Shelma was spurred to create Flash Foxy in 2014 when she met a group of amazing women climbers in NYC to climb and grow with. A current Board Member of the Access Fund, Shelma was named one of 40 women who’ve made the biggest impact in the outdoor world by Outside Magazine in 2017. A leader in our community, she has written, spoken and presented on the importance of creating a climbing community that reflects and welcomes everyone who identifies as a climber.

Shelma has a MA in Urban Planning from UCLA and is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and Apprentice Rock Guide. Shelma currently splits her time between Brooklyn, NY and the Eastern Sierra, CA and can often be found plugging widgets into horizontal cracks at the Gunks or getting scared on granite highballs in Bishop.

Lou grew up here and there across North America and after spending six years in Brooklyn, decided to move into their car to focus on playing outside. They joined the Flash Foxy team in Fall of 2021 just after our mission statement expanded to include folks of all non-dominant genders and now he plans our festivals and education programs!

Before joining Flash Foxy, Lou managed a recreational gymnastics program where they worked to create a gender inclusive environment in a highly binary sport. His work creating affinity spaces in gymnastics led them to seek out affinity spaces in other sports they love - like climbing.

Lou is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and a mentor for Kinship Climbing Collective. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Photography and a love of bright colors. When Lou isn’t climbing you can find him eating snacks, dreaming up snowboarding trips or doing handstands in the grass.

Born in New York City, Erika now resides in New York on Long Island. She is a transracial adoptee and has a teenage daughter who enjoys ice skating and shopping trips.

Erika began climbing in January 2022 and has since traveled across the United States and Mexico to scale rocks. She joined Flash Foxy as a volunteer in 2022 for the Fall Fest in New Hampshire and quickly fell in love with the community. She has since volunteered at several other Flash Foxy events, including the Climbing Festival in Bishop.

Erika is also an active local leader in New York City for Brown Girls Climb. She aspires to become an AMGA-certified Single Pitch Instructor and earn her Wilderness First Responder Certification. She is passionate about increasing diversity in outdoor spaces.

Erika has a background in the nonprofit and education sectors. She takes pride in her event management, marketing, and communications skills. She is even capable of tiling a bathroom!

Erika enjoys being in nature, occasionally hiking, and attending live music events. She is always eager to learn new things.

Born and raised in the tristate area, Marian is currently living in New Paltz, NY pursuing their climbing and outdoor passions full time.

Marian is an expert on gear through working for companies like REI and Rock and Snow. She has developed her skill sets based on what the need is, whether it’s working on bikes, creating classes and events, selling racks of traditional gear, or gearing up for random adventures. Marian noticed the lack of diversity in the outdoor industry and wants to take up space and help those who have been under represented.

Marian is the executive director + cofounder of the organization Rise Outside, a mentor with Kinship Climbing Collective, a local NY leader for Brown Girls Climb, and an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor.

Marian loves to dance and is a human jukebox. She’s learning to play the guitar and loves to hula hoop.

Standing at a staggering 5ft, Cat took up rock climbing to see the world from a higher vantage point. When he's not dangling from a rope, Cat spends his time taking pretty pictures, cuddling with his pup, and working to make the climbing community a safer and more inclusive environment. In 2022, he founded the Queer Climber's Network which focuses on helping queer climbers connect with each other, instructors, educational programs, and professionals within the climbing industry. He currently resides on Cherokee and Shawnee land.