About Us - Ember & Tong Hold Climbing Gym

How We Got Started

Look, we're not gonna tell you some fancy story about how everything was planned perfectly. Truth is, Ember & Tong Hold started in 2018 because two climbers got tired of driving an hour just to find decent walls.

Sarah and Marco met at a climbing comp in Squamish. She was crushing V8s like they were nothing, he was setting routes that made people both curse and come back for more. Over too many post-climb beers, they sketched out their dream gym on a napkin.

That napkin's framed in our office now. Still got beer stains on it.

The Journey So Far

From empty warehouse to Vancouver's climbing hub

2018 - The Beginning

Signed the lease on a 12,000 sq ft warehouse that smelled like old oil and broken dreams. Spent three months scrubbing floors and building our first walls with a crew of volunteers who believed in the vision.

2018

2019

2019 - First Competition

Hosted our first bouldering comp with 47 climbers. We had no idea what we were doing, ran out of chalk halfway through, but everyone had a blast. That's when we knew we'd created something special.

2021 - Expansion Time

Added 6,000 sq ft and installed lead climbing walls. Also finally got proper ventilation so it stopped feeling like a sauna in summer. Our members actually cheered when we turned on the AC for the first time.

2021

2023

2023 - Youth Programs Launch

Started our youth climbing programs. Watching kids who've never climbed before send their first V3 never gets old. Some of these kids are already stronger than most adults here.

2025 - Today

Running strong with over 800 active members, hosting monthly comps, and we've got climbers qualifying for nationals. Still the same warehouse, just way sweatier and covered in more chalk dust.

2025

Meet The Founders

The folks who started this whole thing

Sarah Chen

Co-Founder & Head Coach

Started climbing at 14, went pro at 19, realized she liked teaching more than competing at 25. She's the one yelling encouragement when you're about to fall off that overhang. Her record's V12 outdoors, but she'll tell you her proudest moment was watching a 60-year-old member send their first V4.

Marco Torelli

Co-Founder & Route Setter

Spent 10 years setting routes across North America before settling in Vancouver. He's got this weird talent for creating problems that look impossible but are actually doable if you think about it differently. Drinks way too much coffee and sets all the routes that make you question your life choices.

What We Actually Believe

Climbing's for everyone, not just the already-strong folks

We've seen accountants, teachers, nurses, and grandparents all send harder than they thought possible. Your background doesn't matter - just show up and try.

Falling's part of the process

If you're not falling, you're not pushing yourself. We've got thick mats for a reason. Use 'em. Learn from it. Get back on the wall.

Community beats competition

Yeah, we run comps and push performance, but the climber cheering you on from below matters more than any podium finish. We've built something special here - folks who genuinely want to see each other succeed.

Progress isn't linear

Some weeks you'll crush it. Other weeks you can't send a V2 you did easily last month. That's climbing. That's life. We're here for all of it.

Have fun or what's the point?

Yeah, we take safety seriously. Training protocols, proper technique, all that. But if you're not having a good time, something's wrong. This is supposed to be fun, not a chore.

The Vibe Here

Walk in on any Tuesday evening and you'll see what we're about. There's usually someone projecting something way too hard for them, a bunch of folks giving beta whether it's wanted or not, and probably Marco arguing with someone about whether a problem's actually V5 or V6.

We've got serious competitors training for nationals right next to folks who just started last week. Everyone respects the hustle. Everyone shares the stoke.

Our pro shop's run by Jenny, who's been climbing longer than most of us have been alive. The youth program's managed by Alex, who still can't believe they pay him to teach kids to climb. Sarah's usually coaching someone through a crux move, and Marco's probably up a ladder bolting holds at weird angles.

It's loud, it's sweaty, it smells like chalk and determination, and honestly we wouldn't have it any other way.

Our Story