Zane Ross

Youth Coach

Zane brings his experience and boundless enthusiasm for climbing and youth development to Climb Youngstown. He is committed to inspiring the next generation of climbers and young athletes.

Zane found climbing in 2019 thanks to a Magnus Midtbo YouTube video where he decided that “this looks like fun … I could do that”. Zane had no idea what he was about to get into. He quickly made the sport his top priority, climbing 3-4 days per week, making trips to climb in different areas across the country and making many new friends along the way. After a few years and about a 200 mile move from Columbus to Youngstown, Zane had the opportunity to start a coaching position for the Ascend Youngstown A-Team. Since then, his priorities shifted to focusing on helping othersdevelop their skills and being a proponent of an open and inclusive community.

Zane is responsible for designing and implementing a variety of programs tailored to different age groups and skill levels. This includes the current “Y-Team”, Youth 101, Bouldering 101, potential adult climbing training and more! Zane currently holds a level 2 certification with USA Climbing, ensuring that our programs not only challenge young climbers but also prioritize their safety, well-being, and personal development. His approach combines technical skill development based on fundamentals along with fun and engaging activities that foster a supportive and inclusive environment for both the participants and community. Zane believes that climbing is not just a sport, but a powerful tool for building confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young athletes.

Beyond working at Climb Youngstown, Zane is a YSU graduate with his BS in Mathematics. His day job is at America Makes where he oversees their membership as the Engagement Manager. He is happily married to his partner, Emma, and has two little corgis at home: Curry and Kiwi. Other than climbing and outdoor activities, some of his other interests are golf, disc golf and video games.