Will Sowders - Co-Operator

Will Sowders heads our day-to-day operations here at Rocksport. He has been climbing since 2014, having first gotten into the sport at his university gym in Lexington at UK. Thereafter, Will quickly dove into the climbing world. Climbing, training, coaching, and aspiring to share the experience of climbing with as many people as he could. From a passion for climbing to a passion for advanced calisthenics and movement. It was within these areas that Will discovered the joys of teaching and instructing others. With the simple goal of enabling others to live their own lives to the fullest he has been training and coaching individuals in advanced forms of movement for almost as long as he has been climbing.

Will has a background in Applied Cultural Anthropology which he received his Master’s in 2019 at the University of Kentucky. The path to acquiring his degree exposed him to and allotted him the opportunity to work with a rainbow of cultures around the world, interacting and learning about each of their lives, and to come to understand as close as possible what it is like to stand in their shoes and see the world through each individual’s eyes.

With these unique experiences, Will strives to ensure that Rocksport remains community-focused and community-driven in its daily pursuits.

Jason Kinser - Co-Operator

Jason started at Rocksport by taking on the coveted 6:00 AM front desk shift on Mondays and Wednesdays. It didn’t take long for him to become a bigger part of the gym, joining the ownership team just a few months later. Today, Jason works alongside Will managing the day-to-day operations at Rocksport.

Jason’s love of climbing started in 1997 in the Cochise Stronghold in Arizona, where he was introduced to traditional and sport climbing. On that first trip, he led his first sport climb and climbed his first multi-pitch route, a beautiful 750-foot crack.

That experience changed the course of his life. From then on, movement over rock became a fundamental part of who he is.

For Jason, climbing has always been about the mental fortitude it takes to succeed. Whether you’re brand new to climbing or have been at it for years, success starts with believing in yourself. He believes that building that self-belief through climbing has an impact far beyond the wall, creating confidence that carries into every part of life.

Along the way, Jason worked as a climbing guide at Smith Rock State Park and earned his Juris Doctorate. Outside of the gym, he enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, two sons, two dogs, and a cat named Luna.

Oliver Ramsey-Smith - Proshop Manager

Oliver started climbing at the end of 2020 and has gained a love for technical rope skills. As Rocksport's pro shop manager, he puts that passion to work helping climbers find the right gear for the situation. Over the years he has developed what might be called a "small" obsession with gear himself, with some of his favorites in the industry being Edelrid and Zartman rigging. When he's not climbing, you can find him riding one of his bikes, playing a round of disc golf, or occasionally doing some photography.

"The beauty of this sport is that no matter how good you get, you can always find a way to challenge yourself." — Randy Leavitt

Luke Reeves – Head Coach / Marketing Director

Luke has been climbing since 2018. His love for the sport started in the gym and eventually led him to the Red River Gorge, where he has spent most of his free time over the last eight years climbing sport, trad, and multipitch.

Taking those skills on the road, Luke recently spent a year traveling from climbing area to climbing area, living out of a pop-up A-frame camper. The experience strengthened his connection to the climbing community and deepened his belief in climbing not just as a sport, but as a lifestyle.

"I’ll never stop climbing. It’s the best way I’ve found to connect with nature and with my partners. It brings you into rhythm with the seasons, both outside and in your own life."

As a coach and mentor, Luke takes his role seriously. He has developed a holistic approach to climbing instruction and is ready to work with climbers at every level.

Tiffany - Youth Coach / Route Setter

Tiffany has been climbing since 2022. She was first exposed to the sport on a backpacking trip out west when she visited the Garden of the Gods and Yosemite. After returning home, she immediately got a membership at Rocksport, with dreams of El Cap in her head.

Since then her focus has been primarily on traditional climbing, bigger objectives, and wild places.

She brings her love of climbing into both route setting and youth coaching. Fostering passion in the next generation of climbers while also providing fantastic routes and boulders for the community.

Chris Diaz - Route Setter

Chris started climbing in 2015. He originally got into the sport as cross-training to become a more well-rounded ninja. With a background in martial arts, grappling, and other skill-based movement sports, climbing was the final piece of the puzzle.

These days, he's focused on setting routes and creating fun challenges for the community.

He still maintains his passion for other sports, and you'll often catch him training for Tough Mudders and other obstacle races.

Zach Wilson - Route Setter

Zach started climbing in 2018. He began in the gym and his love for the outdoors quickly brought him to the Red River Gorge. Since then he’s been getting out most weekends, and has been to over a dozen different states for climbing.

As a setter, Zach loves to bring his climbing ideas to life. He loves the creative aspect and being involved in the community.

"Rocksport is a great gym for your fitness training and to meet likeminded individuals who want to try hard and have fun."

Andy Spalding - Volunteer Route Setter

Andy started climbing in 2014 and began volunteering at Rocksport in 2022. His love for the community, his desire to contribute to it, and his commitment to seeing it thrive continue to drive his involvement.

"I like climbing because it gives me a progression, something to strive for, and forces me to live in the moment"

Andy is also a musician, cyclist, and motorcycle mechanic. His appreciation for technical hobbies is reflected in the routes and boulders he sets.

Hank Riedling - Team Member

Hank started climbing in 2016, when he was only 10 years old. After a brief hiatus he’s rediscovered his love of the sport, and when Rocksport reopened he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the team.

He spends his free time playing drums, recording music, performs in several bands, and swims.

Aaron “Bert” Owens - Team Member

As an avid lifelong lover of the outdoors, Bert’s first exposure to rock climbing wasn’t until his initial visit to the Red River Gorge in August of 2015 while tagging along with a small group of friends climbing in Muir Valley. He promptly made the assessment that these folks were not in their right mind to tackle scaling the sheer cliffs that loomed over them, and refused to tie in to give it a try.

Fast forward to the spring of 2019 - after many visits since his initial trip to hike, camp, and take in the majesty of The Red, a friend finally convinced him (after much persuasion) to follow them up a very dirty off-width chimney in the North Gorge on a top rope. After topping out the cliff, taking in the vast landscape, and gaining a new perspective on what he was capable of, it all clicked for him. It was only a matter of days later that he bought his first shoes, chalk bag, and gym membership to begin his climbing journey.

Climbing is now an integral part of Bert’s life, and thoroughly enjoys the unique movement, connection to his body, problem solving, and communion with nature that it offers. He loves to introduce others to the joy and challenges that climbing provides both in and outdoors, and show them the safest practices to get the most of their climbing experience. 

Outside of climbing, Bert can be found searching for critters between pitches at the crag and on the approach trail, teaching guitar and bass at a local music store, playing shows with his band (Darlington Pairs), hiking, making a home-cooked meal, or enjoying a good book in a hammock on a nice day.

“The best climber in the world is the one having the most fun!" - Alex Lowe

Andy Esterle - Team Member

Andy started climbing in 2012 while looking for a safer outlet for his habit of climbing on everything. In 2017, he moved to Colorado and found a group of climbers who were exactly his type of weird.

When the pandemic hit, Andy was pushed to climb outside, squeezing in "work-from-home" between goes on the boulder. One of his favorite memories from that time is when a gust of wind blew him and his crash pad into a cactus, leaving his climbing partner to pick thorns out of his butt.

These days, Andy's favorite parts of climbing are the morning approach and long slab routes with big, friendly holds.