Why Mentors in Climbing Still Matter—And Where to Find One

When I think about why I’m still climbing today—why this sport has shaped me so deeply—it always comes back to one person: my mentor. I was 10 years old when I met my climbing coach at a scrappy little gym in Greenville, SC.

Brian wasn’t just a coach—he was a mentor, a teacher, and a role model all in one. He introduced us to USA and ABS competitions, took me on ny first multipitch at 11 years old, and spent countless weekends driving us around the country to climb outside or train at higher-end gyms. With his guidance, my sister, teammates, and I all qualified for USA Climbing Nationals in our very first year. And we returned every year after that for the next decade.

From Brian, we learned discipline, technique, and the meaning of community. But more than any of that, he taught us how to love climbing—the spark that’s kept me tied to this sport all these years. Without his mentorship, I wouldn’t be the climber, or the person, I am today.

But here’s the thing: Not every mentor is a coach. Sometimes it’s a friend whose stoke made you fall in love with climbing, or the seasoned partner at the crag who shows you how to build anchors. It might be the person who patiently explained your first knot, double-checked your belay device, or kept you laughing on the wall when fear crept in. Mentors don’t have to be with you for your entire journey to make an impact—even a single moment of guidance can shape the way you climb.

Why mentorship still matters

Climbing is full of intimidating firsts: first fall, first multipitch, first trad placement. Facing those alone can be overwhelming. With a mentor, those moments become memories instead of mishaps. They’re the ones reminding you to trust your feet, or yelling encouragement when your legs are Elvis-shaking.

What sticks with us the most, though, are the lessons beyond the wall. Mentors show us how to handle both success and failure, how to support each other, and how to respect the people and places that make climbing possible. They teach us discipline, but also balance, reminding us that having fun at the crag matters just as much as training and results.

Mentorship is more than skill-sharing—it’s joy-sharing. Climbing is simply more fun with someone who invests in you. They know when to push you on a project and when to say, “Hey, let’s call it for today.” They remind you that the point isn’t just climbing harder—it’s climbing happier.

And mentorship doesn’t expire once you “know enough.” Some of the strongest climbers I know still call their mentors for advice, reassurance, or just to share a big send. Those relationships don’t fade; they deepen, becoming part of what keeps people tied into the sport for life.

Where to find your mentor

The beauty of climbing is that mentors are everywhere if you’re open to them. A mentor can be the person who teaches you from day one, the friend whose stoke made you fall in love with the sport, or the climber who shows up at just the right moment to guide you through a pivotal stage in your journey. They don’t have to be with you for the entire ride to make a lasting impact. Even a single moment of guidance can shape the way you climb.

Local gyms are full of climbers willing to share beta, safety checks, and stories if you approach with curiosity and humility. Clubs, meetups, and university teams thrive on mentorship. At the crag, it might be as simple as an experienced climber offering a pointer or a word of encouragement.

And sometimes, mentors find you. Maybe it’s the partner who always ropes up with you on weekends, or the friend who patiently teaches knots until your hands move without thinking. Climbing is a community-driven sport, and at its heart, it’s built on passing knowledge, stoke, and even gear from one to another.

Pass it on

If you’re a new climber, seek out a mentor. If you’re experienced, be one. The best thing about mentorship is that it multiplies: Every lesson passed down becomes part of someone else’s climbing story.

Behind every climber is someone who helped them tie in, someone who believed in them before they believed in themselves. Climbing is about movement, but it’s also about connection—and mentors are the ones who make both possible.

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