Community Ties: Clarissa
Beta for Being reached out to Clarissa after discovering her totally badass Instagram account. As a newer climber, she’s inspiring other climbers to “Get Strong with Clarissa” through fun, relatable content.
Amanda: When did you start climbing, and how old were you?
Clarissa: I started climbing in August 2025. I first tried it through a Partiful event encouraging Black people to explore climbing, and shortly after I discovered Black Rocks. I’ve been hooked ever since.
I was initially drawn to the sense of community and the physical challenge that climbing brings. I also pole dance, so I found that climbing complemented that really well as cross-training. More than anything, though, I wanted to push myself to step into new spaces and connect with different communities.
Amanda: What made climbing “stick” for you?
Clarissa: Definitely the community, but also the problem-solving aspect. Every route feels like a puzzle, and I love how intellectually engaging climbing can be alongside the physical challenge..
Amanda: Which climbing disciplines are you most drawn to?
Clarissa: Bouldering, for sure. I love the intensity and creativity of it. I haven’t explored the other disciplines much yet, but I’m always excited to try new things.
Amanda: What’s one thing, in your opinion, that new climbers overlook that would help them improve faster?
Clarissa: Footwork. A lot of beginners focus on pulling with their arms, but efficient climbing really comes from learning how to trust your feet and use your legs effectively. Good footwork can do wonders!
Amanda: I hear that. I’ll never forget this one climber who called me out on my “sloppy footwork” when I was getting started…he didn’t go about it in the nicest way, but it did get me thinking more about using my feet. So what’s one thing that you’re currently doing to help you improve?
Clarissa: Cross-training makes a huge difference for me. My background in pole dance and calisthenics helped build strength, body awareness, and control that translated really well into climbing.
Amanda: Tell me about a climber you look up to.
Clarissa: Alex Honnold — literally! I actually had the chance to climb with him once, and watching how fluid and effortless he made difficult movement look was incredibly inspiring.
Amanda: Tell me about a memorable climb.
Clarissa: One of my favorite climbing memories was doing partner challenges with a new friend of mine, Jake. We started with a dead hang challenge where he was hanging onto me, and after we managed that, I jokingly suggested trying it on the wall.
I ended up sending a VB with him on my back, and the video unexpectedly went viral. It’s still probably my favorite climb to date because it captured how fun and playful climbing can be.
Amanda: What frustrates you the most about climbing?
Clarissa: Probably when people make unsolicited judgments about the difficulty of someone else’s climb online. Climbing is so nuanced, and it’s hard to accurately assess movement or difficulty from a screen.
At the end of the day, climbing is really about your personal progress and relationship with the wall, not comparison.
Amanda: What’s something climbing-related that you would have done differently if you could go back in time?
Clarissa: Honestly, I wish I had started bouldering earlier. I think I would’ve fallen in love with it much sooner if I’d given it a chance earlier in life.
Amanda: What are your climbing goals or vision for the future?
Clarissa: One of my big goals right now is to send a V6 at my gym by the end of the year. When I first started climbing, V3s felt impossible, and I wouldn’t even look at harder grades. So it’s exciting to see how much my mindset and confidence have grown already.
Follow Clarissa on Instagram at @getstrongwithclarissa.
