved to the Blue Mountains to work as a climbing and canyon guide, living out of a van, developing my climbing, and exploring all the beautiful environments the area had to offer. For the next four years, I maintained this lifestyle, travelling seasonally between the Blue Mountains, Grampians and Arapiles, all the while working as a guide, living as a dirtbag, and climbing consistently.

At the start of 2020, I had moved to Melbourne with my partner so that she could pursue her career as an Anthropologist. The combination of climbing bans and Covid lockdowns encouraged me to pivot towards climbing coaching, and allowed me to utilise the skills and experience I already had. After informally experimenting with coaching and exercise prescription in 2020, I launched Peak Performance Climbing in 2021. At the same time, I also started working at Urban Climb, initially coaching adults and instructing rescue training with the staff. This soon developed into becoming the head of adult coaching for the Urban Climb, and running lead courses and rope-specific rescue training with the opening of Blackburn in 2022.

In late 2023, I moved to Central Victoria to be closer to nature and outdoor climbing. This move coincided with a chronic stress fracture to my lower lumbar spine back in early 2024, as a result of excessive manual labour at a job I was working to supplement my income during this transition. This injury resulted in the most difficult two years I have ever experienced. Testing my identity, career, financial security and relationships. However, it has also brought with it many silver linings, testing my tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, giving me a deeper perspective of what is important, shaping my climbing and coaching philosophies, and expanding my ability to help others through turbulent times.

I am currently very active within my climbing coaching, working with clients in person and remotely, both locally and abroad. If you are looking to develop your climbing with impact, meaning and longevity, I am certain that I can assist you in reaching your goals and navigating the challenges along the way.