WORKING -- DEBBIE ORTEGA

-- Story by Torus Tammer, photo by XXXXXX

SHE IS

Making sure you don’t fall off the indoor wall

FIRST STEP

Ortega, 35, learned how to climb two years ago, after enrolling in a

course at Golden West College.

“It was an 18-week course, and all we did for one entire semester was

learn climbing techniques and safety,” she said.

INSPIRED TO LEARN

Reading an essay about climbing by Judy Aldrich Garland was the

impetus behind Ortega’s decision to tackle the challenging sport.

“In the essay, it talked about overcoming your fears and the

adrenaline rush that comes with climbing,” Ortega said. “I was inspired

by it and decided that it was something that I wanted to learn.”

In fact, taking the class and learning to climb turned out to be the

experience she had anticipated. While building her level of endurance,

Ortega also learned other crucial aspects of the sport -- safety and

trust. Safety is just a necessity, she said, but trust is a different

experience altogether.

“You have to learn to trust the belayer, which is the person holding

the other end of the rope,” Ortega said. “When you are doing what’s known

as ‘top rope,’ that means the anchor is on top with a rope running

through it and the only person holding it is the belayer.”

PAY OFF

Brian Leipper is one of the owners of Climb X, the indoor climbing

center where Ortega now works. As the annals of Ortega’s journey reflect,

Leipper was one of the teachers in her class. Eager to excel, Ortega

approached Leipper for additional lessons outside of class.

“I was going to Climb X wanting to learn more after hours, and Brian

was willing to teach me and help me out,” Ortega said. “Before too long,

he started offering me shifts and, suddenly, I was working there.”

Ortega said Leipper made learning to climb educational, as well as

fun. The idea of indoor climbing, she said, is to keep you in good shape

and condition so you can climb outdoors.

Climbers are rated by the level of their conditioning. With 5.4 being

the easiest and 5.14 being the hardest, Ortega ranks a 5.9. Without

diligent training, levels can quickly fluctuate, she said.

“It’s a mind-set, as well as physical conditioning,” Ortega said. “So

on any given day, you can drop down a level or two.

OBJECTIVE

Her main focus at Climb X is overseeing climbers to ensure they are

safety conscious. Sometimes, Ortega said, there will be two climbers, and

other times there could be 40.

Ortega likens her duties to that of a coach, showing people how to do

it right and then watching over them.

IN STRIDE

Ortega handles her responsibilities by staying calm and rational under

trying circumstances.

“I’ve had adults or kids freeze while on the wall and have had to get

them down,” Ortega said. “That’s one of the hardest things because it

takes some talking. The most effective way I’ve been able to use in

getting people down is remembering the first time I did it.”