Coaches Who Have Been There

Maya competed at national level through her teens and early twenties, reaching two USA Climbing Bouldering National Championship finals. She transitioned into coaching eight years ago with a focus on building technical problem-solving skills in young climbers. Her sessions are fast-paced and technical, mixing movement drills with on-wall puzzles that push athletes to read sequences rather than rely on power alone. Outside the gym she runs Vertica's youth team and organizes the monthly in-house bouldering league.

Dan spent six years as a route setter on the competition circuit before turning his attention to coaching the athletes who were climbing his problems. He brings that setter's perspective to every session: he teaches climbers to understand how a route was designed so they can crack it efficiently rather than muscling through it. His lead climbing fundamentals class is the most consistently booked course at Vertica, and his weekend movement workshops draw climbers from across the region. Dan also coordinates all anchor inspections and in-house safety training.

Sara came to climbing from a background in sports physiology and competitive gymnastics, and she applies both disciplines to how she structures training blocks. She designs periodized programs that balance finger strength, antagonist training, and mobility work so climbers build capacity without accumulating injuries. Her Strength and Movement class is built around measurable benchmarks: every athlete tracks their progressions and leaves each cycle knowing exactly what improved. Sara also offers one-on-one assessments for climbers returning from injury or plateauing after years of recreational climbing.