This week, we're featuring one of our own ambassadors. We love J.C. for his incredible kindness and support, and we absolutely love watching his van-ventures on Instagram. We hope you enjoy this one!

Photographer Unknown

To start, what are a few ways you identify yourself? (some examples: name, age, pronouns, type of work you do.) But really, anything you believe is important.

J.C., 35, Male, Climber, Photographer, Vanlifer

How did you start climbing?

Growing up I was always climbing trees and whatever else I could find. But, I lived in Florida, so I had very little opportunity for real climbing.  When I was 11 or 12-years-old, I was visiting family in the Netherlands and went to my first climbing gym  (Klimcentrum Bjoeks). I loved it but went back to Florida where climbing gyms weren't common at the time.  Fast forward years later and the fire still was burning.  I decided I wanted go to a climbing gym and see if I liked it.  I had a friend at work who I knew was a climber and I asked him for some advice.  The advice was simple, "Screw the gym, come with me, and I'll take you climbing for real".  He took me down to Stoney Point and my life changed.  Suddenly we were on our way to REI for climbing shoes and a harness, and I never really looked back after that.  I did eventually go to a climbing gym, and I even went back to Klimcentrum Bjoeks recently and climbed their epic 37 meter freestanding wall, Excalibur.