Success Stories from Climbers - Celebrating a Year of Climbing

We’re sharing inspiring stories from some of our climbers to celebrate Coeur Climbing's one-year anniversary. These stories feature members who achieved personal goals, overcame fears, or made significant progress. Meet two of our favorite community members in the interview below!

What initially drew you to rock climbing, and how has your perception of the sport changed over time?

Mason Keough: I started climbing in 2020 during COVID since there wasn’t much to do with people. My brother and I started climbing with some stimulus check money after he had done a climbing class at his college the semester prior.

Sawyer Beck: The fact that I enjoy pushing my edges is probably what drew me into the sport of climbing. Last year my school had this as an elective at the gym and I thought it was sick that we were able to do this. Over time my love for the sport has grown into an extracurricular activity. I was, and still am, going more than three times a week and training to become the best I can be. My perception of climbing has changed from a mostly physical sport to a mental one.

Can you share a moment when you felt a significant breakthrough in your climbing abilities? What led to that moment?

MK: The first significant breakthrough I had during climbing was in September of 2023, when I realized if I wanted to climb harder I would have to try significantly harder.

SB: Although I cannot think of a certain point in my climbing experience where I had a significant breakthrough in my climbing abilities, I believe that it was multiple small occurrences that led me to the point I've reached now.

How has climbing helped you overcome personal challenges or fears? Can you share a specific example?

MK: Climbing helped me grow stronger in situations where I need to push harder when afraid.

SB: Climbing is a great way to overcome personal challenges and fears. I, individually, had a slight fear of falling. Climbing has helped me fight this head on and now I have control over it through mental discipline.

What is the most memorable climb you've done at our gym, and why does it stand out to you?

MK: The most memorable climb I did at Coeur Climbing was the blue V6/8 set up on the furthest wall when the route setters left for Utah. It stood out to me because it was the first V6/8 I was able to do.

SB: The most memorable climb I've done at the gym so far is a red V5 that I had as a project recently. It stands out to me because it has significantly improved my level in climbing, not rating, but rather my flow, ability to navigate/read routes, and ability to maintain mental discipline.

What important lessons have you learned from climbing that you apply to your daily life?

MK: Climbing has made me realize that problems usually have a solution but they all take effort.

SB: Being focused, having grit, setting goals and accomplishing them, learning from mistakes, and celebrating small wins.

How has climbing influenced your perspective on failure and success?

MK: Climbing has made me aware that just because you have not succeeded in a goal does not mean that there aren't little victories within your failures and things to learn from.

SB: Climbing has allowed me to see that there are successes in every failure and, likewise, within successes, failures. In other words, I have found there's always something I can improve on, whether big or small.

Any lessons you’ve learned from mentors or climbing partners?

MK: My most significant and biggest climbing partner is my older brother. He has allowed me to push myself harder through competition as well as helped me find incredibly creative beta.

How has your physical health and fitness changed since you started climbing?

MK: Before climbing, I wrestled in high school and was able to stay in shape very well. Climbing allowed me to stay in shape after leaving the sport and build finger and back strength.

SB: Since I've taken up climbing I have noticed that I get sick less often. I don't think I've gotten sick this year yet. I have stronger and more defined muscles, and I have a higher endurance rate than before. These changes have made me a better climber as my body continues to adapt to the sport.

In what ways has climbing affected your mental health and overall well-being?

MK: Climbing has been a great escape for me for the past couple of months. Since losing my fingers it has allowed me to push myself, as well as given me something to do while all of my friends and family are at work. Climbing is something that I have been able to reliably enjoy and has helped keep my spirits up during the adversity of life.

SB: I have found that climbing has enhanced my mental state in the areas of improved mood, mindfulness, problem-solving, mental discipline, and confidence. Climbing has also positively affected my overall well-being in physical fitness, body awareness, healthy lifestyle, and resilience.

How has being part of the climbing community at our gym enriched your life?

MK: The climbing gym has allowed me to meet other people and create good bonds even though I am not the most social person.

SB: As I have grown passionate about climbing it has enriched my life to connect to others just as passionate, if not more, about the sport at the gym. They have helped me progress in my climbing abilities through advice, encouragement, and support.

What has been your biggest challenge in climbing, and how did you overcome it?

MK: The biggest challenge I have faced while climbing is losing my fingers, and I was able to overcome it with persistence and creativity.

SB: The biggest challenge I've had in climbing was/is the fear of falling. This held me back from my true potential, and I knew this. I overcame it by, ironically, falling till I got used to it. I am also doing mental training, along with physical training for climbing, which has helped a ton as well.

Have you ever considered giving up climbing? If so, what kept you going?

MK: Never.

SB: No, I have not.

What are your future goals in climbing, and how do you plan to achieve them?

MK: Before the end of my life, I would like to have climbed 5.13a, hopefully bouldered V10, and climbed in the Paralympics.

SB: Throughout the coming months, I would like to improve my climbing skills in the realm of flow and difficulty. By the end of the year, I hope to be able to climb a V8 as well. To accomplish this I will continue to go three or more times a week, continue to train, both physically and mentally, and climb to the best of my ability.

What advice would you give to someone new to climbing or considering taking it up?

MK: To anyone who has a spark for climbing, I would want them to know that there is always a reason why you fell. So before you try to hop back on the wall, figure out why you fell before and don’t make the same mistake.

SB: Just go for it and if at first you don't succeed, try again with a full commitment.

How do you stay motivated to keep improving and pushing your limits in climbing?

MK: Finding enjoyable climbs that are hard and at my limit allows me to push myself and stay inspired.

SB: I am mostly self-motivated, although it is helpful to have some competition against close friends to keep pushing my limits to stay better than them as they try to get better than me.

What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned from climbing?

MK: An unexpected lesson I've learned from climbing is that you can connect with people you might not normally be friends with if you have a common goal or enjoy the same hobby.

SB: Being tall has its disadvantages (especially when competing in 3-point or add-on with someone shorter than myself).

Do you have any climbing rituals or routines that you follow?

MK: Climb as hard as possible as often as possible.

SB: Not really, I do stretches and a light workout before I climb, and then I climb routes in advancing difficulty till I reach my project.

What’s your favorite climbing memory from the past year?

MK: In recent memory, one of my favorite climbing moments was when I climbed a 5.11d in two goes after losing my fingers because that is a hard grade that I struggled with a lot earlier in my climbing career.

If you could describe your climbing journey in one word, what would it be and why?

MK: Unexpected. I have just been blown away by the depth that can be found in such a simple thing as grabbing holds on a wall, from the people you meet to the challenges you may face.

SB: Ambitious. Ambitious because I want to do the best I can and become the best I can be.

Thanks Mason and Sawyer for sharing your stories with us!

Stay tuned for more inspiring climber stories coming soon. You can connect with our amazing community on Instagram or in-person at the gym. Visit the links below for our day rates and current events schedule!