Get To Know

I’m Bri and I have been a youth coach at Ascend for approximately four years! I was born and raised in Rhode Island but I have been calling Pittsburgh home since 2018. When I am not coaching at Ascend, I can be found teaching music during the day at an elementary school. I enjoying traveling and going to see live music.

I'm Craig, one of the climbing guides/instructors at ASCEND. I've been climbing for 15 years and been here at ASCEND for 3 now. I love getting outdoors and especially enjoy trad climbing at the Gunks. Most recently I have taken up top rope soloing at some local crags with my wife and 2-year old. My passion for instructing comes from the joy of watching others grow in their climbing knowledge and skills. When I'm not climbing I enjoy trail running, backpacking, paddling, playing board games, and drinking coffee on the porch.

As a lifelong athlete, Damu's journey has evolved from competitive karate and swimming to powerlifting, and ultimately, to his passion for climbing. He is a versatile climber who is as comfortable on a traditional rock face as he is competing on plastic. Damu leverages this well-rounded background to design personalized training that translates functional strength into real climbing performance.

I've been into climbing for over 10 years now, been working at Ascend as a coach since 2018 and have loved bringing newer climbers into the fold! Climbing at the gym a couple times a week is great, but I really love getting on real rock whenever I can. New River Gorge and Seneca Rocks are a couple of my favorite crags! Outside of climbing, I like to paint landscapes, bake sweets, play board games, and develop video games (a little bit of everything!).

Contact Information:
@etaimyshoe on instagram

I have been climbing since 2020 and started teaching the top rope class in 2024.

Hello, I am Justin, I've been climbing here since around October 2022 and started working here June 2025. I am an Eagle Scout from Troop 73. I have many hobbies from Scouting like backpacking, snowshoeing, kayaking, I can go on. I found out about Ascend from my Scoutmaster and now I can't stop climbing. After about 2.5 years of climbing here, I finally applied for coaching summer camp which led to me coaching the A-Team and later getting into assistant-setting and then front desk staff. I mostly like bouldering, but I just started lead climbing and really like that too.

Contact Information:
@rage_basically is my Instagram

Hi I'm Logan and I love inspiring a love of climbing in new climbers! I've been climbing since I was two years old and I've been hooked ever since!

A Pittsburgh native, Marston discovered his passion for climbing over 20 years ago at The Climbing Wall. Now serving as Director of Youth Coaching and Climbing, he has spent the past five years leading the youth department, coaching the competitive team, and supporting both youth and adult instructors at all ASCEND facilities. Marston believes that sport is one of life's greatest teachers, instilling the values of discipline, perseverance, and growth that extend far beyond the wall. That philosophy helps to drive everything about the way he approaches coaching. He believes in creating an environment where climbers of all levels can challenge themselves, push their own boundaries, and learn the value of hard focused effort. When not helping others find their love of climbing, you can often find Marston out on a climbing trip of his own!

Contact Information:
[email protected]

Hi! Im a third year college student at Pitt. Climbing is my second hobby and i’ve been doing it for 6 years now.

I'm Scott, and I'm an instructor and outdoor lead guide for Ascend. I started climbing in 2010, learned to sport climb in 2011, learned to trad climb in 2017, and earned my AMGA SPI guiding certification in 2024. Climbing is one of my favorite things and I love sharing it with others! My favorite pizza toppings are pineapple and jalapenos and I used to be afraid of heights.

Outdoor enthusiast by day, climbing instructor at night, and adventure seeker every chance I get—I've scaled the heights of all of the Adirondack’s 46 high peaks. Dabbled with ice climbing in Vermont’s Green Mountains. And hit summits in others states like Colorado and Arizona. My style of climbing is now more mountaineering focused with Washington State being my favorite playground. Washington’s Mt. Rainier has beaten me down on more than one occasion, though I did reach the 14,410 foot summit in 2018. My current Cascade Range nemesis is Mount Adams; with hard work and perseverance the plan is to summit this 12,000 footer in a couple of months. When I’m not trying to ascend a mountain, I’m typically focused on other outdoor endurance events like long distance cycling, hiking and kayaking.

I have been a Climbing Instructor at Ascend Erie since the facility opened. I have also become a licensed New York State Guide, as well as a Registered Maine Guide in the last two years. When Ascend Erie opened, I realized how much I enjoy teaching others and sharing knowledge. The best part is watching new climbers embrace their own climbing journey and develop their own skills, that progress is priceless.