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Skier in mid flip
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Photo:

Lauren Rouse

Lauren Rouse

Climb

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Fayetteville, NC

Current Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Favorite Zone: Triangle Rock Club (Morrisville, NC)

Proudest Achievement: I am so proud of myself for competing in paraclimbing at a national and world level just a few months after finding the sport. That took a lot of courage and I'm very glad I jumped right into the community. It has been an amazing experience.

Favorite Advocacy Org: A few favorites: Catalyst Sports, ParaCliffHangers, Paradox Sports, Bridge II Sports

Biography

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I began my rock climbing journey earlier this year and developed a huge passion for the sport. I have a form of cerebral palsy
called spastic hemiplegia. Rock climbing has showed me that my body is capable of much more than I had imagined. Now, I
celebrate what my body is able to do and I focus less on what it looks like. That in and of itself has been a huge personal
achievement. While I have met climbers from all the world, I do not know a lot of fellow adaptive climbers in my area and I have
goals to change that. Long term, I want to create community-based programming that serves adaptive athletes for both indoor
and outdoor climbing. When I am not on the wall, I enjoy mountain biking on my recumbent trike, sit waterskiing, and spending
time with my family and friends.

Instagram

ATHLETE MENTORSHIP INITATIVE

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The SCARPA Athlete Mentorship Initiative presented by Mountain Hardwear has been created to connect and engage the SCARPA and Mountain Hardwear Athlete teams with accomplished athletes from historically marginalized communities aspiring to take their sport or career to the next level. The mission of this program is to connect mentors with mentees focused on the sports we serve to provide participants with opportunities for personal, athletic and career development with the goal of helping to create a more inclusive and diverse community of athletes.

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Q & A

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  1. How did you get involved with your respective sport?: I attended a meeting where a local organization was creating a paraclimbing team. I wanted to be a part of the community, so I signed up for a rock climbing gym membership the next day and got to work. Climbers are the most welcoming group of people!
  2. Who were your influences early in life?: Most of all, my family and teachers at school. I didn't find my love for sports and the outdoors until after I graduated from college, so I didn't have mentors in those spaces growing up.
  3. What draws you to the outdoors?: Nature is so beautiful and I am happiest when I am outside.
  4. What's your dream trip or expedition?: I don't have a specific trip, but I want to do more climbing outside, even if the approaches are difficult for me. I like the challenge of figuring out the accessibility, so one day others won't have to!
  5. What makes you a good skiing/climbing/running/hiking partner?: I am brave and have a lot of grit. I also love being around people and am always working on myself.
  6. How are you going to pass on what you learn in the mentorship program to others?: I will pass on what I learn through community-based programming, my social media accounts, and taking openly about my journey.