Professional Rock Climbing

Industry

Industry leaders demonstrate their support for the PRC as a viable promotional vehicle to grow the industry and the sport of climbing.

Mark Crowther

Years in Industry: 3
Owner-Publisher
URBAN CLIMBER MAGAZINE, UCMAG.TV and CLIMBING MAGAZINE

“Back in the ‘60s when the first structured surf competitions were introduced to the sport, the surfers all did it for love and ego. There was no sponsorship, just a bunch of teenagers who gathered intermittently and pitted their respective skills against each other. That could describe the sport of climbing in the US today. But it shouldn’t. There are 4 times as many gym climbers today as there are surfers, and over half of them are under the age of 24. Now is the time for a professional climbing organiztion like the PRC and now is the time for it to lead the formation of a pro circuit.”

Beaver Theodosakis

Years in Industry: 20
President and Founder of Prana
Ex-Pro Racecar Driver

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation and support for Tim Fairfield’s effort and vision to launch the Professional Rock Climbing Tour. As the president and founder of Prana, a global climbing/yoga lifestyle company, this is exactly what our sport needs to do – to expose the youthful energy and exciting activity of rock climbing to a mainstream audience ! The PRC is an excellent promotional vehicle to share the ideals of rock climbers- their passion for the outdoors, their tenacity, their positive attitude and their leadership in sustainable thinking. All important ideals for the growing population of conscious consumers.”

Mike Call

Years in Industry: 9
Filmmaker/Videographer
Owner/Operator, momentumvm.com

Mike was an original shareholder and manager of the first climbing gym in Utah. He worked for industry leader Black Diamond for four years, then helped to start Pusher, a groundbreaking youth-oriented climbing equipment manufacturer. Seven years later he began pursuing his passion for filmmaking full time by starting Movement Films – a successful production company that created critically acclaimed films that remain top sellers today. He has shot rock climbing events at the biggest competitions in the US for three years as executive producer and director. He currently owns and operates momentumvm.com, the only online climbing video magazine that people count on as a “climbing channel”, getting the latest in the cutting edge of climbing.

“I believe that the time has come for professional climbing to be shown to the world for what it is: one of the highest forms of gymnastic athleticism and performance. I believe the sport of climbing has just been missing a professional governing body to standardize the competition format and make it viable to sponsors, athletes, and viewers. “

Brian Solano

Years in the industry: 6 Professional Photographer/Filmmaker www.BrianSolano.com

Throughout my career, the sport of climbing has seen tremendous growth due to the emergence of climbing gyms throughout the country. It is time that the sport be marketed to the masses in a targeted, strategic, and effective way. While climbing continues to make appearances in National ad campaigns and Hollywood films, I don’t think the average American understands what the sport is really about. That is why we need an organization like the PRC to professionally market our sport on a commercial level. I strongly support Timy Fairfield’s vision to show the world what climbing is all about.

Jonathan Lantz

Years in Industry: 9
Marketing Director, La Sportiva Climbing Shoes
Ex-Pro Skateboarder

“The time has come for climbing to step into mainstream American culture. Our sport is in need of an organization that is committed to developing the image, structure and integrity of modern climbing. An organization that can communicate the power, beauty, grace and social consciousness that climbing delivers. Climbing allows the youth of today to develop their concentration, strength, problem solving skills and self-image in a way that no other sport allows and yet it is an amazingly accessible sport to people of every walk of life. The time is now for the right organization to step in, fuel the fire and expose our sport to the masses.”

Clark Shelk

Years in Industry: 12
President of Revolution Climbing, Inc.
Founder of Cordless, Inc.
Manager of Pusher, Inc.

“Climbing is much more than just the latest flash-in-the-pan “extreme sport”. It is a worldwide activity that creates devoted lifelong participants. Bouldering has grown from a small underground movement and non-existent industry in the mid-1990s to worldwide participation supporting a multi-million dollar industry today. This rapid growth in popularity of bouldering is due to its simplicity, beauty, accessibility and relatively low expense. I believe that this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg for our sport. As a regular sponsor of climbing competition events, I have been eagerly awaiting an ambitious organization like Professional Rock Climbing, LLC to advance the cause. I believe that there is outstanding growth potential for what they aim to achieve and they are the right people to make it happen. Timy Fairfield is one of the most accomplished and well-respected climbers in the world as well as one of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and driven people I have worked with in the last decade.”

Troy Mayr

Years in Industry: 24
Professional Photographer
C.E.O. of the non-profit “Friends of Williamson Rock”
Board of Directors, Access Fund
Author of many guidebooks, book segments and magazine articles
Established 100’s of climbs and competed nationally & internationally during the 1980s & 1990s

“The pursuit of climbing in its various forms is a fantastic endeavor involving many elements such as strength, flexibility, interaction with nature, problem solving skills and the ability to control stress under pressure. Yet this does not preclude the average person from benefiting and enjoying the sport, climbing can be tailored to suit one’s experience and ability level and for many it becomes a life long activity. What the sport lacks is a unifying voice, a governing body that can promote climbing to a broader audience and cultivate a greater awareness of its benefits. Now is the time in the evolution of the climbing landscape for the leaders of the sport to create this organization and propel the sport into the future.”

Chris Wall

Years in Industry: 14
Training and Coaching Director, The Boulder Rock Club
2006 Youth World Championships US National Team Coach
Head Coach, Colorado Women’s Bouldering Team
USA Climbing Education Chairman
Masters Degree, Exercise Physiology

“I feel that the PRC is invaluable to American competition bouldering. It will provide professional climbing athletes with the opportunity to test themselves in the most consistent format yet devised, as well as create the infrastructure that will lead a competitive bouldering tour into a level of professionalism that has ever been seen in this country.”

Jim Karn

Years in Industry: 22
Product Developer, Metolius Climbing
International Routesetter: ‘99 ESPN X-Games
First American male to win an international climbing competition (France, 1991)

“I believe that the entire outdoor industry as well as the sport of climbing itself will benefit greatly from the promotional efforts of a professional climbing organization and a professional competition circuit. I strongly support Timy Fairfield’s PRC, LLC.”

Brandi Proffitt

Years in Industry: 14
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
USAC Nationally Accredited Climbing Coach
Intl Routesetter – ESPN Asian X-Games 2003-2007
2003 Canadian National Champion
2006 Western US Bouldering Champion
Ranked among top 10 women in US national competition 2001-2005

“Since I began climbing I have seen competitions shift away from the slow pace of roped climbing to the dynamic excitement of bouldering. However, I have yet to see any organization in the US take climbing competition to a level that reaches beyond amateur status or that appeals to an audience outside of the sport. A professional competition tour is imperative to the success of this sport on a commercial level, and to the professionalization of our athletes. I believe that the PRC is the first and only organization with the vision and means to achieve this goal.”

Joe Czerwinski

Years in Industry: 13
Head Routesetter & Operations Manager, AZ on the Rocks Climbing Center, Scottsdale, AZ
International Routesetter – events include ESPN US X-Games 2000-2001, & the Asian X-Games 1999-2005

“As one of the climbing industry’s top route designers, and the most experienced production route designer in the United States, I have seen competition organizations rise and fall. For climbing to achieve the recognition as a professional sport with top level athletes, there needs to be a stage for the world to see what competition climbing encompasses. I believe the PRC will create the pinnacle of alternative sports entertainment on a commercial level. The climbing industry cannot afford another unsuccessful endeavor. In my opinion, the PRC is the only organization with the vision and foresight to see what others have done, and take it to the next level and beyond.”