Karly Rager - Founder & Head coach

Karly (she/her) founded Project Direct Coaching in 2020. since then she has coached 250+ athletes from 25 states and 6 countries on training, movement, and head game. She is passionate about the role our mental landscape plays in climbing performance.

Email: karly@projectdirectcoaching.com

IG: @karly_rager

Proud sends

5.13+ (8a+) - La Guitarra de Lolo - MX

5.13c (8a+) - Infierno del Dante - MX

First Free Ascent - Guerreras - 5.12c, 13 pitches - MX

5.13b (8a) - Snake Eyes - MT

5.13b (8a) - Later Creators - CO

5.13b (8a) - Ayotzinapa 43 - MX

5.13b (8a) - Super Tuscan - CO

5.13b (8a) - Between Heaven and Hell - MT

20+ 5.13a sport routes on all rock types

250+ 5.12 sport routes on all rock types

Roll of the dice, 5.12a (7a+) - Trad - Montana (pictured)

Other work

Athlete for Rab Equipment

  • Close-up of a rugged mountain cliff with textured gray and brown rocks, with trees and forest visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

    “My time working with Project Direct has been amazing. I came to PD looking to get stronger of course, but I've improved my climbing in ways that I had never envisioned when I started working with Karly.

    Not only has Karly been able to increase my strength by leaps and bounds, but she has also provided invaluable insight into my climbing movement and my head game. I didn't think head game was something that I needed to focus on this training season, but Karly showed me how wrong I was.

    I've learned so much over the last few months, not only about the physical part of climbing but also the mental part of it and how climbing fits into my life as a whole. The things I have learned and the progress I have made over the last 6 or so months would have taken me years to learn on my own - Karly and the Project Direct team are not only climbing coaches, but are truly guides for a lifelong climbing journey.”

    -1 on 1 Athlete, Daniel Loudenback

    Learn more about 1 on 1 Coaching
  • Young woman climbing a rocky mountain, smiling at the camera.

    “I tried everything to fix my head. I read books. I asked random fearless strangers at the crag how they did it. I attended fear of falling workshops by pro climbers. I experimented. Nothing worked…

    Fast-forward to now, and I’m not scared anymore. It’s kind of crazy. Karly is the best investment i have made for my climbing. She has completely transformed my head game. I am performing better than ever and having more fun. Headpoint Training is truly priceless.”

    -Headpoint Training Athlete, Hayley Mckinney

    Learn more about Headpoint Training
  • A person ziplining over green pine trees with mountains in the background on a sunny day.

    "Project Direct totally changed my idea of what I thought was possible for my own climbing progression! Karly keenly identified weaknesses and wrote wonderfully structured sessions.

    I have seen my strength, technique, and climbing ability grow massively - I even flashed my first 5.12a on gear, in no small part due to Karly's training program!”

    -Project Direct Athlete, Olivia Wetzel

    Learn more about Custom Training!

NSCA - Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

AMGA - Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)

NASM - Certified Behavior Change Specialist (BCS)

Colorado State University - BS in Civil Engineering - Cum Laude

Colorado State University - MS in Structural Engineering

Advanced Wilderness First Aid

coaching experience + education

Montana Women’s Climbing Festival 2021 - Managing Fear and Stress on Rock

International Climbers’ Festival 2022 - Harness your Headspace

Montana Women’s Climbing Festival 2022 - Climbing Movement and Redpoint Tactics

International Climbers’ Festival 2023 - Hips like Cinderella: Lower Body Movement Skills

Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic 2023 - Vertical Ballerinas: Technique on Vertical/slab Terrain

New River Gorge Craggin’ Classic 2024 - Presentation on Performance Stress & Flow

Arkansas Climbers Festival 2025 - Managing Fear & Stress on Rock

International Climbers’ Festival 2025 - The Tortoise & The Hare: Resting & Pacing for a Redpoint

Rocktoberfest 2025 - The Tortoise & The Hare: Resting & Pacing for a Redpoint

recent clinics & presentations

Climbing Coaching with founder & head coach

Karly is a passionate climbing coach dedicated to helping you excel in all disciplines of the sport. She has been climbing for 15+ years and coaching professionally for over 5 years. She specializes in helping you:

  • Reach your sport climbing goals: Coaching sport climbing involves artful technique, scientific strategy, and a strong mental game for performance. Karly coaches sport climbing in a way that combines and habituates these traits.

  • Strength train for climbing: Building targeted strength and resilience to enhance your performance and prevent injuries. Applying force is at the foundation of everything we do as climbers.

  • Manage your fear and stress on rock: Changing responses with proven-tools and techniques to redirect stress, build confidence, and maintain composure.

  • Understand and mature your climbing movement: Refining your technique for greater efficiency and flow on any terrain. Climbing movement is so much more than good footwork. Karly wants to show you what that means.

Ultimately, Karly's mission is to transform you into a more confident and capable problem-solver on the rock.

A woman rock climbing on a vertical cliff face with climbing gear, surrounded by a rugged, rocky terrain with sparse vegetation.
A woman outdoors surrounded by rocks and trees, wearing sunglasses, a green hat, and outdoor gear, preparing snacks with camping supplies scattered on a rock.
  • A person wearing climbing gear and helmet ascending a vertical rock face with mountain peaks in the background.

    “Karly Rager is a structural engineer turned climbing coach. We talked about what led her to start her own coaching business, being a female in two male-dominated industries, mental strategies for managing focus and fear, and cultivating longevity in climbing.”

    The Nugget Podcast, Ep 124
  • A person is rock climbing on a steep, rocky outdoor cliff face, wearing a blue shirt, red pants, and a helmet. They are secured with climbing gear and a rope, with a snowy ground below.

    The trenches of transition between different climbing disciplines, the Original Route on the Rainbow Wall, and the hardest thing Karly has ever climbed.

    Lady Beta Podcast, Ep 139
  • A person rock climbing on a steep cliff with a mountain landscape and clear blue sky in the background.

    Statistically, what training metrics matter most and what that means for you.

    The Nugget Climbing Podcast, Ep 170
A person rock climbing on a steep, vertical rock face, wearing a blue helmet and climbing gear.

Want to meet & work with karly?

New Athlete Intake Form

At the end of the form, you’ll be asked which coach you want to meet. Select Karly Rager and we will connect you.