Russell
Russell Hitch
Bio coming soon!
Comp. Team Head Coach
The Front’s climbing teams don’t just make better athletes, they make better humans.
Register for a try out, where you’ll experience practice, meet the coaches, and learn more about what teams are all about.
Utah is home to some of the best climbing in the world, indoors and out. From the technical granite in Little Cottonwood Canyon, to our famed birch walls in downtown Salt Lake, the climbing opportunities here are unmatched. Salt Lake has a long and rich history of groundbreaking climbing achievements, competitions, and industry advancements, and The Front has been a key part of the story since the 1990s. We’re local to the core and know the landscape of competitive climbing here well—because we’ve been growing with it, every step of the way.
The Front’s Climbing Teams operate with one mission: to forge well-rounded and confident lifelong climbers through the principles of teamwork, technique, strength, and mental fitness. Our programs are meticulously designed to cater to every type of athlete, from those seeking a social and fun climbing experience to those aspiring to become Olympians. With a dedicated and passionate coaching staff, The Front’s Climbing Teams are committed to cultivating each athlete’s potential, providing a supportive and challenging environment that encourages growth and excellence at every level. To find more information regarding the competitive climbing season, visit usaclimbing.org. To join the Team, register for a try out at your closest Front location.
The Recreation Team offers a welcome first step for young climbers who are excited to experience climbing in a team atmosphere. Dedicated coaches lead each practice with curriculum that’s fun, engaging, and gives athletes knowledge to improve their climbing skills.
The Rec Team builds on the fundamental skills that climbers learn in our Afterschool and Summer Camp programs, introducing more complex climbing movements and techniques while increasing their overall climbing knowledge in a relaxed, non-competitive environment.
Is your teen ready to make climbing a weekly activity? Check out Senior Rec Team! This program offers a fun way for athletes aged 14 – 18 to develop their climbing skills while building a community with kids their age.
Learn the ins and outs of the sport alongside dedicated coaches with a curriculum designed to be fun, engaging, and learning oriented. In each practice, Senior Rec-Team athletes will learn complex climbing movements and techniques while increasing their overall climbing knowledge in a relaxed, non-competitive environment.
Practice Times
Intermediate Teams are for athletes who want to progress their climbing skills beyond a social level. Intermediate Teams provide an environment where athletes learn what it means to be a competition climber, learn the structure of USA Climbing Competitions, and take on the training needed to scale climbing growth.
Intermediate Team athletes are welcome and encouraged to attend competitions alongside our Competitive Team. At practice, Intermediate Team athletes learn advanced climbing techniques, climbing-specific strength and mobility training, as well as in-depth route reading and beta identification.
The Junior Intermediate team encompasses athletes in the Youth C/D categories, (Ages 6-12)
The Intermediate Team encompasses athletes in the Youth B/A/JR categories. (Ages 13-18)
Practice Times
Athletes on the Competitive Team will compete in rope and bouldering competitions, which run year-round at various climbing facilities, and attend regular practices at The Front. While competitions provide an avenue for athletes to test what they have learned in practice, this team’s core purpose is to create lifelong team players, leaders, and climbers.
Competitive Team athletes are required to come to practice with an open mind and a willingness to try hard, push further, and work through failure. Our experienced coaching team is committed to cultivating an environment where athletes learn to push themselves physically and mentally, working towards mental fortitude on and off the wall. We ask each of our Competitive Team athletes to journal at the end of practice, taking the time and space to reflect with a coach on what they have learned, and how they can use it to improve themselves not only as a climber, but also as a person.
Practice Times
Our coaches are selected for their expertise as teachers and climbers, as well as their experience instructing groups and individuals. The emotional well-being and development of each athlete comes first, as our coaches acknowledge that great performances come from confident, happy athletes who believe in themselves and their abilities.
Competitive Team
Bio coming soon!
Comp. Team Head Coach
Hilary has been an avid climber for 30 years. Growing up on the East Coast, she began climbing in the Gunks, making the trek from NYC every weekend. As a former gymnast, the transition to climbing came naturally, but mastering the mental and technical aspects of the sport took time. Hilary competed at local and national levels for many years. She later embarked on a yearlong climbing road trip, embracing "vanlife," which ultimately led her to settle in Salt Lake City. She continues to sport climb and boulder outdoors, as well as in the gym.
For the past seven years, Hilary has been a coach at The Front, building on her years of experience coaching gymnastics. She works with the Youth Competition Team, the Adaptive Paraclimbing Team, and the "Upending Parkinson’s" group. She also teaches adult programming and works as a private coach. As a climbing coach, Hilary specializes in teaching movement, the mental aspects of the sport, breathwork, and fear management. She believes movement is at the core of climbing, with all other skills building upon that foundation. She finds it incredibly rewarding to see climbers make small adjustments in their position or movement initiation, allowing them to succeed in moves they previously struggled with.
Hilary works with both youth and adult climbers, including adaptive athletes, from beginner to advanced levels in all aspects of the sport including lead, top rope and bouldering.
Hilary’s coaching philosophy centers on developing the whole athlete—not just their climbing skills, but also their emotional and mental resilience. She believes a growth mindset is key to improvement and that a shift in perspective can transform challenges into opportunities for growth. Her holistic approach helps athletes become the best climbers they can be, whether their goals are recreational or competitive, in the gym or outdoors.
Hilary was an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah for 15 years. She now runs a private practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She is also the proud parent of a former Front Competition Team athlete.
Comp. Team Coach
I'm Adam! I am 24 years old and a transplant from Atlanta, Georgia. I originally grew up in Florida but I did not take climbing seriously until I moved to Atlanta. When I started youth coaching for the Stone Summit Team, I immediately knew I was passionate about it. When I'm not climbing, I am playing an instrument, hiking, swimming, or cooking. I am also passionate about animal welfare and food access equality.
Comp. & Int. Team Coach
Intermediate Team
I did not grow up climbing, but I did grow up calling the Wasatch mountains home, spending countless hours in the mountains skiing, hiking, camping, biking. It wasn’t until the end of high school that I began climbing; a few new circles of friends were climbing, and I would tag along. Very quickly I grew fond of the sport, spending almost every evening climbing for many hours. Not only did I feel the physical benefits of climbing, but the emotional and mental benefits, plus the problem solving is enjoyable with my background in math. I hope through coaching to develop life-long healthy climbers.
Int. Team Coach
Howdy! My name is Eli, and I am a former comp team athlete at the front. I decided to start coaching after I was done competing because I enjoy climbing so much, and so that I could share the joy and knowledge of climbing with others!
Int. Team Coach
Hello there, my name is Alexis and I’ve been climbing since 2017. I began climbing at The Front and soon after became a climbing instructor for summer camp at The Front in 2018, and became a climbing coach the same year. It's been amazing to work with the same kids for years and helping new kids as well. Besides climbing, I love yoga, playing D&D, and rollerblading!
Int. Team Coach
Junior Intermediate Team
Bio coming soon!
Jr. Int. Team Coach
Hi, my name Grant and I have been climbing for 6 years. I started climbing by going to my friend's birthday party at a local gym and went on to join a team and compete. Now I enjoy climbing outside as much as possible. I love coaching because I can share my love for climbing, and some of my best memories are with my climbing team.
Jr. Int. & Rec. Team Coach
My name is Kimberly Marino and I am a coach for the junior intermediate team at the Front. I fell in love with climbing in 2014 and have been coaching youth rock climbing for about 5 years - formerly at a gym in San Diego. Outside of the climbing gym I am also a full-time special education teacher and work with elementary students at a school in Kearns. If you see me around the gym, please say hi, as I love to meet new people!
Jr. Int. Team Coach
Recreational Team
Hi there, I’m James McCarson! I’m a student at the University of Utah studying Parks, Recreation, and Tourism & English. I’m a passionate climber, who prefers bouldering and I love sharing the sport with new people. When not climbing I love reading, writing, music, and finding new adventures to go on.
Rec Team Coach
Bio coming soon!
Rec Team Coach
Bio coming soon!
Rec Team Coach
After submitting the form below, we will contact you to set up a try out for your child to join The Front’s Youth Climbing Team. Try outs are non-competitive and are only to assess skill level to make sure your child is placed on the appropriate team. Placement on preferred team is not guaranteed.
