Stephanie Ko - Gym Manager

Stephanie has been climbing since 2001. The first time her brother took her to Indian Rock in Berkeley, she knew she was hooked. She started out as a boulderer, but always longed to sport climb. On winter weekends, she can be found shivering at Jailhouse, and she loves to roadtrip to Rifle and the Red in the warmer months. About once per year, she'll place some gear, but then she remembers how scary it is and goes back to clipping bolts.

She worked as a routesetter for about 6 years, until she moved into the Project Manager role, managing the retail shop, instructing classes and helping out anywhere else she was needed. She started managing PG Sunnyvale in 2008, and also works on the websites and marketing materials.

Michelle - Assistant Gym Manager

Michelle, a Bay Area native, originally started climbing to help overcome her fear of heights... and never stopped!  She loves being able to push herself, get stronger and have fun.  When not at PG, Michelle is usually outdoors climbing, backpacking, snowboarding or mountain biking.

Dawn

Dawn began rock climbing in 1999 when one of her housemates convinced her to take a belay lesson at Planet Granite (then only a Santa Clara location).  She soon made it a regular habit of climbing because it was fun, and later discovered the added benefit of gaining strength and flexibility.  She took all the climbing classes Planet Granite offered then, and now enjoys taking yoga and CrossFit classes.  She is often accused of dancing on the wall, and loves the grace and flow that come with the movement of climbing.

Dawn has been working at Planet Granite since 2002 as event staff, front desk staff, instructor, and supervisor.  She currently teaches Climbing 101 (primarily Women's 101) and is excited and happy to help people build on their strengths and learn to climb efficiently. She is a quality engineer at a medical device company.

Lisa - Youth Programs Coordinator

Hey PGers! My name is Lisa! I am originally from the East Bay, and moved to the south bay a couple of months ago. I began my "adult life" as a dental assistant, and soon decided that the life of an office worker was not for me.  I began climbing in 2007 on a crazy whim. I had no idea how addicted I would become! After 6 months of traveling abroad searching for my passion in life, I was able to combine my passion for working with kids with my passion for climbing as the Youth Programs Coordinator at Planet Granite. I have been with Planet Granite for about 7 months now, and love every minute! I absolutely love trad. climbing, and am really learning to love crack climbing as well. 

Kyle

Kyle was introduced to climbing while attending a summer camp during his youth.  He actively started pursuing climbing at the age of 19.  He has experienced all types of climbing including trad, aide and ice.  He has recently (past 2 years) taken a liking to sport climbing and bouldering.  He finds Planet Granite the gold standard of training for sport climbers.  If you catch Kyle climbing at PG he’s usually finding ways to get stronger and developing climbing technique.  His favorite climbing spots are South Shore Tahoe or Yosemite Valley.  He usually teaches belay lessons at PG but is always willing to give beta/advice on any bouldering problem.
Outside Planet Granite Kyle LOVES to snowboard.  Any day off during the winter he’ll be in the snow shredding the slopes.  If there is no snow, Kyle will usually be playing basketball outside or on a bike ride through the south bay area (when he’s not climbing or working hard at Planet Granite of course). 

Martin

Martin came to Planet Granite in October 2007.  A lifelong adrenaline junkie, Martin grew up surfing, skateboarding, skiing and participating in competitive sports. He discovered climbing as a new way to satisfy his addiction to adventure.  He holds a B.S in Physical Education and is a certified Crossfit instructor at Crossfit Sunnyvale, located here inside Planet Granite.  Martin is also available for personal training sessions.

Jonathan

Jonathan graduated high school in 2007. Tired of sitting in a classroom he opted to take a year off before starting college. In his gap year he went on a three-month wilderness course with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Climbing in the Rockies did to Jonathan what it would do to many of us, and he was hooked for life. Whenever Jonathan isn't at Planet Granite he's usually at the UC Santa Cruz library face-down at his regular desk trying to catch up on sleep.
Every once in a while his dreams come true and he goes on a climbing trip outside. Jonathan is down to climb anything from pebbles to alpine multipitch. At Planet Granite he works the desk and teaches belay lessons and Beginner Rock Climbing courses. He answers to a variety of nicknames including "J. Guy" and "Johnny Blue Eyes." In fact, if you call him Johnny Blue Eyes, he may very well blush.

Anthony

Anthony has been a fixture at Planet Granite ever since he could grip a climbing hold (approx. age 6). His Father got him started in all the after school programs PG had to offer.  It was only natural that Planet Granite would hire him at the age of 16.  Spending 2 years belaying children as PG event staff, now behind the desk, Planet Granite has always been a second home for Anthony.  When Anthony is not in school or working, Anthony enjoys going out and bouldering anywhere and everywhere.  At Planet Granite, Anthony teaches BRC, belaying and is great with kids. 
A little known fact about Anthony is he finished his Eagle Scout.  This is something he is very proud of and is an achievement very few reach. 

John

John Dennery started climbing in Spring 2008 and began working at Planet Granite that Fall. He loves the challenge of bouldering and hopes that one day he will be as strong  as his hero, Mike Abell. He also enjoys running, surfing, music, and Ninja Warrior. He is studying to be a composer at San Jose State University.

Mike

Mike was introduced to route setting at the old Planet Granite location in Santa Clara 6 years ago. Since then he's been setting routes around the bay area refining his skills. Mike has been climbing for 8 years, starting first as a sport climber and then transitioning into competition climbing and bouldering. He's now a full time student in the south bay and juggles setting, school, and climbing. He calls the Eastside a second home and will go great lengths to sneak a weekend outside. When Mike's not climbing or studying you can probably find him coaching the PG Youth Climbing Team, trying to beat Art's highest scores on Wii, or pretending he can still sport climb.

Dan

I started climbing about nine years ago, meeting more experienced climbers at our school indoor wall who taught me to climb outside at local areas like Castle Rock and Pinnacles.  Most of my climbing has happened around the Bay Area, and I love having my climbing history rooted in places that I've come to know well and feel like home.  Yosemite was the site of my first trad lead on a 5.4 and still the place where my biggest aspirations lie.  I love anything on rock - bouldering, sport, and trad - and am constantly pushing to get better at all three.  Climbing offers so many different types of rewards, and the variety is a big part of why I love it.  The social and gymnastic elements of bouldering make it the most fun in the moment, while the dedication of working on a sport project lends extra motivation to training and gives you sequences to mime out while chomping at the bit during the week to get back to the crag.  Trad climbing lets you climb the biggest, raddest, most beautiful pieces of rock, and the added challenge of routefinding, controlling your emotions, constantly making decisions about managing risk, and working together with your partner to top out some awesome and intimidating feature are all ingredients in the majority of my most memorable climbing moments.  Plus I think there's no better feeling in climbing than cruising up a bomber handcrack. 

I teach private lessons in both crack and face climbing, as well as overall fitness.  As one of the Crossfit instructors at Planet Granite, I'm constantly experimenting with what forms of strength and fitness training complement climbing well. 

When not climbing or training for it, I run, build web applications, coach Crossfit and the youth climbing team at PG, and try to balance time with two groups of great friends: those who are likewise obsessed with climbing and those who haven't figured out how awesome it is yet.

Joey

In the summer of 07 Joey had a trip to china all planned out. All he needed was a passport. When his passport never came due to a mix up at the post office, he needed something to fill the week he took off of work. Since he had been climbing a few times before it was decided that’s what he would do. For a full week he practically lived at the gym, climbing for hours and hours each day. Eventually Joey decided since he spends so much time at PG, he should join the PG family. When Joey isn’t working at PG he is usually climbing. If he’s not climbing he’s usually going to bed early because he has to open the gym at 6 am the next day.

Jennifer

I am a native Californian and grew up in Southern CA. After going to Humboldt for undergrad and WSU for grad school I settled back in California in the Bay Area which rocks!  I started climbing when I lived in LA for 3 years back in 2003 at Stoney Point in Chatsworth.... My friends called me Rappel Girl since that's what I always wanted to do after climbing! My indoor climbing started at Boulderdash! It is a great climbing gym in Thousand Oaks.  I started climbing because some friends told me how much fun it is and I like trying new things. From the first time I went I was hooked. I love the mental and physical strength involved. It is challenging, fun and doesn't feel like a workout. This year I went to some great outdoor places like Lover's Leap, Pinnacles, Joshua Tree, Red Rocks and Castle Rock. I am always improving my skills, doing more lead climbing and love multi-pitch climbing. The 320 foot climb at Lover's Leap was spectacular. I can't wait to do a 1200 foot climb! I have worked at PG for 2 years and really enjoy interacting with members and my coworkers. I have met so many great people in the last 3 years and it has been great climbing outside with friends and hanging out doing other things as well like seeing Wicked, going to comedy shows, going out in the city and visiting a goat cheese farm along the coast. I look forward to continually learning and improving my climbing skills. Go Sharks!

Ngan

Bouldering is Ngan’s first love but once in a while you’ll see her in a harness clipping draws.  When not figuring out problems in Bishop, Hueco, Yosemite or any other amazing bouldering location, she often enjoys knitting, juggling, chugging carbonated beverages and churning her own butter.  A little known fact about Ngan, she grew up wanting to become an astronaut and often still looks up at the stars and wonders what is really out there. 

Mitch

Mitch has never been great at any of those other "normal" sports, but when he was met with climbing in the summer of 2008 he was hooked. 

Mitch mostly enjoys hanging low on his latest boulder projects at Castle Rock State Park, but also likes the meditative feel of longer sport routes. His love for nature and distaste for city traffic goes hand-in-hand with the long drives up to the crag. Mitch started out as Event Staff for Planet Granite in October of 2009, but he now serves as desk staff sporting a fancy green shirt. Climbing is important to Mitch because it helps him level his stress and puts him at ease, aside from the fact that climbing is just super fun. Mitch hates crocodiles and has a major fear of anything sharp, so he will definitely not be doing any ice climbing ever.

Vanessa

Vanessa had no idea rock climbing was a sport until she turned 21 and her friend took her on a five day trip to the Owens River Gorge in Bishop.  After her first climb, a daring 5.6 called Clip Jr., she decided she was going to become a real rock climber.  A month later she learned how to lead climb and joined Planet Granite as a member to keep training.
Vanessa is a public relations contractor by day and Planet Granite employee by night.  She enjoys doing pretty much everything outdoors, running, reading the news and watching the TV show Dexter (she can’t believe how Season 4 ended!).