Member Spotlight
Becca Russell on Climbing, Community, and Inspiration
Becca Russell reflects on her climbing journey in our latest Member Spotlight! Becca is a beloved Coeur Climbing member and has competed in FlailFest the past two years. She’s full of wisdom for climbers of all levels. Read on for her thoughts on climbing!
What initially drew you to climbing?
I remember going to a friend’s birthday party at a climbing gym as a middle schooler. I was a competitive gymnast at the time so the movement of the sport, the combination of strength and balance, immediately caught my attention. The desire to get into climbing lived in the back of my mind for years after that, but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I finally found the opportunity to act upon that desire. With a full schedule, I needed something fun that would get me outside and moving my body. I found out my school offered a beginning rock climbing elective that met at the local crag only five minutes from campus. That was all it took. By the time that class came to a close, I was hooked.
What important lessons have you learned from climbing that you apply to your daily life?
Before Coeur opened, I’d been sport climbing for years but I had basically never bouldered. My journey into bouldering really revealed to me how trying new things can improve other areas of your life. In terms of climbing, bouldering quickly improved my strength, technique, and confidence. Now when I sport climb, I feel so much stronger and I’m willing to try things I wouldn’t have even considered possible for me in the past. This realization doesn’t limit itself to climbing though; it’s applicable to everything in life. Stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new expands your experiences and allows you to grow as a person. It may even open doors in your life you never would have expected.
Have you had any mentors or climbing partners who have significantly impacted your journey? What have you learned from them?
Peter Joyce started out as my instructor for beginning climbing, later becoming my boss at the campus climbing wall, and over the years evolving into an important mentor and role model of mine. He inspires students with stories of his younger days climbing big walls and running from park rangers in Yosemite, yet maintains the utmost respect for following new guidelines and safety standards as the world of climbing has progressed throughout his life. He taught me everything I know, from the simplest knots all the way to advanced rescue techniques. He instilled the framework of safety in my mind that has guided me throughout all the adventures I’ve taken. Peter’s influence on my life stems far beyond climbing. As a mentor to me throughout college, he helped me navigate the tricky waters that are life-and-identity as a young adult. By simply being himself, he showed me a mindset and lifestyle that I constantly admire and strive for in my daily life.
How has climbing impacted your physical health and fitness, or your mental health and well-being?
It’s easy to see how climbing will impact your physical fitness in ways such as building muscle and improving balance, but some may overlook the way it can impact your mental health and well-being. Personally, climbing has always felt like a healthy way to face and overcome fear. As climbers, I’d say most, if not all, of us experience nerves surrounding a climb here and there. Since it’s a physical activity, my brain logically understands how focusing on my breathing will get me through the hard moves, additionally getting me through the scary ones as well. What I’ve come to appreciate is how that’s naturally translated to other areas of my life. Climbing is a reminder to me of how breathing and connecting to the present moment, whether that’s inside or outside of climbing, can give you just what you need to accomplish scary things.
How has being part of the climbing community at our gym enriched your life?
Personally, the FlailFest competition stands out in my mind as a way Coeur has enriched my life. Each year it has inspired me to try climbs that I would usually consider outside of my ability. It has allowed me to exceed expectations and surpass limitations I have both consciously and subconsciously placed on myself, inside and outside of climbing. It has helped me to find a new confidence in myself by stepping outside of my comfort zone, within a community that feels safe enough to do so. As someone who is quite introverted, both FlailFest and Coeur in general have allowed me a place to feel seen and included without necessarily having to initiate conversation, something I often find hard to do. Thanks to the friendly community at Coeur, I’ve been able to form new friendships and reconnect old ones in ways I never expected and might not have been able to outside of the gym.
What are your future goals in climbing and how do you plan to achieve them?
Multi-pitch climbing has always been my favorite way to spend time outside on rocks. Someday I hope to be able to enter into the world of big wall climbing. It feels far-fetched at times, but so does everything you dream about and have yet to do. In hopes of achieving this dream someday, there are a few baby steps that’ll get me in that direction. There’s a 15 pitch moderate route called The Lion King up in the Selkirks that I’ve been eyeballing for a few years now. My goal is to climb it this summer to get a feel for larger multi-pitch routes. I also plan to continue finding places like Coeur with friendly communities where I can hopefully find mentors, inspiration, and climbing partners that may help this dream come true.
What advice would you give to someone new to climbing or considering taking it up?
First and foremost, I’d say to have patience with climbing. It takes time to build strength and develop good technique. I would also remind them that you don’t have to be good at it or climb super hard grades to be a climber. After all, it’s all about having fun and moving your body. If they do want to improve their climbing ability, I’d encourage them to climb with friends, especially those with more experience. It’s amazing how much more motivation there is with others and how much you can learn simply by watching each other climb.
If you could describe your climbing journey in one word, what would it be and why?
Inspirational! Climbing has inspired me in so many ways. It has opened my eyes as to what I’m capable of, encouraging me to try hard things. It’s inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone in the effort to meet new friends and climbing partners. On days I feel down or don’t want to do much, climbing inspires me to move my body, knowing how much it will boost my mood. And of course, every day that I climb outside I’m inspired by the beauty of the outdoors and the endless possibilities that it holds for us. I can’t wait to see where climbing continues to take me throughout the years to come.
Thank you, Becca, for sharing your story with us!
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