Dana Taylor (she/her), Coach

While I love all forms of climbing, I have a specific love for trad climbing, and I especially love helping trad climbers with strength training and movement coaching.

I believe most people don't know what they're truly capable of. I help climbers come face-to-face with their perceived limitations while giving them physical and mental tools to go further. I am passionate about helping climbers meaningfully engage with the complexities of climbing as a way to learn more about themselves.

Email: dana@projectdirectcoaching.com

IG: @dana.outside

Proud sends

Separate Reality - 5.12a Trad - California (pictured)

More Monkey than Funky - 5.11c Trad - California

Cookie Mix - 5.12a Sport - California

Echando Raises - 5.12b Sport - Mexico

Cara Cortada - 5.12a Sport - Mexico

Trucutrulove - 5.12a Sport - Mexico

  • "Dana has absolutely knocked of out of the park creating the space for me to actually follow through on climbing training for the first time in my life.

    I met Dana on the road in J tree right after she finished teaching an architecture class from a starlink from the top of a boulder. Turns out I needed a woman that would make me feel seen, validate me, totally nerd out on the science with me, and be the ultimate stoker."

    -Alana Kamahele

    Learn more about Custom Training!

  • “I went from second-guessing every single piece of gear to firing cams and moving above them with confidence. I am no longer that sport-climber friend whose gym strength is useless on granite. My year of trad boot camp has led me to challenging climbs that require both sporty gymnastic strength and level-headed trad assuredness.

    Trad climbing trains me to trust my own judgment and ability in tenuous situations. 

    Trad climbing is practice for the type of life I want to live: a life of my own design; a life where the path is not neatly laid out before me.“

    From Bolts to Cams

coaching experience + education

Certifications + Education

NASM - Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)

B.S. Architectural Studies - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

M. Arch - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Want to meet & work with dana?

“I joined Project Direct because I wanted to be part of a coaching team that genuinely helps athletes maintain a positive relationship with our sport through personalized training.

Nothing at PD is cookie-cutter, we invest the time to get to know our athletes, and we build programming that's custom, specific, and effective. Also, as a former dirtbag, I feel right at home working alongside a team that prioritizes outdoor climbing. “