Meet the Committee

Hi!
My name is Tom and I handle the day-to-day operation of the club. I try to keep things running smoothly and I’m responsible for communication, organising club events, meetings, trips and socials.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
It’s the only thing I’ve found that seems to perfectly balance the physical and mental aspect. I love the personal challenge mixed with the social and supportive side of it all. It’s also great getting to spend time in some beautiful, remote and unique areas. I also love teaching and enjoy helping people learn new skills, face new fears and become independent climbers.

How did you get into climbing?
In 2015, I lived in London and got a taste for climbing by occasionally visiting bouldering centres with mates and getting outdoors a few times with the Brixton Climbers Club. However, it was in 2016, whilst I was teaching out in Melbourne that I really started getting hooked. I joined a local climbing club where we would drive out to Arapiles most weekends. I would get dragged up many amazing routes by climbers who were patient and kind enough to show me what trad climbing was and how to stay safe. Since then, I learnt how to lead, completed the ‘Rock Climber Instructor’ qualification and have been lucky enough to climb in many great places. I moved back to Jersey in 2017 and got involved with the club here and realised what an amazing and special place Jersey is for climbing!

What do you like to do when not climbing?
Strum guitar/ukulele, play board games, read a book, cycle my bike, get dragged on some type of silly adventure other than climbing that I’m under-prepared for.

Favourite local crag?
Rabbit’s Head

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Yosemite

Hey! I’m Eleanor, I’m a local climber and committee member. Looking forward to having you join us on some amazing Jersey routes!

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
So many things. I love the adventure of being outside, the exploration of new places, the feeling of ‘dancing’ when you’re on a route and your body is going with the flow, and the problem solving of where your next hand or foot placement is going to be. When you’re climbing you’re not thinking of anything other than the next move – it can be pretty meditative at times.

How did you get into climbing?
I was in Melbourne Australia, and a few friends would go climbing weekly. I thought it sounded silly. “Climbing sounds dumb, what’s the point in climbing up something?” was something I actually said! Eventually I gave in and joined them for a session and fell in love instantly. Climbing became my #1 passion.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
When I’m not climbing, you can probably find me taking a nap on a bouldering pad in the sun, surfing (poorly!), or taking photos – where do you think these guys get their awesome facebook profile pictures? If the weather’s too bad for outdoor fun, I’ll probably be on the playstation.

Favourite local crag?
For Trad, definitely Rouge Nez. For Bouldering, I’d highly recommend St John’s Bay.

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Malibu Creek, California. Incredible sport climbing! The amazing Forêt De Fontainbleau is a strong second though with world class bouldering.

Hi, I’m Shayne. I keep track of the club’s finances and also manage memberships.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
My favourite style of climbing is bouldering and I love the minutia of it; the subtle technical details that make the difference between falling flat on your backside and sending a problem you’ve been working on all day. You can push yourself to the limit and climb things you wouldn’t have thought possible.

How did you get into climbing?
I had never considered climbing as a hobby until 2009 when my best friend invited me out to join him. The satisfaction of getting to the top of a cliff and thinking “I just climbed that!” had me hooked. Before long, with some invaluable help from friends and club members, I bought my own gear and started leading for myself. My first trip to Font was in 2012 where I discovered the world of bouldering and I’ve never looked back!

What do you like to do when not climbing?
My other big hobby is skydiving and when I’m not climbing or jumping, I chill out and play video games.

Favourite local crag?
Rouge Nez

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Fontainebleau, France

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
For me, climbing is as much about adventure, learning, mental focus, trust and friendship as it is a physical sport. I love that I can experience so many different emotions like nervousness, excitement, satisfaction or relief by completing just one lead climb. Reliving it all with your partner afterwards or exchanging experiences of that route with other people who have climbed it as well. I also enjoy that climbing takes me to some amazing locations and gets me outdoors more.

How did you get into climbing?
I moved to Jersey in November 2018 and joined the JRCC as a complete beginner. I attended the winter indoor sessions, where I was taught how to belay and other basic skills. I then completed the JRCC top rope anchors course in spring 2019 and spent the summer top roping outdoors while learning the basics of lead climbing along the way. With the help of other experienced club members, I then tentatively completed my first lead climb in November 2019 and have been hooked on trad climbing ever since, hitting Jersey’s amazing sea cliffs as much as possible. I became a JRCC committee member in July 2020.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
I like getting outdoors exploring our beautiful island, skipping/jump rope, snowboarding and listening to music.

Favourite local crag?
Guns Cliff

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Having only been on a few climbing trips so far, Jersey has not been trumped yet, but I look forward to updating this soon after some more adventures.

Hi my name is Dan, I help out setting up top rope anchors outside and indoor climbing with the Scouts.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
I really enjoy the variety of challenges climbing brings in one package. Mental, physical, environmental and planning. Also the characters who climb ????

How did you get into climbing?
At University, I left Jersey being addicted to the sea and surfing. I needed a new outlet being in Central England I went to a climbing gym in Wolverhampton and just like that I was sucked in.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
I have a 2 year old which takes up a bit of time as well as running my own carpentry business. Other than that I like propagating indoor plants when it’s quiet.

Favourite local crag?

Favourite route?
KP NUTS. This was due to belaying into it, high tide and my first lead night climb.

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Kalymnos, Greece.

Hi, my name is Dominik. I like climbing and from time to time I help new climbers take their first steps on the rock to stay safe and enjoy climbing on the beautiful Jersey cliffs.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
I like taste of adrenaline and excitement after overcoming challenges and fear when hanging on the rock and after reaching the top of the climb. I like to spend time outside being active, be close to nature and enjoy great scenery.

How did you get into climbing?
I started climbing a long time ago in Poland with my friends. We wanted to try some extreme sports and because we were living close to an old quarry, the answer was climbing. For a few years I climbed sport routes on limestone rock near my home town in Poland. Then I moved to Jersey where I joined the rock climbing club in 2013 and got into trad climbing, where I learned a lot more about climbing and how to place safety gear in the rock. Now I enjoy every moment on the rock, still learning new tricks and helping others to enjoy climbing too.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
I like to cycle, go kayaking or hiking and explore new places.

Favourite local crag?
Sorel Point

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Verdon Gorge in the south of France.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
Seeing our island from different angles. Each route is an adventure either physically or mentally!

How did you get into climbing?
Guilt tripped by a bunch of ski bums practicing crevasse rescue. I joined the club to learn ropework, and fell in love with the sport from there.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
Music, food, tv. Human stuff.

Favourite local crag?
Lots of different crags for lots of different days, but I’m yet to have a bad day at Rouge Nez.

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
I don’t have the most international climbing CV but climbing in the peak district where all these famous hard ascents have been made was inspiring.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
Being in beautiful places, climbing pointless but puzzling climbs. I think it’s some sort of addiction.

How did you get into climbing?
Dragged along for belay duty on a VDiff at Beauport in 1985, new routing by 1986 and never looked back.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
Talk about climbing.

Favourite local crag?
Jersey has such a variety of crags each with there own unique attraction, however if I have to pick just one it would be The Pinnacle.

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Yosemite, for trad climbing and also just being, it feels like a home from home and a Jersey granite apprenticship serves you well.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
The movement; climbing can be a flowing meditation, and I find the peace this brings is wonderfully complimented by the surroundings.

How did you get into climbing?
I was born! It’s such an intuitive way of movement; I was introduced by Kazz and John.

It wasn’t until I left Jersey for Scotland, that I fully immersed myself in all things rock, nor was it til Norway that I really started to love bouldering.

What do you like to do when not climbing?
Depends where I am totally, but presently, surfing.

Favourite local crag?
Pinnacle. Just an outrageous stack of rock, with the seaward face being conveniently angled for a winter’s sun. Awesome bouldering too, if not a tad awkward.

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Norway, Kristiansand. I climbed a few large boulders and small mountains over there but I found myself most at home on Odderøya, a little island attached to the city. Boulders were scattered throughout the hilly forest, with paths weaving all around.

In the local guidebook, there was a cove described with only a few routes written. Though it was near impossible to figure out which ones they were as the 30m face leaned over The North Sea. It forced me into a style of climbing I wasn’t used to, nor good at, as falling meant greeting the jellyfish and Baltic waters.

What do you most enjoy about climbing?
Climbing forces me to be mindful because I’m so busy trying not to die that I can’t think of anything else. I also enjoy the physical and mental challenge and being able to see progress, even if it’s just holding on for an extra second, making it to the next move, or just being slightly smoother and more efficient. But my favourite thing has to be the climbing community. I love how supportive, encouraging, and welcoming people are. No matter what “grade” you climb at, when you go for that tricky move everyone roots for you.

How did you get into climbing?
My first love is indoor bouldering and I’ve been playing around on plastic for a couple of years in the Bristol climbing scene. It’s the buzz, consistent temperature and lighting, and proximity to coffee and cake that does it for me.
Coming to Jersey forced me to try trad and boy is it addictive. Dolphins, great sea views, and mid-climbing swims have been epic!

What do you like to do when not climbing?
I spend a lot of time training my rescue dog “Juno”. We do agility, obedience, and generally practising not being a complete terror around other dogs. If you want to be inundated with pictures and dog stories, let me know.
I recently started sea swimming despite my lifelong aversion to being cold. I then had the brilliant / stupid idea of signing up to the “12 bays of Christmas” charity swim to motivate me to swim through the winter. So if you ever need enthusiastic support for your outrageous ideas, I’m 100% your gal.
I also love anything food related (cooking, eating, cooking shows), sewing, knitting, crocheting, board games, and napping. I also do yoga and gymnastics – both badly but enthusiastically.

Favourite local crag?
Beach bouldering at St. John (by the horse box café).

Favourite place you’ve climbed?
Bloc & Flashpoint in Bristol because it’s the ancestral home of my climbing psyche. It also has superb coffee and cake.