Working with a coach or instructor is a great way to get a personalized training plan to meet your goals. Sessions typically run 60 minutes.
Isabel Saylor
General Manager
Isabel grew up in San Francisco and was first introduced to climbing on a trip to the High Sierras in 2016. She really became passionate about it in 2020 when she was looking for an outlet for her energy while still being able to socially distance. Since then, Isabel has been fully immersed in the climbing community, as enthusiastic about her own journey as well as others.
In addition to coaching our youth teams, Isabel also manages CRG Chelsea and runs a weekly strength training class. She is passionate about getting climbers (and non-climbers) to incorporate strength training into their exercise routine. She believes it is a great way to become stronger in everyday life, in addition to climbing.
Ryan Smith
Head Routesetter
Ryan is the Head Routesetter for our Chelsea location and has been climbing since 2010. During this time he has climbed across the world from Squamish, Canada to Rocklands, South Africa. In addition to climbing he has set for various levels of athletes from brand new climbers to world class athletes.
As an instructor he will focus on a holistic approach from climbing skills, strength training and mindset. When Ryan isn’t climbing he can be found playing various other sports, or riding his bike.
Tetsu Zhao
Head Routesetter
Tetsu understands that everybody has a different relationship to climbing – for fun, for fitness, or for the friends made along the way. Whatever the reason may be, Tetsu can help you feel more confident in the climbing gym, and improve your understanding of important concepts in climbing.
Growing up, Tetsu had a knack for worrying his parents by always climbing things he shouldn’t have been on. He first visited the climbing gym over 10 years ago, and immediately knew that climbing was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Although he studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in college, he really feels as though he was putting more time into learning how to climb. One thing led to another, and today he is the Head Routesetter of the Riverside location.
Outside of the gym, Tetsu can be found throwing pots at the ceramics studio, frantically doing a million things in his home kitchen, or eagerly trying to say hello to every dog he sees.
Veronica Grijalva
Climbing Coach
Veronica got into climbing in the hopes of counteracting some of the damage being done by working at a desk for 12+ hours a day. It worked a bit too well, and now she has ditched the desk in favor of climbing up walls.
Veronica loves the problem solving aspect of climbing, and that there are as many ways to climb a problem as there are people who attempt it. She is a body positive athlete who believes that climbing is for everybody, and enjoys helping climbers find beta that works for their unique blend of strengths and weaknesses. She also focuses on climbing mentality, positive self-talk, fear management, and having fun!
When Veronica isn’t on a wall, she’s usually playing DDR, singing karaoke, or taking photos of her cat, Nougat.
Simone Hunt
Climbing Coach
Simone is an L1 C4CP certified coach, originally hailing from Tampa, FL. She first discovered climbing as a child, and practically begged her parents to take her to the gym every weekend. She competed as a multi-sport athlete throughout her youth, participating in Soccer, Flag Football, Swimming, and more. It wasn’t until college, searching for a sport to keep her active, did she rediscover climbing, and she has been hooked ever since.
Since then she has climbed all over the country, and has been working as a competitive climbing coach. She began her coaching journey in Pittsburgh, and is now currently coaching the Competitive and Non-Competitive teams at CRG’s Manhattan locations. Simone graduated with a degree in Directing for the Theatre, and has an extensive background in the arts. She approaches climbing and coaching with an emphasis on movement, mindset, and performance. She has experience working with climbers of all ages, experience levels, and sizes, and wants to help create lifelong and self-sufficient climbers.
Simone has an extensive background in sports, training for sports, and programming, and can help anyone meet their fitness and strength goals. She is a hypermobile climber, and greatly values strength and conditioning for climbing performance and injury prevention.
Dante Adela
Climbing Coach
Dante’s climbing experience spans over 20 years, covering outdoor bouldering, sport climbing, and traditional climbing. He began his journey under the tutelage of the legendary Yukihiko Ikumori at Central Park’s Rat Rock and was later mentored by William Phiel, with whom he honed his skills in multi-pitch climbing. His favorite climbing destinations include the Gunks, Majorca, Tannourine El Tahta, and Red Rocks, NV. Dante is passionate about coaching climbing, ballet, and contemporary dance for all ages.
When he is not climbing, Dante performs with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Cirque du Soleil. He also enjoys cycling, practicing yoga and martial arts, and spending time with his wife.