Salt Pump Climbing Co., an indoor climbing gym in Scarborough, is creating a new competitive youth climbing team with tryouts scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8.

Team Salt Pump will begin training this fall and travel to competitions throughout the region and nationally.

“Climbing is a wonderful and unique sport for children to participate in,” said Taki Miyamoto, general manager at Salt Pump Climbing. The new climbing team will allow kids of both sexes and all ages “to practice together and bond as one in a setting that’s completely different from school. We’ll have a lot of fun, but also expect team members to take (their) responsibility,” seriously, he added.

Climbers ages 8-18 are welcome to participate. Team Salt Pump will be coached by Matty Zane. A USA Climbing certified coach with a bachelor’s degree from Unity College. He’s previously coached national-level competitors at Rockspot Climbing in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

A passionate climber himself, Zane has climbed routes up to the 5.14 level of difficulty and is one of the most accomplished climbers from the state. There’s added interest in competitive climbing since it was announced that it will be part of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

– Kate Irish Collins

Matty Zane will lead the new kids competitive climbing team at Salt Pump Climbing in Scarborough.