Stephanie Ko Pound - 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, her most recent trip being to Indian Creek, 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 manages on the websites and marketing.

Adriel - Asst. Manager

Adriel likes every aspect of climbing. He likes it because
it challenges him over and over again. It never gets too
old. Climbing has given him the chance to travel all over
the U.S. and has introduced him to genuine people who
are like him, psyched on climbing. He also enjoys running.

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.

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.

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.

Zach

I have been climbing since June 2009.  My dad had taken me top roping and bouldering a few times as a kid, but it wasn't until last year I really started climbing.  My dad instilled the love of sports and the outdoors in me.  I didn't ever start climbing in a gym but I got books on climbing and taught myself technique. I love bouldering, sport climbing, traditional climbing and I am currently training for my first big wall in Yosemite with my brother Jacob.  I train hard for rock climbing and keeping a high fitness level.  I am working on sending my first 5.13 sport climb and V10 boulder problem outdoors.  I also enjoy running, snowboarding, surfing and slacklining.  He ran track and played soccer in high school.  His favorite climbing place is Yosemite.

Brett

Born into a family of outdoor enthusiasts, Brett discovered the sport of rock climbing relatively late in life. The summer of 2009 marked the start of his vertical endeavors, after which he quickly fell in love with the grace and technique of climbing. His passion began on the sharp end of the rope but quickly developed an interest in the dynamic movement of bouldering. While sampling new terrain outdoors, he can be found clipping bolts or stomping crash pads in the near Sierra’s. If he is not hanging around the gym or at the local crag, he can be found hitting the books, studying toward a Master’s degree in Geographic Information Science at San Jose State University. With a professional path that hopefully involves the outdoors, Brett will always keep climbing close at heart. He strives for his next powerful ascent combining strength, balance and a fearless mentality.

Monica

Monica grew up with 5 siblings and doing gymnastics.  That combination made her tough, quick and agile.  At first she wanted to be a ninja assassin. But when that fell through, it was only natural that she would get psyched on rock climbing.  She enjoys bouldering in the gym and has quickly become notorious for giggling while falling off the wall (before she hits the ground, she is in mid giggle).  Monica uses her knowledge of balance, core strength and flexibility while climbing and is quoted in saying “what?!?!?!  Not everyone can do this?” as she throws her leg over her opposing shoulder.  Monica loves being a Planet Granite staff member and tries to pass on her bright outlook on life to every customer she encounters.

Sarah

As a kid, Sarah was dragged on climbing trips all over the West by her old-school climber parents, instilling in her a respect for nature and a love of the outdoors. After not having climbed for several years, Sarah finally caught the climbing fever in October 2008 when she found herself in a climbing gym. Since that landmark day, Sarah has made several trips to Yosemite Valley with friends and her dad, where she has slowly honed her crack-climbing skills. Though she has much to learn, she aspires to climb all the Yosemite classics. Sarah also recently started bouldering, so you will probably see her in the gym flailing on a boulder problem and grumbling to herself in “frustrated amusement.” Her heroes: her parents and all the old Stone Masters.