Meet our Youth Team Coaches!

The fall season of our Competitive Youth Climbing Team is underway; soon they’ll be heading to their first USA Climbing Competition. We are super excited and confident in them thanks to the tireless training of our new Head Coach Marshall Shank (left) and Assistant Coach Jay Reese (right). Their climbing experience, dedication to the sport and enthusiasm in passing on knowledge and skill make them perfect coaches for the team.

In light of this, we want you to meet our new Coaches!

Marshall Shank
“I am so excited for the opportunity to coach the 2015 River Rock Climbing Team! I have been climbing for approximately five years now. I have worked at a gym for the past four of those and this past year I worked as a manager at a gym in Lynchburg. During my time managing a rock wall I had opportunities to assist climbers in their pursuit to be stronger.

I currently climb V7 and have climbed 5.12A! I am constantly looking for opportunities to get stronger and I myself train four days a week. I have a goal to be able to climb V11 by the fall of 2016. The coolest place that I have climbed has to be at the New River Gorge in West Virginia. However, I did do some backpacking in Yosemite Valley, CA and plan to head there to climb as soon as I can.

I cherish the opportunity to challenge and encourage your children in the sport of climbing. It is my aim to show that pushing limits is the greatest joy in climbing. It is my joy to spread climbing culture which entails respect and integrity. Through community, practice, performance and fun, this will undoubtedly be one of the best seasons yet!”

Jay Reese
“Climbing around the backwoods in my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia for nearly 10 years has led to an affinity for sandstone, gangster rap, and short powerful boulder problems… Whether it’s sport climbing at the New River Gorge, bouldering in the Grayson highlands, or chasing the Triple Crown Bouldering Series around the south, any time I get to miss sleep to get on some rock I’m a happy camper. While I would classify myself as an “outdoor” climber I have a lot of roots in gym climbing as well; as a part-time route setter for the River rock, I get to imagine any number of fun and intriguing lines for myself and hopefully others to enjoy. This has allowed me to both train for more climbing outside, but also to learn the intricate but different style of climbing that encompasses indoor climbing.

…I try to never miss a weeknight training session, competition, or trip to the mountains. I have competed more in indoor competitions this year and most recently I was able to secure second place in my first American Boulder Series competition in the men’s advanced category.” – Blue Ridge Outdoors

Check out some photos below of our Coaches in action!

Marshall overseeing core workouts.

Jay overseeing strength training.

Marshall explaining the next step in a climbing workout to one of youth team.