Athletes
Competition and sponsored athletes exhibit solidarity in their support of the PRC as the professional climbing competition body of the future. Athletes are dedicated and train 4 to 5 days a week for 3 hours a day. Male and female athletes, mostly between the ages of 13 and 25, are lean and muscular in order to climb well. The physical fitness of the athletes allows them to be cross marketed to sponsors as well as attractive to watch while climbing.
Robyn Erbesfield
Boulder, CO Years Climbing: 30 5X U.S. National Difficulty Champion 4X World Cup Difficulty Champion
Nothing is better than watching a person’s life transform just by adding climbing to their lives. I’ve climbed, coached and taught all over the world for 20 years and it is always the same positive transformation. Climbing provides people with the space and tools to amplify their innate talents, develop confidence in their abilities, and determination in their lives. This is just the mental aspect of climbing, the physical benefits of strength, endurance and flexibility are obvious. I would love nothing better than to see a professional organization of climbers help other climbers and climbers-to-be of all ages realize their potential through climbing.
Chris Lindner (Age: 23)
Salt Lake City, UT
Years Climbing: 20
2006 Western US Bouldering Champion, Las Vegas, NV
Lead 5.10 at the age of four, 5.12 at six, 5.13 at nine, 5.14 at 14, and 5.14c at 16
Established countless first ascents of routes and boulder problems worldwide
“Rock climbing is a profession that exists today for a select few, but could be solidified, expanded and improved immensely with an organizing body like the PRC. Professional climbing is a very young sport and the first generation of professionals are currently realizing how they can create a legitimate profession for the second generation that remains true to the spirit of the sport, economically beneficial for sponsors, and financially rewarding for competitors. This is a very interesting and critical moment in the timeline of professional rock climbing and I can’t wait to be involved in the next step of bringing the proudest sport in the world to the international spotlight that it deserves.”
Emily Harrington (Age: 20)
Boulder, CO
Years Climbing: 10
2-Time Junior National Difficulty Champion
3-Time Adult US National Difficulty Champion
2-Time North American Difficulty Champion
Runner-Up 2005 Difficulty World Championships
2006 Serre Chevalier International Difficulty Champion
2nd American female to climb 5.14b & the 13th in the world to have climbed that grade
“After having competed throughout Europe and North America, I have noticed the large gap between the two competition scenes. In Europe, the events are extremely well organized, with high levels of attendance and excitement. The North American competition scene lacks nearly all of these elements to a certain degree. We need an organization such as the PRC to bring competition climbing in North America to the next level. I am very driven to progress and to continue to test my limits in competition. I see the PRC as a visionary organization that can not only help me achieve my own personal goals, but can bring the sport of climbing to the next level and the forefront of extreme sports competition.»
Elliot Bloch (Age: 26)
Years Climbing: 12
Competition Experience: World Cup and International Opens, PCA’s, Gorge Games, Foreign and Domestic National Championships
“After watching Takeru Kobayashi devour 59 bratwurst in 10 minutes on national tv, it is clear in my mind that professional rock climbers around the world are in desperate need of an organized and PROFITABLE professional entity. I can’t think of anyone more qualified and decorated to develop this entity than Timy Fairfield. Having climbed, competed, and trained with Timy in the US and Europe for more than 10 years I assure you that he will bring the exposure to our sport it desperately deserves.”
Jon Cardwell (Age: 18)
Albuquerque, NM
Years Climbing: 5
2007 USAC Adult Difficulty National Champion
2nd Place, 2004 & 2005 USAC Difficulty National Championships
4th Place, 2006 UIAA Junior World Championships, Imst, Austria
“The experience I have gained from climbing has shown me the need to evolve this sport, specifically bouldering, into a serious sport which can be identified by mainstream audiences. My goal is to become a professional climber and I feel that the PRC is the stepping stone that will help me achieve that, as well as being a progressive step in evolving the sport of bouldering.”
Vadim Vinokur (Age: 33)
Brooklyn, NY
Years Climbing: 29
Winner of 7 US National Championships
Winner of the 2004 North American Championships
3rd Place, 1998 X-Games, San Diego, CA
4th Place, Climbing’s debut at the 2005 Intl World Games, Germany
“I’ve observed the growth and development of the sport of climbing. The venues have become bigger, the audiences larger and even a few climbers can now make a modest living off of it. Competitive climbing now stands at a very important junction. What is paramount for the future growth is the proper setting and the venue to showcase the beauty of the sport. PRC is the organization with the necessary vision for the sport, and more importantly the understanding of the sport’s true potential. PRC can take the sport to that next level, making it successful and commercially viable.”
Sean McColl (Age: 19)
BC, Canada
Years Climbing: 9
Winner of 5 Youth World Titles 2002-2007
2006 North American Climbing Champion
2 Top-10 finishes on the 2006 World Cup Circuit
“Every day that I’m climbing, I feel that I can learn something new. I strive to become a better climber every time I’m on the wall, whether I’m climbing on rock, plastic or visualizing mentally. My dream is to become a professional climber and I believe with the right motivation and hard work that it can become a reality. I think that the PRC organization will not only help me become more recognized in the climbing community but will also allow me to help other climbers achieve their goals in the sport.”
Jena Lupia (Age: 15)
Tijeras, NM
Years Climbing: 3
Member 2007 USAC Junior National Team
2007 CO/NM Regional Bouldering Champion
3rd Place, ‘07 Jr. National Bouldering Championships (Girls 14-15)
“I am a sponsored junior climbing athlete. After only a few seasons of climbing, I have realized that we need a professional climbing circuit to develop our sport into something greater. Such an organization would demonstrate the excitement and passion of this sport, as well as offer climbers a different forum for competition. I really think that the PRC can deliver leaps and bounds above the current climbing federations. I would highly recommend the PRC – they are professional and world class.”
Zach Lerner (Age: 19)
State College, PA
Years Climbing: 7
2-Time Junior Bouldering National Champion
2006 Junior Difficulty National Champion
2004 Junior Continental Bouldering & Difficulty Champion
“In my mind, the PRC couldn’t have come at a better time. Until now, the competition climbing scene in the US has lacked professional commitment. Apart from a select few, it has been nearly impossible to make a decent living from this sport. I believe that sad fact is about to change. National media coverage and corporate sponsors have one thing in common – Money. The stage has been set for a professional level organization; enter PRC, due to the previous absence of any logical progression from youth competition climbing to adult. It is my honest opinion that the PRC will change the sport of climbing forever.”
Sierra Blair-Coyle (Age: 13)
Scottsdale, AZ
Years Climbing: 4
Member ‘07 USAC Junior National Team
2nd Place, ‘07 Jr. National Bouldering Championships (Girls 12-13)
Finalist, ‘06 ESPN Asian X Games Invitational – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
‘05 Junior National Speed Climbing Champion
“I have competed in many competitions, which is one of my favorite aspects of climbing. I believe in the PRC because we currently do not have professional level bouldering competitions in the US and the events we have are not year-round. To continually grow our sport and evolve towards mainstream sponsors and larger competitions, our starting point must be this professional organization.”