Our Team

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Carlo Traversi - Founder and Owner

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: All the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity to meet, work with, and climb with in the process of building this wonderful facility.

What Climbing Means to Me: I’ve dedicated the last 16 years of my life to climbing and it has captured my mind and heart in so many ways. The climbing community is my global family. The cliffs, crags, boulders, and climbing gyms feel like home.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Work hard, be honest, and treat others with respect.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Yosemite, CA.


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Sarah Lindner - General Manager

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Our first all-staff meeting! Cam was walking around capturing some video, and everyone was buzzing with excitement. The energy was great and the potential of our team was just bursting.

What Climbing Means to Me: Bouldering has offered me focus, patience, challenge, and community.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Call your Mom, write a letter, check on your friends!

My Favorite Place to Climb: I really enjoyed the Happy Boulders in Bishop! It’s not hard to come by stunning views there, but I particularly appreciated being able to try out some of the taller boulders and feeling a new type of discomfort. Positively thrilling.


Jonathan Konkel - Assistant General Manager

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: The first Masters Competition series. The excitement and noise from the crowd was so infectious, making my first experience as an emcee hard to forget.

What Climbing Means to Me: I started climbing at 25 years old and never looked back. The most rewarding and addicting lifestyle I've ever been a part of. The community is so accepting and has given me lifelong friendships.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: You'll never soar with the eagles if you surround yourself with all these turkeys.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere in Tahoe.


Rayy Salazar - Cafe Manager, Desk Associate

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Bringing my nephew in for the first time and getting him excited on climbing.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing teaches me how to push my limits and try hard when success is not guaranteed.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: People who say they can and people who say they can’t are both usually right.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere in Tahoe!


Zachory Scott - Facilities Manager

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: When I came to climb for the first time. The soreness, sense of community, and the mental stimulation was immediately addicting.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing has become a huge part of my life. It's encouraged me to live a much healthier lifestyle both physically and mentally and I've never felt better as a result.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Remember that life is fleeting so do whatever the heck you want as long as you're not hurting anyone.

My Favorite Place to Climb: If there's something to climb it's my favorite at the time.


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Rami Annab - Route Setter

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Mornings spent with setters and staff over a nice Temple coffee, thinking of route ideas.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing has always been a part of my life. Even as a kid, trees and door frames were my go to. It has become a huge part of who I’ve become.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: From Hannah Donnelly, eat more cookies, climb harder.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Anywhere with some good friends and nice weather. Also, sandstone’s a plus.


Angela Chun - Head Coach

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Coaching my climbing team at the Divisionals here. Hard work came to fruition as they progressed through tricky climbs, had a great time, and made the podium!

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing has been a way of self discovery, growth, and building relationships as I learn how to accept and overcome what I can and cannot control on and off the wall.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes permanence.

My Favorite Place to Climb: So far, Red Rock Canyon holds the most memories with its accessibility, variety of climbs and forgiving sandstone.


Caspian Dritz - Desk Associate

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Me and a couple of friends were hacky sacking between some sets of weighted pull-ups. Vince managed to perfectly float the sack so it softly landed on an I-beam above the gym area. (It’s still there, try to spot it!)

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is a challenge for my mind and body. It provides time for me to focus, meditate, and learn. While also opening the doors to wonderful people and experiences.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: When you hurry to something, that means you no longer care about it and want to move on to other things.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Bishop, Tahoe, and TBF!


Chris Moody - Desk Associate

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Flashing my first pink problem! DJ said, hey I think you can do that one, and I gave it a shot!

What Climbing Means to Me: For me, it’s about being connected with yourself, others, and nature!

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Stay grounded, stay present.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Bear Canyon in Bozeman, MT.


Chris Valenzuela - Desk Associate, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Learning technique from other climbers, making friends, and bonding through climbing with my kids.

What Climbing Means to Me: I enjoy climbing because it provides me with an outlet to test myself physically, mentally, and share the experience with my two kids.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Spend time doing the things you love.

My Favorite Place to Climb: I'm still exploring places to climb, but I'm a happy climber as long as I'm with good friends in nice weather.


Emma McFadyen - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Every time I get to watch a family member or friend send a route that really challenges them. It’s pure love, and such a rush of excitement. And meeting new climbers each day.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing means growth, love, community, a challenge, a puzzle, peace, and always learning. It connects the body and mind, teaches me to enjoy the journey, to be thankful for the fun, to be okay with failing a lot, or even moving “backwards” when the body needs it.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Romanticize the present.

My Favorite Place to Climb: The Boulder Field!


Gabriel Flynn - Desk Associate, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Too many good memorable moments to count, every day is memorable when I step into The Boulder Field. But one of the best is when I got an opportunity to set routes for a day alongside the best setters in the world (aka my friends).

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing to me is an escape from the outside world. Climbing has taught me life lessons, self-reliance, and enjoying the process. Climbing is the unknown and I love it.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: When you are feeling small, that’s the time to go big.

My Favorite Place to Climb: S. Lake Tahoe, Joes Valley, and The Boulder Field.


Georgia Russell - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first day. Learning about bouldering. Pushing my limits in a new way. Being open to seeing failing as a part of improving. Four hours later, I was hooked.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is the one place I can turn my brain off and just be. It’s like active meditation.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: If it won’t matter to you in a day, a week, or a year, should you let it affect your time now?

My Favorite Place to Climb: The Boulder Field and Rocklands. Looking forward to going back to South Africa for a climbing trip.


Jess Weber - Recreational Team Coach

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Walking in as a first time boulderer (a little nervous) and instantly feeling a welcoming vibe from the gym itself. I remember being encouraged by other members on my first climb and from that point on I was hooked.

What Climbing Means to Me: To me, climbing means: growth, failure, sweat, accomplishment, frustration, bliss, adventure, love and community. It is a way for me to grow within myself as well as with the incredibly loving and encouraging community that surrounds the sport.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Trust yourself.

My Favorite Place to Climb: As long as I’m outdoors, I’m happy. That being said, If I had to choose one place right now, I’d say Deer Creek Park. I got my start at this little crag and while it’s sandbagged as heck, it always provides a good time.


Kelly Meusborn - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first day back to TBF once it reopened in 2021; that first day back here climbing I will remember forever. I missed it!

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing to me is this amazing adventure where I get the opportunity to meet new people and grow in so many ways. With climbing, I learned to see obstacles that seemed previously insurmountable as possible.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Climb like you are ballet dancing, but on a rock.

My Favorite Place to Climb: I am still exploring! I am enjoying climbing wherever I am with my friends, figuring out and sending problems together!


Lalique Montesini - Desk Associate

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Walking into the gym for the first time and feeling my jaw drop as soon as I saw the infinite colorful problems on the walls, as well as a massive urge to get better as fast as I possibly could.

What Climbing Means to Me: For me, climbing is a method to tune in with my body and align my system into focus. It’s a way to integrate play into my daily life while also strengthening my body and mind. I find that it boosts not only my self-esteem but also my creativity which then greatly aids me in other facets of my life!  

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Stop trying to be liked by everybody, YOU don’t even like everybody.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Any fun-looking wall or rock I spontaneously come across!


Lily Chernioglo - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: The first time I finished a purple route I had a group of people cheering me on and it was so special and encouraging.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing means challenging myself in new ways. It’s a pleasant environment where I can disconnect from a busy day. It’s a way for me to feel stronger and connect with others who also love climbing.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Trust your feet

My Favorite Place to Climb: Yosemite, CA. The boulders are challenging but so beautiful.


Melinda Yang - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Walking into TBF for the first time and realizing how friendly and welcoming everyone is

What Climbing Means to Me: To me climbing is community and friendships. You can come in anytime to climb and meet new friends and new people everyday

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Work hard and Train honestly

My Favorite Place to Climb: TBF! But hoping to discover new places in the future!


Nadya Dooley - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: A group of friends and strangers cheering for me on a hard route, and then me cheering them on too (happens often!).

What Climbing Means to Me: A simple way to overcome fear and anxiety, and to feel focused and strong, through the process of struggling and joy. Also a way to go to amazing places, meet amazing people, and experience the best camaraderie.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Squeeze your abs so hard you feel like you'll throw up. And, breathe.

My Favorite Place to Climb: The Buttermilks, Yosemite, and Donner Summit. I love that granite life!


Nathanael Merrill - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Finishing my first pink. Another climber who was working on the same problem was able to give me some pointers that helped me complete it and we ended up becoming homies. Got to experience the kindness of the climbing community and taste the sweet victory of moving up a grade.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is nothing more than a tool which I use to train my soft little baby hands so I can carry more groceries after my mom goes shopping.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: “Just be stronger dude” -Nick

My Favorite Place to Climb: The countertops, how else do you reach the top shelf?


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Noah Chavez - Recreational Team Coach, Route Setter

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Judging the flash competition for Pros and seeing so many incredibly strong climbers all gathered in one place, flashing problems that would take me dozens of sessions to send. It really lit a fire under me to train harder and push myself to get stronger.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing provides me with endless opportunities to push myself mentally, physically, and creatively.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Try really hard.

My Favorite Place to Climb: I love climbing in Rainbow, Tahoe more than anybody, except maybe Josh Lowy.


Karene Liu - Cafe Barista, Desk Associate

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: My first big fall was here—it’s a very cool moment when you realize you can fall and be perfectly fine.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing is a fun and rewarding way to challenge and improve myself and build confidence in my own body; it keeps me physically grounded. It also offers a wonderfully friendly and diverse community.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: As long as you’re learning, you’re not failing.

My Favorite Place to Climb: TBF, but I’m looking forward to discovering and exploring new places in the future, especially outdoors!


Rhiannon Hawkins - Desk Associate, Cafe Barista, Programs Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Taking my best friend here for the first time. It was such an incredible experience seeing her light up and witnessing a new passion form in her. That moment is indescribable and priceless.

What Climbing Means to Me: An escape, we all have troubles that we have to live in day to day but this is a moment that we can guarantee a conquer. This is a sweet and beautiful escape to me.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Change your thinking, change your life.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Over the colfax waterfalls, its an even more beautiful sight of the river trails!


Aileen Quinn - Yoga Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: It was an awesome experience getting to help organize the Pretty Strong screening event with The Boulder Field and CRAGS. It was a huge fundraiser success that brought together the climbing community and raised significant funding for local outdoor climbing stewardship initiatives.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing demands you to be present in the moment, and to practice recognizing the difference between fears that are reasonable to keep us safe, and fears that were invented in our minds to hold us back.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: We all have great qualities within us, we just need to work on polishing them a bit when they get dusty.

My Favorite Place to Climb: Smith Rock is my favorite place to climb, because there are gorgeous views in every direction, and the routes are plentiful!


Athena Rhodes - Yoga Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: I have practiced yoga at The Boulder Field many times and have found the classes fun, invigorating, and just what I needed.

What Climbing Means to Me: Climbing has been such an amazing adventure for me. I love getting outdoors, hiking in, and sending. I’ve found such power in being able to look at a route and find the right moves up the wall. It’s amazing how far you can push your body and your limits just to get up a project.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: No matter what the decision you make, just make one and give it your all.

My Favorite Place to Climb: I really love climbing at the Auburn Quarry, it’s local, it’s easy to get to. I love how the atmosphere feels like a gym with all the routes lined up and so many climbers!


Jay Cahill - Yoga Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Discovering that they really do have EVERYTHING under one roof.

What Climbing/Yoga Means to Me: Falling is half of the process. 

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Just relax. 

My Favorite Place to Climb: Into a hammock.


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Thuy Do - Yoga Instructor

My Most Memorable Moment at TBF: Working on a project with a stranger and then making a new friend afterward made my day.

What Climbing Means to Me: Any self-doubt or uncertainties can be left on that hold to move upwards and onwards! And falling is essential for growing as a climber.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received: Don’t be afraid; lean into the discomfort!

My Favorite Place to Climb: Lately it’s been at the local parks so that I can be with my kid nieces to help them get stronger in their climbing and overcome their fear in heights!