Climbing Team
@ Northeast Portland
We are striving to create programs where every youth climber feels like they belong.
We will be focusing on teamwork, sportsmanship, and building positive community while pushing athletes to improve based on their own goals and abilities.
This model leaves room for endless flexibility– maybe an athlete is interested in competing during the fall and shows us that they’re ready for the Competition Team, but has another sport in the spring and would rather step back to climbing once or twice per week in a more casual setting with Recreation team.
We will be working to ensure there are no stigmas or feelings of “demotion” or “promotion” when moving between teams, though this will require honesty and self-reflection from all involved.
Youth Belay Class
Our team programs require that your child has prior belay experience as a prerequisite. This class is for youths who are comfortable in a climbing gym environment but do not have belay experience, or need a refresher to feel confident.
Please note that your child will NOT be able to belay outside of staff-supervised youth programs. This is only intended to be an expedited onboarding to another team or club.
Sign-up now for Youth Belay Class!
Introductory Youth Club
This is a great opportunity for climbers ages 9-13 to dip their toes into the climbing world! Tryouts are not needed to join Intro Club. The Club consist of four 1.5 hour lessons, and will get climbers acquainted with basic gym etiquette, technique, and belay skills.
PRG’s Youth Teams
Our program practices as four teams based on age, experience, personal goals, and ability.
Recreation Team
- Ages: 9-18 (mixed age groups)
- Cost: $140+/month
- Commitment: 1+ hours/week
- Description: For casual climbers, climbers looking for social and supervised climb time, and climbers wanting to follow their interests in climbing rather than a set training program
Registration is now live! Sign-up Today!
Development Team
- Ages: 9-18 (mixed age groups)
- Cost: $329/month
- Commitment: 3.5 to 6 hours/week
- Description: For climbers who are looking to improve via consistent and focused coaching and climbers who are interested in competing but are not yet ready for the Competition team. Climbers will be introduced to competition climbing formats at practice. Development Team athletes are not required to compete at local qualifying event competitions, but are definitely encouraged to.
Competition Team
- Ages: 9-18 (mixed age groups)
- Cost: $349+/month
- Commitment: 4 to 6.5 hours/week
- Description: Focused on higher-level skill building, technique, physical training and mental strength. Climbers on Competition Team are expected to compete in 2+ qualifier series competitions for their respective disciplines (Bouldering, TR/Lead, Speed).
Tryouts will be held at our Beaverton location with times on August 17th, 18th, and 21st.
Elite Team
- Ages: YC-JR (11-18)
- Cost: $429+/month
- Commitment: 7.5+ hours/week
- Description: Focused on high level competition athletes, Elite Team is by invite only. Athletes are expected to compete in qualifying events, regional competitions, and qualify for at least Day 2 of Divisional competitions (if not Nationals)
Registration for Elite Team is by invitation only.
USA Climbing Information
All PRG teams are USA Climbing (USAC) affiliated programs. This provides our climbers the opportunity to compete against each other in their age categories in the three climbing disciplines: Bouldering, Sport Climbing, and Speed Climbing. USAC is the governing body of youth climbing competitions in America. Climbing competitions occur according to specific seasons:
- Climbing is a year-round sport with competitions taking place from September-July.
- Bouldering qualifiers take place from September-January.
- Top rope/Lead qualifiers take place from February-June
- Speed qualifiers take place from September-June
- Nationals will be held for all disciplines in July.
Membership Cost: Athlete memberships for the 2023/24 season were $110 for the youth series.
Average Competition Cost: Registration for each athlete at a competition is usually $50+ depending on the level of competition.
Important Links:
Team Perks
The benefits to team climbing -- both tangible and intangible -- go well beyond this list. But for our Rec, Dev, Comp, and Elite participants, we wanted to call out a few perks that apply to climbers, and some that apply to family members as well!
- One free team shirt per weekly climbing day
- Annual membership to Portland Rock Gym (this includes both locations)
- Two guest passes per month
- Gear discounts– at our gyms, partnering businesses, and pro-deals throughout the season
- One free top-rope belay class per athlete for a parent or guardian
- One highly discounted lead belay/climb class per athlete for a parent or guardian
- Parents/guardians with active memberships can join Dev/Comp/Elite teams at
weekly Sunday night after-hours practices - Parents/guardians can all climb FREE at the All-Team practices on the 4th Sunday every month
- Heja app used for all communication and coordination (like carpooling)
PORTLAND