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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Linnea Russell
Linnea started climbing in fifth grade and is now approaching her sixth full year of climbing with Aleksey. She is a member of the Waimea team and has attended the USA Climbing National Championships four times and enjoys competing. Linnea currently coaches Cliffhanger classes alongside Nicola Segall, another one of Aleksey's coaches. Linnea also attends Aleksey's summer camp. Linnea loves climbing and hopes to continue doing it forever.
Mike Franceschi
Mike has loved climbing for as long as he can remember. He first started climbing with Aleksey at Exxcel when he was 8 years old. He is now in his 4th year as a member of Team Waimea, and has traveled to Red River Gorge and Rumney with the team. Mike is happy to climb or coach whenever he has the chance. He mostly does sport climbing and bouldering, but enjoys trying new things, like ice climbing or multipitch climbing. In addition to climbing, Mike loves making art and other creative projects.
Drew Sargent
Drew has been climbing for 6 years. He has been competing for just as many, and enjoys both indoor and outdoor sport climbing. When his home gym in Nashua, NH closed down he found Aleksey, who really exposed him to outdoor climbing in Rumney, NH. Since then he has enjoyed it thoroughly, and this past year got to climb at Red River Gorge in Kentucky. He has been a counselor for the international rock climbing school's summer camp, and a coach for teams Waimea and friday Cliffhangers. His favorite type of climb is something with big moves to good holds, so that he can use his height to skip the tricky parts. Outside of climbing, Drew snowboards, volunteers at a robotics company, and helps teach Physics to homeschooled kids.