Our Program Director and the founder of Team PRG, David, has over 30 years of experience developing athletes of all levels and all ages in multiple sports. He began his coaching career as a swim coach, working for high-level teams in the Philadelphia and New York area. But when the opportunity arose to start the first climbing team in the region, he leaped at the chance to combine two of his passions—rock climbing and coaching young athletes. Over the past 20 years, David has developed Team PRG into one of the largest and most successful climbing teams in the East, winning multiple Regional and Divisional titles and placing in the Top 3 at Bouldering Nationals.

During his career, Dave has personally trained eight Youth National Champions (at least one in every discipline, including several two and three-time champions), three International Champions, a World Champion and silver medalist, two Collegiate National Champions, two Adult National Champions, and more than a dozen US Team Members–not to mention many additional champions of Regional, Divisional and local events across the country. At the same time, he has worked to inspire his climbers toward the same lifelong passion for climbing that has kept him in the sport for over 30 years. To that effect, Dave started one of the first high-level outdoor programs for youth climbers in the East and for 18 years, has brought the Team to areas like the Red River and New River Gorge, Chattanooga, the Adirondacks, the Gunks, the White Mountains, and Bishop, CA where they hone and enhance their skills on some of the best outdoor climbing in the country.

In 2000, Dave founded the first youth age-group competitive bouldering league—the Junior Indoor Bouldering Series, or JIBS—which quintupled in size over five years before he was invited to join the Board of Directors of USA Climbing to help bring about the first-ever US National Youth Bouldering series, culminating in the first Youth Bouldering National Championships in 2004, held at the original PRG. In his spare time, Dave has served on the Rules Committee for USA Climbing as a certified route-setter and coach, and founder of the Burn Bouldering Series. He is the author of an upcoming book on climbing technique—oh, and he is also the owner and President of the Philadelphia Rock Gyms!

Dave still finds time to climb, too! A veteran boulderer, sport, and traditional climber, he has spent three decades climbing all over the US and abroad, racking up thousands of sends both indoors and out, from strangely terrifying 5.4 off-widths in Wyoming to monstrously overhanging 5.13 sport routes in the Red River Gorge. As a boulderer, Dave spent over a decade developing “local” areas, quietly racking up nearly 400 first ascents—several of which, though he won’t grade them himself, have been called V10 or harder. Though he still loves all aspects of the sport, his current focus is hard traditional climbing, and after years of ticking off 5.12 trad routes, he is currently training for 5.13 gear.

Dave is also a proud father of one of the next generation of climbers.

Tom Meehan

tmeehan@philarockgym.com

Other jobs you do or have done involve climbing?

Coaching, instructing, guiding, route setting, Chief Safety Officer for PRG

Favorite outdoor climbing area for ropes and boulders?

Ropes: New River Gorge, WV
Boulders: Tough choice between New River Gorge, WV, and Governor Dick Park (Mt. Gretna), PA, because it is my home crag

What do you love most about climbing?

Climbing changed my life. It became my passion. I believe it is one of the most unique activities on the planet, physically and mentally. Whether you are pushing the limit or just getting started, everyone has the same goal and learns the same lesson. That lesson is FAILURE. It is perhaps the biggest part of climbing. It is what we learn from that failure that defines us. It is the same thing in life.

Chris Palmer

cpalmer@philarockgym.com

Other jobs you do or have done involve climbing.

Route Setting, Rock Climbing Merit Badge Instructor 10+ years.

Favorite outdoor climbing area for ropes and boulders?

Ropes: New River Gorge & Summersville Lake, WV
Boulders: Governor Dick Park at Mount Gretna, PA

Favorite Route and favorite boulder? 

Route: Pod 5.13b @ Summersville Lake, WV
Under the Milky Way 5.11D Summersville Lake, WV
Boulder: Honeycomb V10 @ Dayton Pocket, TN
Under My Thumb V6 @ Haycock Mountain, PA

What do you love most about climbing?

There’s a lot to love about climbing. Getting a First Ascent is one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced as a climber, but being out in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Maybe get scared on routes or psyched on some boulders and laugh with friends. That’s what’s kept me climbing and will keep me climbing for decades more.

Brendan Dugan

bdugan@philarockgym.com

Other jobs you do or have done involve climbing.

Setting, Setting, and more Setting. Also, I dabble in setting. But besides the setting, I have no problem sitting down for some instruction. Can give beta, training, and encouragement on the wall. Off the wall, I have a background in the weight room, not just lifting heavy but a solid grasp on injury prevention.

Favorite outdoor climbing area for ropes and boulders?

Psh, who uses ropes? (Please be safe and use ropes.) Gretna is my winter Sunday pilgrimage.

Favorite Route/Boulder?

Does a high boulder count as a route? Incredarete V1 highball in Tennessee, don’t climb it in the rain. It’s very scary. Also, the classic Body Snap at Gretna.

What do you love most about climbing?

I like the self-challenge of pushing the limits of movement and strength. But what I love about climbing is either going out to the crag or the gym with some friends. A climbing community is supportive and part of what I hope to bring to my coaching in and out of practice.

Alex Raybold

ajraybold@philarockgym.com

How many years of climbing?

5 Years

How much Coaching?

I haven’t formally taught a team. However, I have a good sense of seeing why (or how) someone is having a hard time with a problem or route. Whether it be footwork, strength, body positioning, or focus, I have a way of seeing how others need help.

Other jobs you do or have done involve climbing.

I’ve been route-setting for just about 2 years by this point. On top of this, I have been sport-climbing harder routes for about a year and a half. I had started at PRG as a belayer and eventually made my way to an instructor, where I had the opportunity to meet the Team’s Head Coach, Tom. After becoming friends, I was offered to start setting. The rest is history!

Favorite outdoor climbing area for ropes and boulders?

In terms of routes, I love the Nuttal Sandstone that the New River Gorge has to offer. Aside from being great texture, it has amazing rock patterns that have a very distinct movement to them. I often climb the more steep routes near the NRG. Typically the South Side Crags and Summersville Lake. However, the Cirque has a special place in my heart as well.

I have always been a fan of the delicate nature of PA diabase for boulders. While I don’t love the cold, the boulders at Mt Gretna have a ton of interesting climbs and movement. Not to mention the friction is awesome when it is less than 30 degrees!

Favorite Route and favorite boulder?

“My absolute favorite route” is a hard decision to make. I love Narcissist and Reckless Abandoned at Summersville Lake, in WV, but I think the one that takes the cake in terms of sheer fun is “Solstice” at the South Clear (Obed) in Tennessee.

What do you love most about climbing?

The biggest part of climbing for me is not just the fun I get from taking a big ol’ whipper down at the New or the excitement I get from sending a new high grade for myself. It is the people that climbing can connect you to. It’s communing with not just those you know but those you don’t. All the while, you end up immersing yourself in nature and putting yourself up to a very difficult task. Climbing has taught me many things, but a few of the important things are; maturity, patience, dedication, and passion. To me, that is what sets climbing apart from most other hobbies.

Kevin Celommi

kcelommi@philarockgym.com

Alex Hogancamp

ahogancamp@philarockgym.com

Must have approval from a Team Head Coach. It is strongly suggested that anyone looking to be on Team PRG has been through our Youth Program. Contact Tom at tmeehan@philarockgym.com

We have kids aged from 9-18 on our Team. It depends more on motivation, maturity, and skill rather than age.

We have 3 formal practices a week at each facility. We require kids to attend at least 2. Most kids will climb around 4 nights per week.

Of course! It is encouraged. Team members automatically get upgraded to a Multi Gym Membership with no extra cost!

Yes, however, we do NOT require kids to compete in these events

Yes. We have several expert-level coaches who can create personalized programs for athletes to follow to reach their peak performance.