AUSTEN MCNULTY (he/him/his)
My name is Austen and I’m the Head Coach at VITAL West Harlem and Upper East Side. I am a seasoned climber with over a decade of experience in both indoor and outdoor climbing. I’ve always been passionate about the sport and love being a part of any climbers progression, whether novice or elite. I think climbing is a great way to be physical while still allowing for self expression through movement.
Throughout my time in the community, I have had the pleasure of traveling the world for climbing. I have a proficient background in Bouldering, Sport, and Trad climbing and can assist in creating training plans for any desired goal. I also have a background in competitive climbing having been the captain of my university club team for four years. I live and breathe the sport and am excited to be a part of your journey
BEN SWANSON (they/them)
My name is Ben and I’m a Bouldering 101, Monkey Club, and Youth Team coach at VITAL Upper East Side! I started climbing 15 years ago with my mom on the crags of Idaho. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, so climbing outdoors was hard to find. I fell in love with the climbing gym and soon transitioned from rope-climbing to bouldering. New York City helped me create my own climbing fami
I enjoy introducing first-time climbers to the sport and working with climbers of all skill levels and body types through coaching! In our sessions, I highlight the importance of strength, flexibility, and technique through drills, fun games, and selecting challenging projects for adults and kids of all ages. I’m excited to work with you to maximize your climbing sessions, and to set you up with climbing goals designed to challenge your skills and build your confidence on and off the wall.
HALEY SCHMIDT (she/her)
My name is Haley and I’m a youth coach at VITAL West Harlem and Upper East Side! I started climbing 18 years ago on a youth team in St. Paul, Minnesota. I grew up as an aerialist, so climbing was a fun way for me to train, but I loved it so much that I continued climbing even after leaving the circus.
I’m passionate about helping kids get excited about the sport and building confidence in themselves through climbing! As someone who started climbing very young, I have a lot of knowledge of appropriate training methods to improve strength, flexibility, and technique for kids of all ages. I’m excited to work together to reach your climbing goals!
Ellington-Blue Chapman (he/him)
My name is Ellington and I’m a coach here at VITAL, I was on a climbing team in my youth and have been teaching action sports like surfing & climbing for many years.