Ascending Amidst Adversity
“Being able to be a part of someone reclaiming mobility or finding freedom in a sport is unlike any stoke imaginable and left me wanting more” – Jake
I met Jake at the Momentum climbing gym. Just like everyone else, I was staring at the guy with two prosthetic legs absolutely booking it up a climb like it was the mellowest thing in the gym. I muttered to my boyfriend that it would be so cool to take photos of paraclimbers and he made me go introduce myself. Jake, the climber, and I started chatting and he invited me to an adaptive climbing event. I quickly realized that Jake has a passion for involving new climbers in adaptive programs and is dedicated to the community.
Jake has been an amputee for twenty-four of his twenty-five years of life. It was through his prosthetist that he found adaptive sports, and it wasn’t until last July that Jake found climbing at a Hanger prosthetics Empowerfest. Two months later, Jake moved to Salt Lake and started bouldering. It didn’t take long before he was hooked. Jake’s progression in climbing has led him to the Front’s climbing team and to Shane Farver. Shane opened up the world of outdoor climbing to him. Jake has been pushing himself both at the gym and outdoors ever since.
He has quickly set goals in the adaptive competitive world. Jake aims to make the US national paraclimbing team. Another goal he has set for himself is to start lead climbing. Jake mainly campuses while climbing (only using his arms); if he is lead climbing, he will be clipping draws off of just one point of contact. Jake says his longer-term goal is to “push the perceived limitations of adaptive climbing while growing the sport and empowering individuals along the way’. Jake has found a freedom in climbing, and I have no doubt that he will continue to push himself and encourage others in the sport.
Jake has been working with prosthetists in Salt Lake to develop climbing prosthetics that work for him and allow him to climb outside. He continues to work with his prosthetist to make modifications as he encounters issues while climbing. Jake said “The Climbing foot has quickly become essential to my outdoor climbing, unlocking further mobility and body mechanics for harder boulders and more challenging sport routes. Currently we are on version 3 of the climbing foot which I was able to demo on some boulders and sport routes in Red Rocks”. He hopes to have a better idea of what needs to change for version four. As the world of paraclimbing continues to expand, the equipment is evolving. Inclusivity in the sport will grow as technology is created for a broader scope of adaptations.
Jake focuses a large part of his time on volunteering with various adaptive organizations. He plans meet ups that teach indoor and outdoor top rope, lead, and bouldering. With these events, Jake said his main goal is to “help people find their own stoke and freedom through the sport.” Jake’s enthusiasm and attitude is infectious to the people around him.
Below is information about adaptive climbing events and meet ups. In addition, Jake’s email is provided so anyone interested can reach out to him directly.
The Front adaptive climbing program- First Saturday of each month at SLC Front 10-12 and every third Friday of each month 5:30-7:30 p.m. also at the SLC location
Momentum adaptive climbing program- every 3rd Saturday of the month 10-12 at the Sandy location
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