This year, the USA Paraclimbing team is bigger, stronger, and better than ever. With three world cups and a season capping world championship, we are looking forward to having a record breaking year! While USAC has stepped up considerably with financial support to its para team, there’s still a significant cash need for most athletes. Here’s a list of support opportunities to help get our nation’s best paraclimbers on the world stage. If you’d like your funding page added, just email me!
Cail Soria, AL2
Denver, CO
Cail had her leg amputated less than a year before she made her first paraclimbing national team. “I will be writing donators names on the back of a 2023 USA Team memorabilia jacket I am making that I will be taking with me to all of the comps. I will also be documenting all of the comps on my socials so you can follow along on this journey!”
Brian Liebenow, RP1
Knoxville, TN
Brian is a USAF Veteran who has made his first Paraclimbing National Team. “[At first], I inwardly laughed and scoffed at the idea that a guy who had no use of his left arm, was partially paralyzed, and eating through a feeding tube could ever take part in such a sport. Now, I’ve got my sights set even higher to the Paraclimbing World Cup in Salt Lake City in May, representing Team USA. I may not take home any medals but I’m competing more for the upper limb amputees half my age who are sitting on their couch thinking climbing is strictly a 4-limbed sport.”
Olivia Conforti, RP2
Barnegat, NJ
Olivia has been climbing for a while, but this marks her first year on Team USA. “I have been a disabled climber for the last 9 years, with a degenerative neurological condition that affects the functioning in my legs. This past March I competed for the very first time at the US Paraclimbing National Championship, and through my hard work and training I earned a silver medal, securing my spot on the USA Climbing Team for the 2023 Season. This experience was incredibly transformative, and it stoked my fire beyond belief to continue on this competition journey, and to test my skills against other paraclimbers on an international stage.”
Brayden Butler, RP2
Birmingham, AL
This is Brayden’s second year on the Paraclimbing Team. He is the youngest member of our team - he’s got a long career ahead of him! “BB is 16 years old and a Traumatic Brain Injury / Hemorrhagic Stroke survivor. He experiences what’s called “left neglect” due to the injury. The brain doesn’t talk to the left side of his body like ours does. He has to make conscious efforts to use his left side, or his left arm will posture. Hoping to see Paraclimbing in the 2028 Olympics and BB on the podium!”
Tanner Cislaw, AL1
SLC, UT
Tanner is a veteran to our team and no stranger to performing under pressure on the world stage. “Since suffering my spinal cord injury in March of 2018, I've dedicated my life to climbing and have been pushing myself to win gold in the "seated" category on the world stage. After receiving a silver medal in Moscow 2 years ago, my motivation and ambition to prevail are at an all-time high.”