My name is Eduardo 'Eddy' Ramirez. I was born in Los Angeles, California, raised in Hailey, Idaho, and have been in Columbia, South Carolina since summer of 2005.
I started climbing shortly after I started taking ballet classes with the Sun Valley Ballet School in 2003 (a girlfriend's teacher saw it as an opportunity to rope me in). Like most beginners, I had the common misconception that climbing was all pull-ups and that I could get some more upper body strength (to lift ballerinas) by climbing.
I came to Columbia, S.C. to pursue a career in ballet. Upon arrival applied at Columbia City Ballet and the local climbing gym, Stronghold Athletic Club. I met my fiance while dancing with the company and now have a beautiful little girl named Ava Margarita Ramirez.
I retired from dancing in 2009, to stay at home with Ava during the day while her mother, Nicole, went to work for the school district teaching dance. I also was hired at UPS as a part-time package handler during the midnight shift. Since retiring from dance, I have focused all my energy into climbing and giving back to the sport.
I worked for Stronghold Athletic Club for three and a half years until the previous owner sold the business to the current owner. While at Stronghold I started as a belay slave (one of few gyms that still offers when for no extra charge) and climbing party belayer. I soon there after offered to teach the beginner climbing clinics and co-coach the climbing team.
Always wanting more, I learned to work the front desk, teach yoga for a short stint, set routes in the climbing tower, take people from clinics to outdoor climbing, co-sponsored an Adopt-a-Crag at Crowders Mountain State Park, set up the portable wall for events/parties, and started the group Belayed Gratification and Palmetto Pebble Wrestlers.
I'm currently helping Brad Caldwell (http://upstatebouldering.blogspot.com/)and Steven Scoff build momentum in Columbia for the December 10th 2011 Table Rock, South Carolina Adopt-a-Crag (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190931030961941).
Eddie Medina also contacted me to also get the word out about the October 1st 2011 Crowders Mountain State Park Adopt-a-Crag (http://www.facebook.com/groups/crowmtnclimb/).
With all that said, I'm very proud to be part of our climbing community. We have so many things to look forward to for our local crags.
Sean Cobourn is working on a new Rumbling Bald guide book (routes only).
Chris Dorrity (http://rumblingbaldbouldering.blogspot.com/) is off developing boulders at the Hanging Chain State Park Boulderfields and working on his second edition of Rumbling Bald Bouldering that will include the Hanging Chain Boulderfield.
Erica Lineberry (http://www.facebook.com/groups/258109837538751/) AKA Cragmama (http://cragmama.com/) is working on a Piedmont area guide book.
Matt 'Mokolai' Bielejeski just released his new Dixon School Road Bouldering Guide (http://www.facebook.com/groups/170785626280776/).
Brad Caldwell has tons of topos out for the 'upstate boulders' of South Carolina on his blogg (http://upstatebouldering.blogspot.com/).
Here is to the future of South Carolina Climbing and Bouldering!!
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