Private Lessons
Our instructors can provide you with private climbing classes to help beginners touching wall for the first time to advanced climbers seeking expert instruction. They can work with you on the day and time of your lesson and can tailor the lesson to your needs.
Common teen/adult lessons taught:
- Learn to Belay
- Movement:
- Foundational Techniques: footwork, body positioning, momentum, etc
- Advanced Techniques: heel hooks, drop knees, lock-offs, etc
- Competitive Techniques: dynos, run & jump, competitor mindset, etc
- Learn to Lead
- Prepare to Climb Outdoors
- Training Plans Based on Goal
Common Youth Lessons:
- Climbing Basics: Focus on belaying, safety, good climbing habits & etiquette, and introduces climbing techniques.
- Club/Team Prep: Focus on foundational skills to get into our Club or Team.
Lesson Fees:
Our instructors set their own fees, which you can discuss with them directly. Members are granted their usual access to the facility; non-members can pay a discounted day pass rate (50% off the normal full price day pass rate). Clients must also provide their own equipment or pay normal rental rates to rent equipment (harness, shoes, belay devices) from Übergrippen. All payments for private instruction are made directly to Übergrippen.
Aaron
Private Instructor
Aaron was introduced to climbing by a class he took his freshman year of High School by the name of Adventure. There he learned all the basics and enjoyed the class enough to be a teacher’s-aid, teaching other students the course material every remaining semester until graduation. Despite falling in love with climbing so early on, he spent the majority of his time playing baseball competitively. From the ages of 4 – 24, He played on up to 3 teams at a time with about 120 games a year. All to say- while he did not compete as a youth climbing athlete, he is deeply familiar with training and competing at a highly competitive level, the principles of which thoroughly extend into his ever growing love of climbing.
The reason Aaron left baseball behind was greatly dichotomous in nature; at the age of 24 Aaron was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He found himself completely paralyzed on his left side overnight. No longer able to play baseball, the diagnosis reignited his passion for climbing because not only was it a good metric to measure his journey through rehab, but it is also a sport accessible to a wide range of disabilities. Before long, he found himself completely enveloped by climbing and the community therein: you can find him anywhere from climbing mega-classic 5.13’s, to routesetting, to coaching highly competitive youth climbers, and teaching any burgeoning climber that is wanting to learn.Services offered:
Aaron Teaches:
- Learn to Belay
- Learn to Lead
- Advanced Lead Climbing Strategies
- Outdoor Skills Building – Basic to Advanced
- Movement Skills – Basic to Advanced
- Supervised Training Curriculums – Any Age (Recurring Plan)
- Competitive Youth Coaching – Ages 6-19 (Recurring Plan)
- Disability Specific Training
Contact Email: sendit@ugclimbing.com
Adam
Private Instructor
Adam was the first person in his family to start climbing around 12 years ago. Adam got his first introduction to rock climbing through Boy Scouts, and that led to outdoor climbing, teaching the younger scouts about climbing, and eventually being a part of his high school climbing team. He also been teaching rock climbing for 5 years as well through college and other gyms.
The reason why climbing is so special for him is the technical movement and thinking through a specific route. You can’t simply go up, the whole body has to be involved to have a productive climb.
Climbing has been such an important part of his life that he dedicated his college education to Recreation Outdoor Management with an education emphasis. Going to school in Gunnison allowed him to grow in the outdoor industry, but also gave him opportunities to climb and hike around Harmon Rocks and the Black Canyons of the Gunnison.
He also enjoys photography, and you can find him outside with his camera because the outdoors allows for beauty but also challenges that when you try to capture it. Nothing is better than climbing and the views you get with it through the challenges.
When Adam is not climbing, you can find me doing freelance graphic designs, backpacking, snowboarding, and playing the occasional video game.
Adam Teaches:
• Top rope climbing and belaying
• Lead climbing and belaying
• Technique and Movement
• Outdoor Skills
Contact Email: sendit@ugclimbing.com
Chris
Private Instructor
Chris, a rock climber and photographer hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, made the decision to relocate to Denver with wife in 2020, and they have since embraced their new home with enthusiasm.
Chris devotes his free time to bouldering or sport climbing alongside their friends. When not engaged in climbing activities, he enjoys hiking with his dogs, riding his longboard or mountain bike, and capturing photographs in various scenic locations. In the winter, Chris prioritizes snowboarding, making the most of the snowy season.
Chris teaches:
- Toprope climbing and belaying
- Lead climbing and belaying
- Bouldering technique and movement
- Intro to Slacklining
Contact Email: sendit@ugclimbing.com
Jason
Private Instructor
Jason has been climbing for three years. He began his climbing journey here at Ubergrippen shortly after moving to Colorado from Texas. Before climbing, he was heavily involved with many sports, including running, weightlifting, and soccer. He quickly fell in love with the sport and has since spent most of his free time climbing. He has travelled across Colorado to climb outdoors and even spent time in the Australian Grampians experiencing climbing abroad. He has trained primarily as a roped climber due to injuries, but has competed in bouldering competitions regardless. Jason enjoys working with climbers who have also dealt with injuries and likes finding ways to strengthen the body to support climbing despite ones’ physical condition. Since becoming a coach, he has become a Level III Certified Climbing Instructor through the national Climbing Wall Association. He recently began routesetting at Ubergrippen, and finds fulfilment in creating routes for climbers of all abilities and sizes. He has been a competitive collegiate climber as a part of USA Climbing, and has coached various competitive youth teams including Sasquatch and Yeti at Übergrippen. He has coached kids as young as 3 up to adult climbers. In the coaching world, he has found a place as a coach for both neurodivergent youth and adults, helping people find ways to enjoy the sport regardless of their initial ability.
Coaches:
- Intro to Top Rope Belaying
- Intro to Lead Climbing and Belaying
- Movement skills: basic to advanced
- Advanced and basic youth coaching
- Advanced and basic adult coaching
Jason teaches:
- Toprope climbing and belaying
- Lead climbing and belaying
- Bouldering technique and movement
Terence
Private Instructor
Terence embarked on his climbing journey in 2004 during a challenging phase in his life. Relocated to DC by the Air Force, he sought a new hobby and a sense of community. Luckily, he discovered Sportrock, a nearby climbing gym, and decided to explore it due to his prior climbing experiences. Little did he know that this decision would have a profound impact on his life. Climbing not only brought him immense enjoyment but also introduced him to a vibrant community of climbers who eventually became his closest friends, maintaining strong connections to this day.
His passion for climbing persisted when he relocated from DC to Colorado Springs. In this new location, Terence obtained his SPI certification and found opportunities to teach and set routes at CityRock and the Air Force Academy. However, circumstances forced him to halt his climbing endeavors in 2011 when he moved to middle Georgia, where the absence of climbing gyms and suitable natural rock formations made it challenging to continue his climbing pursuits. Fortunately, in 2021, his passion was reignited when Ubergrippen opened its doors in Castle Rock. Since then, he has obtained his CWI certification and spent the past year teaching at Ubergrippen.
Terence finds numerous aspects of climbing that he loves. It offers a fulfilling workout, challenges him to think and problem-solve, enables him to continually acquire new skills, and serves as a means to clear his mind after a long day of work. However, what truly resonates with him is the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals within the climbing community. He takes great pleasure in introducing others to the sport, whether by providing Crag orientations, teaching belay classes, or assisting them in finding suitable gear. Witnessing people become enthralled with climbing fills him with enthusiasm and joy. Given his strong sense of community, Terence relishes the chance to foster a new climbing community in Castle Rock. This is why he actively participates in events like Climber Connect, Community Nights, and the 50/50 class, as they provide avenues for building connections and creating a supportive environment within the climbing community.
- Intro to climbing
- Intro to belay
- Movement classes
Tess
Private Instructor
Tess is passionate about helping neurodivergent kids and their families build confidence, connection, and coping skills through climbing. With a background in childhood development, ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety (GAD), and OCD, she understands the unique challenges and strengths that come with neurodivergence. Her goal is to create a fun, supportive space where movement becomes a tool for self-regulation, trust, and growth—both on and off the wall!
Tess also helps organize Ladies Climb Night every Thursday night. Come climb with some awesome/welcoming women and feel free to talk to Tess about any of your needs.
- Intro to climbing
- Intro to belay
- Neurodivergent to both Youth & Adults
- Gym Fitness
Toby
Private Instructor
Toby is a multi-disciplined athlete who has competed as an amateur in numerous team and individual sports over his lifetime and has coached children, teenagers and adults in rock climbing, soccer, snowboarding and martial arts. Toby began rock climbing in 1987 and started focusing on sport climbing while residing in the Silicon Valley in 2004. Since moving to Colorado, Toby has continued to climb both indoors and outdoors and enjoys climbing at Castle Wood Canyon and Clear Creek Canyon, as well as climbing at indoor climbing facilities in the US and Europe, including Sportrock, High Point Climbing, Stone Summit, Reading Rocks, Central Rock Gym, and ÖTK-Halle, “Österreichischer Touristenklub” in Vienna, Austria.
Throughout his life, Toby has focused on physical and mental training to improve his fitness and performance, which has allowed him to excel as an amateur athlete and continue to improve his athletic performance since he stepped back from competitive sports in 2018. Toby has played competitive soccer, hockey and golf as amateur, as well as competed in the Tahoe Big Blue and Hi-Tec adventure racing series while he lived in California. While residing in California, Toby was an AASI Level 1 Certified Snowboarding Instructor at Kirkwood Ski Resort and he currently holds a Climbing Wall Instructor Level 3 certification.
Currently, Toby serves as a coach for Ubergrippen’s youth programs, where he coaches children and teenagers on functional climbing techniques, top rope and lead rope climbing, and strategies and approaches for competing in competitive climbing events. Toby served as a volunteer coach for the Castle View High School team for the 2021 and 2022 climbing seasons and is currently coaching the Sasquatch 2 climbing team at Ubergrippen. Toby brings his extensive athletic training experience, mental training and situational awareness from his time serving in the US Navy and his passion for outdoor sports to his classes and students and focuses on tailoring training regiments to meet the climbing goals of his students.
Toby can teach:
- Top Rope Climbing
- Lead Rope Climbing
- Bouldering
- Movement classes
