Words by Atila Vaas

"Many years ago, I went on a two-week caravan with the YMCA. We drove and camped throughout the Sierras, including a few nights in Tuolumne Meadows. My friend Scot and I ran and explored everything we could and one of the highlights of the trip for us was this big smooth rock that we cautiously scaled. Lembert Dome was my first climb!

Years later I read an issue in Outside Magazine that described local rock climbing and one of the places in the article was in Malibu. I knew this place and immediately jumped on my motorcycle to ride there and see it. I followed the picture and was able to scale the arete wearing a tank top, shorts, and my Converse All Star Tennies.

I was so excited I went over to [the now closed] Sport Chalet and looked at books and gear and left with an issue of Climbing Magazine. The issue had an article on ‘protection’ and talked about the possibility of falling. FALLING! A childhood of tree climbs and the previously mentioned article only pointed to fun and adventure. Never did it cross my mind that I would fall. Since that time, I had pursued climbing and instruction off and on over the years. I’ve honestly been scared many times at the end of a rope, in couloirs, and remote ridges, and am grateful for the lessons and experiences I have had. At one point I had read a book about the pure joy and simplicity of enjoying the mountains. It contrasted what we do today by trying to do things harder. The book went on about going the easiest way and told stories about hip belays and knots as anchors.

I tried this too for a bit. I went in tennies, carried more food than necessary, and just enjoyed myself with minimal exposure and the only goal being the experiencing of the mountains. Recently, I did the opposite. I joined the Sender One Bouldering League and participated in my first competition. I learned a lot watching, training, and participating. My team was quite mixed in level and while I was decidedly the lowest grade climber at the start, I did mange to improve and get my handicap upgraded.

I love the mountains. I have enjoyed climbing, hiking, and skiing them worldwide. And I still have fun regardless of the level of challenge but am always afraid to fall."

We all have stories to tell and we want to hear and share them with everyone! Sender Stories is now dedicated to our members and community to share your experiences and of course, Share Our Passions, Find Creative Beta, Learn from our Projects and Send Them, See from Other People’s Perspective, and Climb Together! Sender One embraces personal experiences being told within our community and encourage all to share!

Also known as our 'House Rules,' these tips will not only give you insight into climbing at Sender One, but will also be useful knowledge to anyone who is new to indoor rock climbing! 

Where do I start a climb? 

Second start hold is unmarked; anything below the route tag is fair game.  If you are new to climbing, this may sound completely confusing, but here's the breakdown!  Route setters set every route intentionally, including how you begin the climb. The start-hold of a climb is marked with a route tag (see picture).  If the start-hold is a large, then you should attempt the start of the climb with both hands on that hold, but sometimes the holds are smaller, or tough to grip with two hands. This is where the above tip comes in handy: any hold that is below the route tag is fair game.  This means you can start with your second hand on any of the holds (of the same color) that are between the ground and start-hold. This may make it a bit easier to get of the ground for the first move!

When do I stop climbing? 

Finish the climb with two hands on the final hold.  While it may be tempting to climb to the top of the rock wall, our routes are actually set for you to finish on the final hold that is *near* the top of the wall.  You can't just slap it though!  A true finish is when both of your hands are secure on that final hold!  The only exception to this is on our top-out bouldering structures (where you finish the climb by climbing on top of the bouldering structure).  

Where do I go? 

Climb the same color holds to the top of the wall. 

1. Flexibility and Strength. Not flexible enough to reach the high foot chip? A regular yoga practice will help improve your hip flexibility for climbing movement. Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge) is a great place to start. Here are some other yoga poses you could try to improve your hip mobility and flexibility.

2. Pushing vs. Pulling. Feel like your forearms are burning after a hard climb? Try a few plank to Chaturangas (yoga push ups) to stretch out those muscles. This is why Yoga - a pushing exercise is a great complement to Climbing - a pulling exercise.

3. Focus and Breath. One of the first things we learn in every yoga class is a ujjayi breathing (Completely filling your lungs, while slightly contracting your throat, and breathing through your nose). There is a tendency to hold our breaths when we are really exerting ourselves. Work on this steady and rhythmic breath and it will help you get through difficult sections of your climb.

Check out our yoga schedule for weekly classes and build yoga in to your regular training routine. Be sure to try Monday night's restorative class after a weekend's outdoor climbing session.

The Shoes!

On this year's Pride merch, you'll see a lot of colorful climbing shoes. Many folks will recognize the rainbow ones right off, but some of the others might just seem like colorful options.

Well, what if we told you each one of those little shoes was chosen to represent a different pride flag? That's right, the shoes mean things!

This year, we wanted to celebrate the many identities within the LGBTQIA+ community with our design. All of these individual flags rejoin the six-color rainbow flag of yore, reflecting the integrity and necessity of each in the broader movement while simultaneously celebrating the uniqueness of each identity.

Wow, that got art school! Let's talk about a few of the flags on the tank that also show up in our mini sticker collection!

Asexual Pride Flag

Hey, it's the A from the acronym!

Often colloquially referred as the "Ace" community, Asexual people are often subject to a lot of misunderstanding from non-Ace people. The identity is wide, and being Ace doesn't imply a lack of love or romance in life.

Bisexual Pride Flag

Here's the B!

Bisexual folks might fall for men or women, regardless of their own gender. Many may also identify as Pansexual (also on the tank!), a distinct but related identity describing people who fall for others without regard to binary gender.

Lesbian Pride Flag

We know you didn't see it coming but. . . It's the L!

Lesbians are women who love other women. As a community, they often struggle against a particular mix of anti-gay discrimination and patriarchal norms in society. Lesbian leaders have been at the forefront of the LGBTQIA+ struggle, and modern scholars have begun showing their rich contributions to history in all domains.

Non-binary Pride Flag

No alphabet this time! If you've ever heard the word "enby" and wondered what that is, it's Non-binary! Non-binary folks' gender doesn't typically conform to "man" or "woman," and how this is expressed is extremely diverse. Non-binary people may use gender-neutral pronouns, and may seek forms of "androgyny," but may also do neither.

Trans Pride Flag

T time!

This may sound familiar, but Transgender is a wide term. It can include non-binary people, people whose identity transitions across the "binary" of men and women, or folks who identify as a third gender. Trans folks have been at the vanguard of the LGBTQIA+ rights struggle since its inception, taking great risks to tend to and fight for their communities in the face of rampant prejudice.

All the Rest!

Panromantic or Pansexual? You might notice your flags on the tank too! There's a lot more we haven't even discussed. But even this tank couldn't hold every flag from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Those outside the community might wonder: why so many flags? Well, there are many flags because there are many ways that orientation, gender, and relationships overlap. Even while facing discrimination, the LGBTQIA+ community has developed a rich language for discussing these experiences. If you're just starting out on learning what a lot of this even means, well congrats! You're learning! Be open minded, kind, and willing to learn and you'll find many people happy to share about themselves.

Happy Pride

Pride is a time of celebration, and also a time to reflect on how we as a community can support each other. We want to celebrate each and every identity, whether its on the tank or not, and to hear the needs of that community. While some aspects of society have become better for LGBTQIA+ people, many struggles remain.

As we're celebrating this year, let's all remember also to care for each other and build community. Take some time to learn about LGBTQIA+ history and voices at the LA Library, or attend a pride march in celebration or solidarity. Learn from your fellow LGBTQIA+ community members how you can support their struggles.

Take some time for joy too, and hey. . . maybe even check out the many Pride events at Sender One!