Come as you are. We’ll send you home stronger.
The Front Climbing Club’s encouraging tagline springs to mind with the establishment of our revamped adaptive climbing program. The program caters to participants with various disabilities who are eager to hone their climbing craft or try out climbing for the first time.
When it comes to adaptive climbing, the intent is to “adapt the sport to you, not have you adapt to the sport,” according to past program volunteer, mountain guide, current staff member, and adaptive athlete Santiago “Santi” Vega.
The Front’s adaptive program is all about figuring out what works for individual participants. Staff members are here to listen and determine how to make climbing fun and challenging for each climber. Some might prefer a standard belay and campusing up the wall using arms only, while others might prefer some mechanical-advantage assistance and a seated harness, or a counterweight system to take a little weight off. These innovations and more are all implemented to create fulfilling and enjoyable climbing experiences designed and catered to each climber’s specific needs.
Michelle Ward, a legally blind adaptive climber who has competed in the Paraclimbing World Championships, believes the adaptive program offers more than just physical assistance. As a blind climber, Ward often uses a guide dog, a caller to help her navigate holds, and a communication headset, which brings some attention from able-bodied climbers.
“The Front’s adaptive program brings a sense of community,” she said. “Every new gym I go to, I am stared at initially because of my dog and the guy yelling, ‘Left! No, your other left!’ at me through headsets. Adaptive programs like this remind me that we are badass people and there are people who get it.”
The origins of The Front’s adaptive program were back in 2016, when Chris Call, who had been interning with various physical therapy providers, had heard about adaptive programming. He worked with volunteer Willow Toso and others to build the program to several regular meetups and participants.
As with a lot of things, the pandemic dealt a blow to the volunteer version of The Front’s adaptive program. Meetings, at least for a little while, became impossible, and the once-active program faded.
Several participants in that program, however, still hoped to rekindle the community that had died down. In August of 2021, members of The Front’s staff and other participants, including adaptive climbers such as Vega and program leader Shane Farver, took part in a training course provided by Paradox Sports, an adaptive-specific organization based in Colorado. That springboard led to more conversations, which finally culminated with Farver, Vega, and Call, a neurological rehab center physical therapist and Front team member, joining the adaptive team as staff members. The team was joined by Maya Wheeler, who has a competitive climbing background, and Jill Boylen, who works at both the National Ability Center and The Front, under the leadership of Adult Program Manager David Farkas.
Adaptive climbing at The Front held its soft relaunch in December of 2021 with past participants and the above-mentioned staff. With plans to roll out more meetups throughout the spring, program leaders hope to eventually establish regular meetups at all Front locations, adaptive-specific clinics, speakers, and more.
“I’m excited that it’s back and official,” said Call. “That was my goal from the beginning was to create an official program.”
With the first meetup now complete, The Front is seeking to once again host regular adaptive climbing sessions. We’re making the call to adaptive climbers and prospective adaptive climbers all along the Wasatch Front to join us! Please sign up for our adaptive email list here, and we’ll contact you about our next adaptive climbing opportunities and events. We’re hoping to host another meetup sometime this month!
Come as you are. Really. We’re eager to make you stronger.
By Shane Farver
Shane Farver is a longtime outdoor nut and member of the adaptive climbing community and The Front Climbing Club’s adaptive programming team. When he’s not climbing indoors or outdoors, you can most often find Shane riding his bike or walking his mega mutt, Frida.
