From the first day she set foot in a climbing gym, Anna knew she would climb for the rest of her life. Anna’s favorite type of climbing is the scariest type: tall vertical lines without a rope, or in climbing jargon,“slab high-balls.” While Anna’s climbing passion and style lies in outdoor lines, she is excited to step out of her comfort zone and compete in Deep Water Solo at Tuck Fest. Past accomplishments include The Brute (V9), Water Hazard (V10), and Thomas Aquinas (V8).

Arjan de Kock is a South African boulderer who has climbed up to V15 and 5.14c. His favorite areas are Rocklands and Fontainebleau. When he’s not climbing, Arjan farms table grapes.

Arjan is a returning Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo competitor.

A van-dwelling athlete, climbing is Ben Hanna’s passion. This includes everything from scary off-widths to competition bouldering, but deep water solo competitions are where he truly shines. He has flashed up to 5.14a, and redpointed routes as hard as 5.14c/d. Ben’s spirit animal is The Hulk, and in his spare time he coaches young climbers and sets routes at his local gym.

Ben is a returning Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo competitor.

Carlo Traversi is an American professional rock climber and two-time USA Sport Climbing National Champion. He started climbing in 2002 at the age of 14 and by 2011 he had an ascent of The Game (V15) under his belt. He has lived and climbed in some of the far reaches of the world and has amassed an impressive tick list including first ascents up to V15 and 5.14.

Carlo Traversi was the 2017 Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo Champion.

Emily Harrington is a professional rock climber and adventurer who has been a prominent and leading figure in the climbing community since she was a teenager. Her early years were defined by her successes on the USA Climbing Team on the national and world competition circuit, including 5 US National Sport Climbing Championships and 2 North American Championships. Emily’s true passion lies with outdoor climbing and exploring the mountains. Since shifting her focus from competition, Emily has completed numerous first female ascents of 5.14 sport routes, free climbed Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan, summited Everest, and has been on expeditions all over the world attempting big wall free climbs and high altitude peaks in Nepal, China, Myanmar, Crimea, and Morocco.

Hayley Holmes is a Washington, DC area climber with previous experience competing in deep water soloing competitions, such as Psicobloc. She describes herself as an amateur climber but professional dreamer.

Katie Jo is a Los Angeles based climber, primarily focused on bouldering and sport climbing. She competed in her first DWS competition at last year’s Psicobloc in Park City, Utah. She has spent the past year traveling around the U.S. and Europe, exploring new climbing areas and trying to push her limits. Now 36, Katie didn’t begin climbing until she was 28 and she hopes to encourage others to try new things and go after their dreams at any age.

Keenan started climbing at the Rocknasium in Davis, CA in 2008. After his first trips to Bishop and Yosemite, he found a new creative passion in outdoor climbing. Keenan works seasonally for the National Park Service in Yosemite, finding and developing new boulders in the Valley and attempting sport climbs.

Kyra Condie is a professional climber based in Minnesota. She’s recently made a name for herself on the world bouldering circuit by making two world cup finals in the 2018 season. Kyra recently finished a degree in Animal Science with a Pre-Vet focus from the University of Minnesota and plans on spending the next couple of years on climbing and training before applying to vet school. She is primarily a boulderer but loves all of the disciplines within rock climbing.

Kyra is a two-time Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo Champion (2017 and 2018).

Lizzy is native Utahan primarily focused on outdoor boulders, a style of climbing known for dynamic moves also found in Deep Water Solo. She has spent the last two years traveling around America exploring new climbing areas.

Meagan Martin is a professional climber, Ninja Warrior, and model who lives in Sacramento, California. She started climbing at age 11 in Orlando, Florida at Aiguille Rock Climbing Center and climbed for about 4 years before turning her focus on gymnastics. While in college, she was a pole-vaulter and began climbing competitively again. Meagan enjoys coaching kids and hopes that she can inspire kids across the country to find what they are passionate about and go for it.

Meagan placed 2nd in 2018’s Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo Competition.

From his numerous podium finishes to his development outside, Nathaniel Coleman brings a level of muscular grace to every aspect of his life. Coleman is native Utahan who first rose to climbing fame in the world of indoor bouldering. Over the years this talented climber has branched out to roped competitions and outdoor climbing of all types.

Nathaniel Coleman was the 2018 Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo Champion.

Paige Claassen is a sport climber from Colorado and La Sportiva ambassador. Her recent ascents include Algorithm (5.14+, Idaho), Necessary Evil (5.14c, VRG), Mission Impossible (5.14c, Colorado), and Odin’s Eye (5.14c, Norway). When she’s not climbing, Paige runs her nonprofit Southern Africa Education Fund, which builds classrooms in rural Namibia.

Paige is a returning Tuck Fest Deep Water Solo competitor.