Working -- LINDA TANNER

SHE IS

Climbing her way around

PARTNER IN CLIMB

Tanner is an indoor rock climbing instructor and the manager at ClimbX

Indoor Rock Climbing in Huntington Beach, where she teaches children and

adults to climb and also handles the marketing duties for the business.

“I used to climb as a hobby, but now I’m doing my hobby as a job,” Tanner

said.

Originally from Sunnyvale, Tanner graduated from Santa Clara University

with a degree in psychology, but her love of sports led her along another

career path. She coached soccer and worked for three years as director of

facilities for the athletic department at her college alma mater. She and

her fiance, Bryan Leipper, decided to move to Southern California more

than two years ago to open a gym.

“I left my stability and my job while I was still young to do something

like this,” she said.

SPORTS BUFF

Leipper introduced rock climbing to her about five years ago, while they

were both coaching at Santa Clara University.

“It was different from anything I’d ever done,” Tanner said.

Ever since, Tanner has been hooked on climbing.

“It’s such an individual sport,” she said. “Size doesn’t matter, height

doesn’t matter, athletic ability doesn’t matter. It’s just you against

the rock.”

Because Tanner spends so much time in the gym, she and Leipper enjoy

going to Joshua Tree, Mount Rubidoux, Big Rock and Malibu for outdoor

climbing.

But rock climbing isn’t the only sport she enjoys. She said she also

loves beach volleyball, surfing, mountain biking, in-line skating and

snowboarding.

“You name it, and I’ve done it,” she said.

Tanner’s next athletic goal is to participate in a triathlon.

BUSY WORKING

Besides working at the rock climbing gym, Tanner is a certified personal

fitness instructor at a health club in Long Beach.

“Between the personal training and the rock gym, I’m stretching myself

pretty thin,” she said.

On top of her two jobs, Tanner has been busy planning her wedding, set

for June in Catalina. She looks forward to having children soon after.

“Hopefully, they’ll have Bryan’s athletic ability,” she said.

AMAZING CLIMBERS

Tanner has instructed some unlikely rock climbing candidates: Blind

children, a man with a prosthetic arm and a paraplegic have all visited

the gym for a climb.

“They didn’t let their handicap hinder them,” she said.

She has even made it onto the small screen -- a couple from the

television show “Blind Date,” and its crew, visited the club.

“It was hysterical,” she said of the couple’s date, adding that she

doesn’t think the two will be planning a second one.

Tanner instructed the couple on their climbing date and will have a bit

in the show.

“I was a little nervous to begin with because of the cameras and crew,”

she said. “So I tried to make a joke about it.”

UPS AND DOWNS

Tanner said she feels lucky to be doing what she loves as her job.

“I like all the interaction with all the different people I meet,” she

said.Tanner’s inspiration for her jobs comes from seeing her clients

reach and maintain their goals in fitness and climbing.

“It’s a reflection on me and my training ability,” she said.

One frustrating aspect of Tanner’s job is trying to dodge scams or being

taken advantage of by clients.

“It’s given me newfound respect for the person behind the counter,

whether it’s at Nordstrom during a sale or at a grocery store,” she said.

“I can appreciate their standpoint a lot more. I’m much more patient.”