FOUNDER | HEAD COACH

Ahmed is the head coach of Team Arete. In addition to coaching he oversees almost everything else specific to the team. Born in the DFW area, Ahmed began climbing/working at Summit Climbing Gym around the age of 15. In his tenure at Summit he became a shift lead, lead summer camp counselor and eventually general manager of the Carrollton location working very closely alongside Team Texas, a climbing team based out of DFW. His passion for competing and coaching grew and has resulted in competing at four Speed World Cups including World Championships in 2016. In 2017, Ahmed moved to Austin and co-founded Team Arete with the late Peter Schaub. Team Arete started with 3 climbers in 2017 and has since grown to over 30 and continues to grow in numbers, skills and good times had!

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH | B TEAM HEAD COACH

Hi, I’m Sara! I am a climber and designer from a small town in Texas that you have never heard of but I currently reside in Austin, TX. I am primarily a boulderer but also love sport climbing! I caught the climbing bug in 2016 when I visited a local gym and about a year later I joined the Texas State University Climbing Club while I was going to school for my master’s. I have my Master of Fine Arts in Communication Design and as a designer, I am very passionate about improving existing hiking trail systems to keep hikers (and climbers) safe while on trails. When I’m not climbing I like to hike, swim, and ride my mountain bike. I don’t live near any mountains but I love traveling to the mountains and taking advantage of amazing climbing while away. I competed in bouldering at the 2018 and 2019 USA Climbing Collegiate National Championship. I competed in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 North American Cup Series and the 2023 USA Climbing National Team Trials in speed. I am currently competing in the elite circuit in speed climbing and I am continuing to learn how to use my own experience to relate to the climbers I am coaching. My favorite thing about climbing is seeing progression in my athletes and in myself and sharing the joy of accomplishment with a diverse group of climbers. I try my best to create a space that encourages learning about one's self so my athletes can realize their full potential as individuals.

COACH

It’s crazy to think it’s been over a decade since I began climbing—it continues to become a larger and larger presence in my life as the years go by. I was born in Portland, Oregon and immediately started working at Austin Rock Gym when I moved to Austin 7 years ago—a lucky thing, as it introduced me to some of my closest friends and climbing partners and welcomed me into the climbing community. Not long after starting, I was asked to cover a few coaching shifts for Team ARG/Team ATX, which turned into years, and I’ve been coaching ever since. I’ve seen so many amazing kids move through the ranks, coached countless competitions including Nationals, and took over as head coach for a year. Climbing, to me, is consistently a huge inspiration, a source of mental and physical strength, a form of meditation, of creativity, a way to see the world, and a way to connect with a community. I truly enjoy working with the next generation of young climbers; sharing with them the huge amount of things to be gained from climbing. I can’t wait to continue doing so with Team Arete.