Who am I...?
My name is Lee. I began climbing in the early nineties, introduced to the sport by my father at the age of nine. By twelve I was climbing multiple days a week at the local wall, From the age of fourteen I was working there at the weekends and then began coaching others while actively competing. At that time, there were no formal coaching qualifications — instead, I was mentored by established local climbers who recognised potential and shaped my approach. These experienced coaches instilled the values that still drive my coaching practice today.
For over thirty years, I have climbed extensively across every discipline and terrain — from hard, Yorkshire gritstone boulders to steep Norwegian ice, endless Californian granite and 6,000 metre Peruvian peaks. I understand all aspects of climbing, and how to train for any objective.
I moved to New Zealand in 2009. Mainly to access the climbing here. I explored the Mountains and climbing all over the country and eventually became involved with the local cliff rescue team voluntarily, later progressing to a professional role in search and rescue at Aoraki/Mount Cook. While working there, I began helping prepare other members of the team for their guide exams, building programs and designing training sessions. While there, I became a qualified trainer and later, moved back Christchurch and set up ATP and began working with local climbers and mountain athletes.
I'm now a certified strength and conditioning coach through the Australian Strength & Conditioning Association and hold multiple other qualifications in the discipline of human performance. I remain committed to ongoing education, research and professional development.
I've coached athletes worldwide — from youth athletes representing New Zealand to lifelong climbers dealing with injury and age-related challenges, and everyone in between. I've successfully coached people through their first ultra marathons, multi-day winter alpine ascents, 70+ kilometre trail runs, and weekend warriors sending their first 8a — all without injury, all without overtraining.
If I'm not in the gym coaching, I'm at the crag, in the mountains, or on the trail. This is what I do.
