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 has a Bachelor’s degree in Photography. When Lou isn’t climbing you can find him petting dogs, practicing handstands, and picking out the perfect monochrome outfit.

Lu moved to the states when she was 7, and grew up in sunny Southern California. She started climbing in June of 2017 and has been hooked since! She studied literature at UCSC before spending a little under two years on the road, climbing full time. Afterwards, she went back to school at the University of Kentucky for a Masters in English and to climb at the Red River Gorge. She’s currently based out of Reno, NV, and loves spending time climbing in the Eastern Sierras.

Being queer and taking up space in the climbing community is radical not only in how it empowers us, but in how it allows us to create meaningful community ties with each other that go beyond rock climbing. That’s why everywhere she goes, Lu is actively looking to build queer community. When she’s not at the crag, you can find her snuggled up with a good book.

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.

Jess moved from the Midwest in 2019 and was eager to start a new adventure in Ogden, Utah. This included taking an Intro to Climbing class at Weber State University where she fell in love with the sport.

She is now an AMGA SPI certified climbing instructor at WSU and co-created the course Risk, Resilience, and Rock Climbing, a gender studies and climbing course that investigates power and privilege in the climbing world and how to expand the field to be more inclusive, intersectional, and accessible to people from a variety of backgrounds.

Jess also works as an advocate where she supports survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault. She guides in Northern Utah through Aspect Adventure and has created trauma-informed climbing spaces where survivors can feel empowered and brave in their bodies. Jess serves as the Ambassador for the Ogden branch of the Ladies Climbing Coalition, an affinity space for women and gender-marginalized climbers.

When she isn't climbing, you can find Jess trail running, hiking with her dog Chika, or pole dancing

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.