Dakota Schwartz
- Born: February 27, 1994
- Hometown: Brentwood, California
- Started Climbing February 2004
The first climbing experience I remember was when I was six at a friend's birthday party. All I remember is that I loved climbing the colorful, plastic holds and I wanted to do it again.
Fast-forward four years to me at ten, my mom took me to Touchstone indoor climbing in Concord - it was amazing! I took to climbing immediately, finding balancing on tiny foot chips and going vertical a completely natural sensation. I was hooked and begging my mom to take me when ever she could. I took an after-school class later that year and got a lot better. Touchstone even let me join the Teen Team even though I was a couple years too young. I did the 2005 USAC Bouldering Series and earned a spot to compete at Nationals in Denver, Colorado (I got 13th). I was so inspired by all the great kid climbers and fun experience I knew I wanted to do the Sport Climbing Series in the spring. I joined a different team at Touchstone Concord for the SCS season, being the youngest by far and one of only two girls. I earned a spot again to compete at Nationals in Boston, Massachusetts - I placed 13th.
After two more years of competition climbing I am on the Zero Gravity team and I have a fantastic coach. My coach and other climbers on the team really help me push myself to train hard and do my best. Climbing is something that I hope I can always do, even when I am really old, because I love to climb!
