Coaches
Aleksey Shuruyev (Director/Founder)
Aleksey started climbing as a teenager, in the Caucasian Mountains near his hometown
of Krasnodar. Since then, he has had 27 years of climbing and mountaineering experience
in the Caucasus, Crimea, Yosemite ,U.S Rocky Mountains, New England and Alaska. Aleksey has put up a dozen first ascents in Alaska, Yosemite, New England and the Caucasus, some of them featured in the American Alpine Journals. A teacher by education,
he’s worked with children of all ages; for the past nine years, he’s developed
safety-conscious, well-rounded climbing and other outdoor programs for youngsters and
the young at heart.
His students compete at the regional, divisional, national and world levels. A number of his students became US National Champions and US National Team members.
Aleksey is a graduate of the Appalachian Mountain Club Leadership School and
is also Widerness First Responder, CPR and First Aid ceritfied. He graduated from Krasnodar Mechanic Technology College with degree in engineering, and from Kiev University with MA degree in History.
Kate Vorotnikova
Kate started climbing as a teenager in the Caucasian Mountains. After entering Moscow State
University, Biological Department, she joined Moscow University Mountaineering Club and since
then she has had more than 20 years of mountaineering and climbing experience in the Caucasus,
Crimea, Pamirs, Ala Tau, Tien Shan, and Himalayas. Her children Vasya (16) and Nadya (13) are
good and passionate climbers. They participated in lots of climbing competitions both in Russia
and the USA. Last year Vasya and Nadya competed at Nationals in Michigan and got the 4th and 3d
place, respectively. Kate's family loves hiking in Mt. Washington area and climbing in Rumney,
Pawtuckaway Park, Crow Hills, on Cathedral and White Horse Ledges.
Ilya Tatar
Ilya has been with IRCS since its birth and took part in most of its
undertakings. Throughout the years, he helped out with the summer camp,
climbing classes, and various programs. Ilya first tasted alpinism soon
after he met Aleksey some time in the end of last century. Since then he
has been seen in various regions in the US North East, Yosemite and
Alaska.Sam Adelman
Sam has been climbing for 8 years, starting with Aleksey before IRCS was created. He has climbing experience in the White Mountains and Yosemite National Park. As a member of the Alpina Climbing Team, Sam does a lot of ice and trad climbing but he still enjoys hard sport climbing. Sam has been going to the IRCS Camp for 4 years, and is now a councilor and co-coach for the Waimea Climbing team. He very much enjoys working with children and is CPR certified.Elizabeth Whitcher
Elizabeth has been climbing for six years, in various programs. Now
she climbs with the Alpina Team. She started teaching climbing at
Exxcel in Needham, and now helps coach Team Waimea during the school
year. She is also a counselor at the IRCS camp over the summer. When
she's not climbing or at the banya, Elizabeth does artwork (not as
much as she'd like) and homework (far more than she'd like).
Mike Foley
Mike has been climbing for 4 years. He has climbed all over New England, in Yosemite, and in Red Rocks. Mike is a member and a co-coach of the Waimea climbing team. Although he does mostly sport climbing, bouldering, and competitions he also enjoys trad climbing.
Anna Dynkin
Anna has climbed with Aleksey for 8 years. She climbs on Team Waimea and coaches the Cliffhangers Class. Anna enjoys both sprort and trad climbing. She has climbed multi-pitch routes in New Hampshire, Toulomne Meadows, Yosemite, and Mexico. Anna loves climbing and coaching a lot.
Olivia Metcalf
Olivia has been climbing with Aleksey for 9 years. She is a member and co-coach of Team Waimea, and a counselor at the summer camp. Olivia has travelled worldwide to climbing competitions. She has competed in China, Ecuador, France, Mexico and Romania, as well as all over the United States. She placed 12th at the 2007 Junior World Championship. She is also a member of the Speed and Bouldering National Teams.
Kate Eisen
Kate has been climbing for five years. She began climbing at Exxcel in
Needham, but now climbs with the Alpina team. Originally a competition
climber, Kate now prefers trad climbing and long multipitches. During
the school year she coaches the Waimea Junior Team, and she works as a
counselor at the IRCS camp over the summer. When she's not climbing,
Kate likes to ski and kayak.
Nicola Segall
Nicola has been climbing competitively for five years. She spent her first year on the Boston Rock Gym team, and her past four as a member of team Waimea. She now also coaches Cliffhangers and works as a counselor at the summer carmp. She enjoys climbing outside a lot, and has traveled to climb in places such as Red Rocks, Tuolomne Meadows, Red River Gorge, and various climbing areas in New England.
Julia Shuruyeva
Julia has been exposed to climbing as long as she can remember. She has been on team Waimea for 6 years, first as a member and now as a co-coach as well. She enjoys coaching both the team and her other classes and hopes to continue coaching for IRCS through college. She hopes to make it to Russia on a climbing trip someday. Outside of climbing, Julia has been playing piano for 10 years and enjoys doing web and graphic design.