Maiza Lima
Great Falls, MT
@maizalimarock
Maiza is a wildly bright soul. She has this powerful ability to fight on route. She’s an incredible climbing partner and will likely be more psyched for you than you are when you stick the move or send the route. Her laugh is loud and contagious and her heart is huge. I’m endlessly impressed by her courage to wear her heart on her sleeve; her vulnerability and authenticity give her undeniable strength. She’s had a pretty wild ride getting to where she is now; you can read about her journey here. Maiza is the original HC athlete, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have had the opportunity to work and build a friendship with her.
Photos by Drew Smith (@_drew_smith_)
“Tay is more than just a climbing coach! Yes, I’ve never had so much information handed to me in the 6 years I’ve been climbing. I had been struggling with training but even more with someone to guide me through the process of training, applying my training outside, projecting, resting, and putting in the mental work. One of the things that I quickly realized about her is that she didn’t want to provide the solution to my problems but she would challenge me to dig deep and find the answer myself. A huge part of climbing is the mental aspect and it’s so important to have a coach to talk to you and go through all the struggles and why you feel the way you do and why we have fear. Tay wrote me a training program to peak last spring. I remember texting her the last week saying: “I feel so damn strong, I’ve never felt so good.” COVID hit and didn’t allow me to go on my trip so I kept on conditioning, asking her questions and trying to maintain my fitness at home. Two months later, I sent my hardest route ever and then sent yet even harder a few weeks later. She’s the best and has so much knowledge and patience.“
Adam Wernham
North Lake Tahoe, CA
@kdubzubz
Adam is an introspective and thoughtful force with a penchant for effective communication. I left the first conversation we had in awe of his self awareness and openness to learning. He was kind enough to write a blog post for HC on the juxtaposition of the macho energy of elite bouldering with the softness required for loving self care. Check it out here. Adam is a highball connoisseur and spends most of his climbing days wrestling the gorgeous granite blocs of Tahoe, or wandering around looking for new lines to scrub and send.
“My 6-week custom plan with Taylor was the first formal coaching I’ve had after over 8 years of climbing. Taylor was really thorough with my athlete evaluation, taking the time to understand my goals, strengths, and weaknesses – both physical and mental. She translated this information into a kick-ass training program that was challenging but attainable. Throughout the process, Taylor made herself available for questions that came up and our weekly check-ins were always really enlightening. After working with Taylor, I can’t really imagine investing in coaching that doesn’t address the non-physical aspects of climbing. Taylor’s approach really is holistic and I came out of the program feeling way more prepared to send my projects and enjoy the process.“
Chris Horton
St. George, UT
Climbing since 1991
@christopher_horton
Chris is a self-described introvert and one of those people that is hard to read at first. But, you would be sorely mistaken if you confused his quiet presence with indifference. Chris is an incredible leader who is unafraid to speak up and speak out. Watching the way he supports and empowers the female leaders at Contact Climbing Gym has been one of the most validating experiences in my nearly decade-long career in the industry. While Chris is one of the owners at the gym, he shows up 6 days a week to work the desk, teach people how to belay, set routes, support the family that is the staff, and engage with the community. He walks the walk in a way that is really refreshing in a world where it feels like gyms throw the word “community” around simply as a performative act. Contact just opened in February of 2021, but Chris has been giving back to the community for decades through route development, stewardship, coaching, and guiding.
Left to right: Photos by Matt Martinez and Jacquelyn Horton
“As a long-time climber, guide, coach, instructor, trainer; it’s hard for me to see through all the noise sometimes and create programming for myself based on my needs and goals. It’s also hard not to favor my strengths, ignoring the aspects I need to train the most. Taylor has been able to help me see through all the hang-ups and history I have with climbing and training and develop a focused program based on my needs and goals. On top of that, she emphasizes that climbing is primarily a skill sport and hence focuses more than most coaches on the mental and emotional aspects of being a climber. As the name implies, Taylor takes a holistic approach, which is rare in the climbing training world.”
Cody Rosolowsky
@cody.rosolowsky
Cody might be one of the hardest working people you ever meet. He’s incredibly motivated, and when the motivation runs out, he’s got loads of dedication to fall back on. His intentional steps towards better mindset and strength are highly appreciated by teammates and coaches. Cody has been an athlete on the Bozeman Climbing Team since 2017 and is was the Team Captain of our Competition Team two years running. We worked together from when he first joined through 2020.
Photos by Cy McIntosh
“I don’t want to imagine where my climbing would be without Taylor. Over the last three years, my climbing style as well as my physical and mental weaknesses have been constantly switching. I have been fortunate to have a coach like Taylor who is deeply educated in so many facets of climbing who can address my challenges personally and in a timely manner. Taylor’s coaching and programs allowed me to gain a level of strength and a mental approach in my training that I didn’t believe was possible in just one year. Crucially, her thorough and scientific answers to my abundance of concerns has given me confidence in my training, which inevitably has translated to my enjoyment of climbing and my ability to progress through the grades. It is so rewarding to have a coach with such a genuine focus and passion for her work.”
Aubrey Johnson
@aubrey.johnson_
“Taylor is awesome! She coached me for a number of years while I was a youth competitor and I learned SO much from her in that time. Taylor is smart, dedicated, and thoughtful and she was consistently able to help me work toward my varying climbing goals. She always made time to teach me something new, answer my questions, and give me feedback. Despite the fact that I was part of a climbing team, she also made sure to find ways to individualize my training. One reason I trust Taylor is because of her commitment to continuing to learn and grow as a coach. I believe that she helped me progress immensely as a climber in my technique, strength, mindset, and more and I feel so lucky to have had such a caring and effective coach.”
Josi Hinds
@josihinds
“Taylor is an amazing coach who I am so glad I’ve been able to spend so many years climbing with. She knows how to balance praise and reward with discipline and responsibility in a way that continuously motivates you. She’s taught me how to examine mental blockages and work through them in a way that I can apply on my own. As a member of Bozeman’s climbing team for several years now I’ve been consistently able to see Taylor’s dedication to seeing me and my teammates succeed, and the genuine care she has for each and every one of us. Her love of the sport is translated into the way she coaches. I couldn’t be more grateful to have her continuous and well informed insight to my climbing and her constant support, and I wouldn’t be the climber I am today without her.”