YOUTH TEAMS FALL/ WINTER 2024/2025
If you have any questions about the programs bellow please contact our Head Coach Gerard Garnier at [email protected]
If you have any questions about the programs bellow please contact our Head Coach Gerard Garnier at [email protected]
Climb Yukon Association (CYA) is the sport Governing body for indoor climbing in the Yukon and is a Climb Escalade Canada (CEC) member association. As the governing body CYA provides training and competition opportunities for Yukon Youth. For the 2024/2025 season, we will be offering programs for youth ages 6 to 18 that are based on CEC's athlete development model.
Head Coach: Gerard Garnier : [email protected]
Assistant Coach Competition Team: Patrick Gibeau
Development Team Coaches: Isaac Lohnes, Benjamin Poudou, Shakiba Kazemi.
Coaches Kid's Camps: Ray Gunness, Shane Dooley
- Team Yukon (no registration)
- Competition Team : Registration closed
- Development Team: Registration closed
- Kids Camps: Registration Full for October Camp
Head Coach: Gerard Garnier : [email protected]
Assistant Coach Competition Team: Patrick Gibeau
Development Team Coaches: Isaac Lohnes, Benjamin Poudou, Shakiba Kazemi.
Coaches Kid's Camps: Ray Gunness, Shane Dooley
Team Yukon:
Team Yukon is a select group of climbers who are nominated and have qualified to represent the Yukon and compete at Westerns, Nationals and Canada Games. To qualify for team Yukon athletes must compete at the qualification events, or have met the pre selection criteria laid out at the beginning of the competitive season. Only those Youth C and older are eligible to compete for team Yukon. Any climber who lives in the Yukon full time and has an active CYA membership is eligible to qualify for these events. There is no registration required for this team.
Team Yukon is a select group of climbers who are nominated and have qualified to represent the Yukon and compete at Westerns, Nationals and Canada Games. To qualify for team Yukon athletes must compete at the qualification events, or have met the pre selection criteria laid out at the beginning of the competitive season. Only those Youth C and older are eligible to compete for team Yukon. Any climber who lives in the Yukon full time and has an active CYA membership is eligible to qualify for these events. There is no registration required for this team.
Kids Camps:
Ages 6-8
Mondays' 6 Weeks:
Camp 1: 6 week program
Mondays 4:30 to 5:30
October 21, 28, November 18th, December 2, 9, 16th
Cost: $100.00
Register HERE
Learn the basics of bouldering! In this all levels welcome course we will learn bouldering safety and basic climbing skills in a fun play based setting. Registration will be first come first serve.
Competition Team: Youth C/B/A
For Climbers born between 2012 and 2007 (+2013 by invitation to tryout)
Season: September to May Tuesdays / Thursdays: 4-6pm
Registration Closed
This program is intended for climbers aged 13-18 who want to take their climbing to the next level! This program offers individualized coaching, technique practice and physical training catered to each participants abilities, to help athletes reach their individual climbing goals. Climbers in this group are self motivated and are driven to climb their best.
During the year we will:
Athletes on this team are expected to compete locally and will be encouraged to attend competition outside of the Yukon. The team will travel to BC cups and for those who qualify, Western Canadian and National Championships.
Due to limited gym space and to keep a low coach to participant ratio we will be limiting our team size. If more athletes register than our maximum team size Our first two weeks of practice will double as tryouts. Athletes will be selected based on ability relative to age and commitment to the program, and to create gender enqutiy.
First Year Youth C climbers category (born 2012) can register for the Development team OR the competition team. If you are Youth C and new to climbing we suggest you register for the development team. If you are experienced and interested in competition the competition time might be a good fit. If you are unsure which team is best suited for your youth C child please reach out to coach Gerard.
First Payment of $450 is due upon acceptance of team selection. $400 will be due January 1st. Athletes will have the opportunity to fundraise to help offset team fees and travel costs.
During the year we will:
- Learn competition formats and competition tactics
- Acquire knowledge on how to train for competition climbing (strength training, warm up, focus etc.)
- Learn, develop and refine technical climbing skills, tactics, and mental skills.
Athletes on this team are expected to compete locally and will be encouraged to attend competition outside of the Yukon. The team will travel to BC cups and for those who qualify, Western Canadian and National Championships.
Due to limited gym space and to keep a low coach to participant ratio we will be limiting our team size. If more athletes register than our maximum team size Our first two weeks of practice will double as tryouts. Athletes will be selected based on ability relative to age and commitment to the program, and to create gender enqutiy.
First Year Youth C climbers category (born 2012) can register for the Development team OR the competition team. If you are Youth C and new to climbing we suggest you register for the development team. If you are experienced and interested in competition the competition time might be a good fit. If you are unsure which team is best suited for your youth C child please reach out to coach Gerard.
First Payment of $450 is due upon acceptance of team selection. $400 will be due January 1st. Athletes will have the opportunity to fundraise to help offset team fees and travel costs.
Development Team: Youth D/C
For Climbers born between 2015 -2012
Season: October to March break . Wednesdays and Fridays 4-5:30
Registration Closed
Learn to climb, learn new skills, make friends and challenge yourself!
This program is designed to introduce youth to indoor bouldering and competition. Coaches will work with climbers to develop their climbing skills, and focus on personal growth. Climbers will be encouraged to participate in local competitions. Those in Youth C will have the opportunity to qualify to attend Western Canadian Championships if desired.
During the year we will:
Payment is due for first day of practice.
This program is designed to introduce youth to indoor bouldering and competition. Coaches will work with climbers to develop their climbing skills, and focus on personal growth. Climbers will be encouraged to participate in local competitions. Those in Youth C will have the opportunity to qualify to attend Western Canadian Championships if desired.
During the year we will:
- Introduce climbers to climbing skills and terminology
- Refine skills through play based activities and learning
- learn and reinforce climbing safety and etiquette.
- Learn competition formats
Payment is due for first day of practice.
Forms and Waivers:
| Climb Yukon Waiver |
| cyteam_code_of_conduct.pdf |
| cy_youth_team_consent_form.pdf |
Meet Our Coaches
Gerard Garnier: Head Coach, Sport Coordinator
Gerard has been our head coach for the past three seasons after relocating to Whitehorse from Canmore. He was lucky to grow up in the mountains developing a love of the outdoors and sport at an early age. Gerard pursued high level sport in cross country skiing where he raced in nationally and in World Cup races. After retiring from competition in 2012 Gerard began climbing and has been passionate about climbing ever since. As well as being an experienced climber and having been a high level athlete Gerard is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner. Gerard is passionate about sport, training and working with youth to achieve their goals in sport.
Patrick Gibeau: Coach: Competition Team
Patrick has been helping coach the Junior team since 2022 after also transplanting to Whitehorse from Canmore. He climbed competitively from 2011-2017 where he had the opportunity to compete at the national and international level. He is excited to help facilitate and advance the youth competitive teams. He believes through his own experiences these kinds of teams provide the opportunities to form special, lifelong relationships with self, sport, teammates, and the outdoors. He's grateful to be here and thankful for the trust this group has given him. Kwä̀näschiss!
Isaac Lohnes: Coach: Development Team
Isaac will be starting his second year of coaching with Climb Yukon after relocating to Whitehorse from Nova Scotia in 2023. He grew up dirt biking and doing anything on a board: snow, skate, or wake. Isaac began climbing to escape the 9-5 in 2021 and has been deeply passionate about the sport ever since. Isaac believes strongly in sports at a young age as an avenue to set youth up for a healthy, active lifestyle.
