Jeff Pedersen: OWNER/GM
I started climbing in 1982 in Rock Canyon in Provo. I was a freshman in college. A friend and I spent what little money we had on a rack and rope, as well as two "how to" climbing books written by Royal Robbins. Each day we would head up to the canyon and try out some new page from the books we were reading. Eventually, we fell in with more experienced climbers who mentored us in the then mysterious art.
My favorite places to climb are Indian Creek and other areas like it in southern Utah. These places still inspire the same awe in me that I felt as a beginning rock climber.
I’ve been with Momentum since 2004 when the gym was just an idea that Kevin Bradburn and I started throwing around while climbing in Santaquin Canyon.
When I am not climbing, I like to spend time with my kids jumping on the trampoline, reading, obsessing over how to coach the Momentum team kids up and how/where to build more Momentum gyms. As far as the future goes, I’d like to discover at least one more new sport climbing area in Utah close to home, climb a couple of crack projects that are well out of reach for me at the moment, and continue to grow as a dad and businessman.
Nancy: ACCOUNTANT/CONTROLLER
I’ve been with Momentum since it opened in 2007. My first climbing experiences were in the Tetons when I was 13 years old. I learned to climb with my family and I’ve been climbing for 33 years now.
My favorite place to climb is Yosemite because I love being up high on the side of a Mountain!
Outside of climbing, In my free time I hang out with my family. In the future I’m hoping for more of the same! I try to appreciate every moment and live in the present.
Rich: FRONT DESK MANAGER
I arrived at Momentum in the Fall of 2011, shortly after moving to Salt Lake City from “back east”. I grew up in Connecticut and fell in love with climbing in 2005 at crags throughout New England and the Mid Atlantic. Since moving to Utah, my passion has been fueled on multi-pitch adventures and in technical slot canyons down south. Outside of climbing, I am an avid runner, serve as the Treasurer for the Utah Ultimate Disc Association (UUDA), and play Ultimate Frisbee competitively for Utah’s premier club team, Golden Spike.
Shaun: FACILITIES MANAGER
As of January I will have been with Mo’ for two years, but my first experience climbing was in boy scouts, at the old paintball planet; it was love at first sight, even though we didn't officially start dating until I was 16. Of all the places that I have been climbing, City of Rock takes the cake. The scenery in the City never ceases to amaze me, throw in world class hot springs, great steak, some of the best pizza in the world, some scary run outs, and you've got a slice of heaven..
On top of being a climber, I would also consider myself an avid: archer, hunter, farmer, craftsman, bass player, and mixed rock and ice climber. Although it may seem that some of these activities may be taking over all my climbing time, climbing will always hold the most special place in my heart.
My plans for the future? Keep living the dream!!
Devin: Youth Program Director/Route Setter
I’ve been working for Momentum since April of 2012, but I started climbing in October of 2000 at a small wall built in a friend’s barn a month before the Quarry opened in Provo. The Quarry was built down the street from where I grew up, and since I was no longer able to ride my bike on the dirt mounds that covered the land the gym was built on, I decided to try climbing. In 2001 I started working for the Quarry, I soon moved my way through the route setting program and was head route setter for the gym before taking a two year Hiatus in 2006. My favorite place to climb is a toss-up between Maple Canyon and Joes Valley. You can’t really beat the steep/ long routes that Maple offers. However Maple doesn’t have the Food Ranch or their amazing donuts. Outside of climbing, I’m a free-lance photographer and have owned my own photography business. I love to cycle and fish. I can also appreciate a little bit of James Bond time on the wii. Currently I am studying outdoor recreation management at Utah Valley University. I plan to obtain a masters degree in public administration.
Kyle: ROUTESETTER
I’ve been around Momentum on and off for the last three years, I started climbing in 2003 as something to do after school. My passion for climbing quickly exploded and I have been breathing climbing ever since. Favorite place? Rifle, CO. Rifle to me contains a very unique style of climbing, everything is tall, steep, technical and powerful all rolled into one route. It is an amazing place to push your onsight and redpoint threshold. However, if you don’t like polished, blocky limestone, knee bars and a lot of sand-bagged grades, it might not be the place for you. As a full time route setter/climber and full time student I don’t really have a lot of free time. What little free time I have I try to spend in the company of close friends, big dinners, hiking, watching movies…you know…normal person stuff. In the future I plan to graduate with my bachelors, get into a physician assistant program, continually push the limits of my own climbing, and hopefully introduce and educate new climbers to the amazing lifestyle/sport.
Luke: Floor/desk staff
I was introduced to climbing in 2010 when I shared a pot of spaghetti with some folks in Indian creek. I was there for the free camping, and couldn’t believe it when they told me they climb the surrounding cracks and cliffs. Later I went on a long trip to Yosemite and learned the art of Trad climbing from the community out there. In the future I see myself leading more of the classic routes in LCC and Indian Creek, and hopefully getting into big wall climbing. Red pointing 12’s would be nice too!
John: Desk and Floor Staff
In August 2012, I moved to SLC from West Virginia and was fortunate enough to land a job being involved with the sport that I love. After being introduced to climbing 6 years ago as a student at West Virginia University, I have steadily developed an obsession with all types of rock climbing and have hopes of pursuing outdoor and adventure sports photography and videography. When not filling up my spare time with climbing, I am taking pictures and pursuing other outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and snowboarding. While I am enjoying all of the variety of climbing Utah has to offer, I will always miss the rocks and rapids of the New River Gorge.
Brian: Web director & Group Coordinator
I started climbing when I was 16 years old, some friends and I had a “Summer of conquering our fears” I was scared to death of heights; so rock climbing seemed like a natural remedy. My dad gave us an old static rope along with some beat up harnesses and we headed to the cliffs – I should have been way more scared than I was. In the years since then climbing has taken over and restructured my entire life, I abandoned my computer programming and web design major in favor of one that was more climbing friendly, and started as an intern at Momentum during my last semester of college in January of 2012. As far as climbing goes, I love full day multi-pitch adventures, going places and exploring, and finding really cool movement on natural rock – Even if it’s easy. When I’m not in a harness I’m either working on a recipe, planning an extended backpacking trip, or trying to convince someone in another country to let me sleep on their couch or work on their farm for a while. My plans for the future? Make a lot of friends and climb all over the world.
Kris: Desk/Floor staff
I started climbing in fall 2011 and since have dedicated a lot of time learning the ins and outs of climbing and how to do it safely and efficiently. I primarily sport climb and some of my favorite areas include hell gate cliffs in LCC , challenge buttress in BCC, etc. I also spend a lot of time bouldering. I've recently gotten more into multipitch, my most recent climb being layer cake in rock canyon. This past September I participated in my first comp and I'm excited to train for the next one. As I become more proficient I plan to learn trad. Climbing has quickly become a passion of mine and working for momentum allows me the opportunity to talk shop with all sorts of climbers and make new friends who share my passion. When I'm not climbing, I enjoy writing music and playing with my band, jumping on my trampoline or slacklining. I plan on going back to school to get my degree in Radiology and Outdoor Recreation.
Danny: Special ops
I’ve been climbing since I was 15 years old. It all started when I was invited to a friends birthday party at a local climbing gym. Ever since then, climbing has been a large part of my life. I try to get outside as much as possible, and much of my climbing has directed a large portion of my life into canyoneering. When I can't climb or go canyoneering, I find sanity here at the gym. Favorite climbing areas: St George, American Fork, City of Rocks and for canyoneering, Zion and San Rafael.
CAitlin: Desk/FLOOR Staff
I started climbing my Freshman year of college after a spring break trip to Moab sparked my interest. I came home, bought a harness and haven't stopped since. My love for climbing influenced my decision to change majors and study outdoor programming through the Parks, Recreation and Tourism department at the U. I'm currently a Senior and hope to be working with kids in the outdoors in the future. I love climbing up Little Cottonwood, American Fork, and am looking forward to some adventures in Ten sleep, Wyoming. When I'm not climbing I love skiing, hiking, and being on the water.
