Climbing Club and Team

Overview

At Synergy we’re passionate about developing the next generation of climbing talent. With 25 years of experience and a gym founded by a former world number one in competitive bouldering, we specialize in providing top-tier youth climbing programs tailored to all skill levels. Our programs are headed up by Synergy founders Lisa Rands, and her husband, longtime coach and climber Wills Young.

As owners of Synergy Climbing, Wills and Lisa ensure that youth programing is given the priority it deserves and that climbing opportunities are provided by the gym, with the specific goal to help young climbers improve.

Synergy team members have achieved great results including youth world champion, multiple youth national champion wins, elite national champion in lead climbing (2023, age 16) and a national adult team trial gold medalist in bouldering (2024). Regardless, coaching at Synergy is for anyone taking climbing seriously. If a climber is motivated and willing to cooperate, we will help that climber to reach their potential.

Read how Synergy founders teach for University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.

Please call or text Wills Young with questions about our climbing club, team coaching program, or if interested in a climbing trip or other event: 760-920-5348 (cell).

We offer youth climbers access to a lifestyle sport that will engage them both mentally and physically for years to come. Participants will learn perseverance and resilience; improve their social skills, and receive the best climbing coaching possible!

Future Olympians!

With bouldering and lead climbing now Olympic sports, the opportunities for young competitive athletes is better than ever. Ultimately for those that have the interest and dedication, we focus our coaching toward competitions sanctioned by USA Climbing (the national governing body of competition climbing in the United States). Through USA Climbing, our athletes gain national ranking, with the potential to advance to the US Climbing Team and represent the USA at international events, or even the Olympics.

We are proud to be coaches to two national champions and numerous Regional and Divisional Champions, and a youth world champion. Climbing clubs are for those curious to try it out and our high instructor to student ratio will ensure all young climbers make fast progress!

Youth Climbing Clubs

After-School Climbing Club

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

ONE session per week—Synergy Gym Members: $75/month; Non-members: $95.
TWO sessions per week—Synergy Gym Members: $115/month; Non-members $145.
10 percent discount for second or additional siblings.

Homeschool Climbing Club

Tuesday, Thursday 2pm – 3:30pm

Longer sessions and our best rates for those club members who are homeschool students and can come to the gym during quieter hours.

ONE session per week: Synergy Gym Members $90/month; Non-members: $110.
TWO sessions per week: Synergy Gym Members $140/month; Non-members $160.
10 percent discount for second or additional siblings.

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Synergy gym membership is optional for club members. Non-members will pay entry fees when visiting outside of club hours. Call/text Wills Young with questions: 760-920-5348.

Try out a club session! Book a class. (youth classes coincide with our club sessions). You can also use our events calendar to book a MONTH of classes.

Climbing Team

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and/or Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For those who are truly motivated to improve. Rates begin at $120 per month in addition to gym membership (membership options include individual or family, annual and monthly). Rates increase with more sessions per week. Team members may attend from one to four times per week based on motivation and budget. Sessions include approximately 1/2 hour of stretching, conditioning, or play time.

Join our occasional Saturday trips at special team-member rates, with the opportunity to climb outside under the supervision of instructors as well as to visit different gyms around the region. Team members are expected to represent the gym at competitive events. See more info below.

Competing with the Climbing Team:

The most dedicated competitors get coaching two to four times per week. We prepare team members for USA Climbing Regional Championships in sport climbing and bouldering. We require a commitment from team members through the end of the season, following the schedule of USA Climbing, which is the governing body of sport climbing in the United States (sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee). Team members will prepare for competitions from local to national in which they receive a national ranking.

Those who excel can take their skills all the way to the national team and on to international competitions. Ultimately, national ranking will determine the members of the United States Olympic climbing team. We are proud to be Team Regional Champions and to have helped our team members earn multiple Regional, Divisional and National Championship gold medals.

Advanced Climbing Camps & Trips

Advanced Climbing and Training Camps

Intended for competitive youth climbers of any age. Our aim is to provide variety and fun! Variety and fun are the keys to motivation. Motivation leads to hard work and hard work equals better performance. Participants will get advice, instruction, and direction, from world-famous climbing legend Lisa Rands and renowned climber Wills Young–two of the country’s best coaches! We will expose climbers to different styles of setting and a diverse range of holds and wall angles, and for our outdoor camps, we’ll get the kids outside to climb on the incredible range of climbs in the Chattanooga area.

Our training camps are open to all registered USA Climbing competitors who have attended Regionals. Attendees do not need to be members of a Synergy Climbing Team or Club.

Some camps labeled as Outdoor camps or sometimes Indoor/Outdoor are intended to provide an opportunity for climbers to get outside, weather-permitting, but we may also decide to climb some days indoors.

Next camp: View Camps Page.

Call or text to arrange private guided trips or private coaching.

Participants will need to have accommodation locally.

Any questions: call or text Wills Young 760-920-5348 (cell)

Synergy Team Member Benefits

Competition/Elite Team

Community.
Overseen by some of the most experienced, and accomplished coaches in the country, our climbing team is so much more than just a coaching program. We also offer outdoor trips, training camps, indoor gym trips, and provide private coaching to those that want it.

Representation at USA Climbing competitions with team.
We will attend not less than two local events, plus all championship events including regional, divisional, and national. As coaches we will support our team members at the competitions, providing advice and encouragement. Our goal is to understand each participant well enough to both prepare them for, and to maximize their competition performance.

Saturday Trips.
Opportunity to join regular indoor or outdoor day-trips at the weekend with preferential seating and team-member pricing.

Private coaching.
Synergy team members receive a special rate for private coaching.

Climbing and training camps.
Multi-day training camps and indoor-outdoor multi-day climbing camps are discounted to team-members. And with first opportunity to take a place on the camps.

Fifteen percent discount on private guided trips.
Synergy team members are encouraged to get outside on private guided trips.

Invite to all team events.
We will do our best to ensure everyone comes to our team parties or other events.

World Class Coaches

Synergy’s head coaches are world-renowned climbers — former Open National champion, Bouldering World Cup winner, climbing icon Lisa Rands, and her husband, Wills Young (read more about Lisa and Wills here).

Wills and Lisa bring a wealth of experience in coaching and instruction to Synergy Climbing. Contracted to set up all coaching and instructional programs for a large tourist-based climbing gym, they moved to Chattanooga from their mountain home in Bishop, California, and fast became essential members of the Chattanooga climbing community. Their presence in Chattanooga has been lauded by the area’s press, been noted by national magazines and the city’s promoters, and as instructors and coaches they have had a positive impact on countless families in the area.

The Synergy climbing team has earned an enviable reputation for exceptional results in competitions. At the same time, our head coaches encourage and promote a spirit of support and community within the team.

Lisa Rands and Wills Young are certified coaches with the national governing body of competition climbing (USA Climbing), and Certified Single Pitch Instructors with the American Mountain Guides Association.

If you are interested in knowing more about our team, please call or text Wills Young at 760-920-5348 (cell). Coaching rates will depend on the number of training sessions per week and other options.

Another excellent slab climbing demonstration!

Fun one! Good for shoulders and some footwork.

What a cool move at the crux here combining dyno i

Fearless climbing is the best climbing

Like that… but keep your feet on the holds.

Another cool combo of power and finesse!

A little techy footwork and balance with a push-pu

Enjoying these falls temps on some cool slopers!

Strong core and shoulders needed at the start of t

Follow on Instagram

Synergy Team Instagram

Follow the team on instagram to see regular videos of team members demonstrating skills at the gym, competing at competitions or having fun on climbing trips and camps!

We may also post some information about upcoming events.

What others have said about our coaching program…

Thank you for all you and Lisa do! We love you guys!

Melissa CraneChattanooga

We REALLY appreciate you and Lisa. Not just for how y’all have coached our girls, and helped them all fall in love with climbing… but also for how each of y’all model a humble confidence and pour into a next generation.

Jeremy MaxfieldChattanooga

Lisa and Wills have created a team that has become a strong support system and family of friends. Our daughter has developed a healthy love for fitness and climbing that I know will stay with her for the rest of her life.

Jenni VealChattanooga

We are grateful for the positive attitudes, encouragement and great care you show and have shown to all our kids! You have created something magical in this team and group of families- Thank you.

Karen JuddCleveland

We love you all and appreciate your time and dedication more than you can imagine.

Margaret SmithChattanooga

My gratitude to Wills and Lisa for their guidance and instruction throughout Luke’s climbing experience knows no bounds.

Tanya Sterner-WilkinsonChattanooga

This has been the best team-building experience for my boys. Following the lead of their coaches, all the team members have been extremely positive and encouraging throughout.

Irene HamiltonChattanooga

We are incredibly fortunate to have two world class coaches here in Chattanooga.

Cindy HarrisChattanooga

You two have created an amazing group of strong climbers…! Plus, your climbers are growing into great additions to the climbing community. We value your ability to balance both worlds.

Holly NguyenChattanooga

We are thrilled that our daughter is joining the team on some weekend trips! We can’t thank you and Lisa enough for all you do!!

Kim LazarovChattanooga

Youth Nationals 2018 was quite an experience. Henry earned 7th place in sport climbing. We can’t thank our coaches Wills Young and Lisa Rands enough for their world-class coaching and commitment to Henry’s training.

Josh & Nancy CarterChattanooga

“ Frustration

=

Motivation”

Lisa Rands

Hours

Mon: 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Tue: 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Wed: 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Thu: 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Fri: 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Ninja Zone open for walk-in subject to availability (outside class or camp times)

Member Hours (18+ only)

Mon: 6:00 a.m. >
Wed: 6:00 a.m. >
Fri: 6:00 a.m. >

Special Hours 2022

Thanksgiving Day Nov 28th: CLOSED
Christmas Eve, Dec 24th: Closed 6pm.
Christmas Day Dec 25th: CLOSED
December 26th: Normal hours.
New Year’s Eve: Closed 6pm.
New Year’s Day: No early member hours.