Paige Claassen

Paige Claassen began climbing at the age of nine when her parents took her to the Estes Park Climbing Gym. After failed attempts at various other sports, Paige finally found her place in climbing. She competed in her first competition that year and spent the next nine years traveling with her family to compete throughout the world, visiting such countries as China, Austria, Spain, and France. Around the age of 18, Paige chose to switch her focus to sport climbing outside. She sent her first 5.14, Zulu, in Rifle, Colorado a few days before her 19th birthday. Paige prefers long, crimpy slightly overhanging routes at such areas as Smith Rock, Mill Creek, Ceuse, and the Monastery, where she completed her most difficult route do date, Grand Ole Opry (5.14c). This achievement marked a turning point in her career, whereby Paige transitioned from the competitive mentality of onsighting to pushing her limits on challenging projects. Paige enjoys the mental challenge of climbing, the uniqueness of each route, and the reward that comes after long periods of falling, failing, frustration, and perseverance. After graduating in December of 2012 with a business marketing degree, Paige will travel around the world to climb before eventually returning to graduate school. She hopes to inspire young rock climbers, the way her climbing mentors inspired her at a young age. In addition to climbing, Paige enjoys cooking, dancing, and trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.