As a parent, we long for the day that our child finds something they are truly passionate about. Something that will make them jump out of bed, self-motivate and self-discipline. Not only so that we don’t have to do it for them, but more than that – when our child can succeed on their own, we know we’ve done a good job. The kicker? If our child is passionate about something, that can pose a risk for them. We know they need to learn and make their own mistakes, and sometimes they need a few bruises so they’re more careful next time, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
Empowering Young Climbers to Care About Safety
You may think that sending your child scaling up a rock climbing wall is a dangerous choice, but it doesn’t have to be. Mercedes Yanev, Aiden Yanev’s mother, learned the easy way. At Summit Climbing, we are passionate about safety, amongst many other things. We know that parents want their kids to succeed, develop, have fun and enjoy some healthy competition, but not without proper protection. Everything about our facility is built with safety in mind – our instructors come with a diverse range of experience and training, and we are rigorous in ensuring protective protocols are followed at all times for the comfort of our climbers and their loved ones.
Despite Aiden’s limited climbing experience, Mercedes’ mind was quickly put at ease when she noticed our relentless dedication to proper training, stating, “They took the time to teach him the fundamentals of climbing, safety and proper techniques. I was relieved to see that safety was a top priority in the program.”
Through our kid’s program, Aiden quickly demonstrated the skills, commitment and passion of a good rock climber. He grew up with Summit Climbing. From stepping into our gym for the first time in 2012 (back in the days of City Summit) to today, he’s remained a constant force in our Summit community. But things didn’t always come easy.
Supporting Our Climbers Every Step of the Way
As Aiden got older and more competitive, the costs grew and grew. Rock Climbing isn’t a cheap sport to enjoy – membership fees, equipment fees, competition fees, and so the list goes on. Our philosophy is to support our climbers to reach their peak potential, and, in Aiden’s case, this meant supporting him through his financial situation. We knew he would be a perfect candidate to mentor our kid’s program. We gladly arranged to assist Aiden, waiving his Youth Squad Fee in exchange for his help mentoring junior climbers to reach their peak potential.
Aiden took to his mentor role with ease. He used his skills and commitment to climbing to foster a supportive, enriching environment with safety and technical development at the forefront. While Aiden made us proud as a club for his technical skill and competitive success, it was his mentorship and personal growth that made us smile! We weren’t the only ones that noticed.
“Aiden was a shy boy who enjoyed competing because you climb with your back to the crowd. To see him competing in front of thousands on the World Cup circuit is just awesome,” Mercedes gushed.
Partnering With Climbers to Help Them Reach Their Peak
It’s rare as a gym that we get the chance to witness a full circle ‘aha’ moment, but Aiden is the proof in the pudding that our programs work. His technical skill development, personal growth, World Cup participation and ongoing commitment to empowering other climbers has been a joy to witness. From his early uncertainty in 2012 to his successful transition to Summit Climbing employee today, he is the definition of what we aim to achieve in our gym. And if that’s not proof enough, we’ll leave you with the words of Aiden’s mum.
“To any aspiring young climbers looking for a gym to cultivate their passion and take their skills to new heights, I wholeheartedly recommend Summit. It’s not just a gym; it’s a place that nurtures dreams and helps turn them into reality.”
