For junior Marcus Stubin, rock climbing has become both an escape and a prominent part of his daily life. Following a five-year hiatus from the sport, Marcus Stubin rejoined his climbing gym, Central Rock Gym, during his freshman year and plans to compete as a solo climber at the Central Rock Atlanta Bouldering event on Nov. 24.
Marcus Stubin started rock climbing when he was just 7 years old, following in the footsteps of his two older brothers.
“Having them as influences just kind of influenced me to join the sport, and my love grew from a young age,” Marcus Stubin said.
Marcus Stubin competed on a team with other climbers from his gym until he was 11, before dropping out of climbing. He said the constant pressure put on him by his coaches and the team to do well took away from his enjoyment of the sport.
“I was on the team and, honestly, I just started to hate going to practices, and I hated how competitive it was,” Marcus Stubin said. “I stepped away for a while and that really cleared and helped me reset my relationship with the sport.”
Marcus Stubin found interest in climbing again after going to the gym with his brother, Everett Stubin. Despite the years Marcus Stubin took off from the sport, he has returned as an individual climber. While he still trains at his old gym, Marcus Stubin is no longer affiliated with his former competition team at competitive events.
“Marcus rejoining individually has really allowed him to find his love for climbing again,” Aleta Mills-Stubin, Marcus Stubin’s mom said. ”This time around it has really been his choice to climb.”
Everett Stubin said he thinks approaching climbing from a more positive angle has changed the sport for Marcus Stubin.
“Perhaps destined would be the word to describe his climbing journey,” Everett Stubin said. “I think it was just a matter of time that he rediscovered his love for climbing, and I think it fits him really well.”
This past May, Marcus Stubin developed tendinitis in his hand. Over the summer, he had to take two months off from climbing for his recovery. Regardless of the setback, Marcus Stubin is signed up to compete at the Central Rock Atlanta Bouldering event on Nov. 24. Everett Stubin said Marcus Stubin has handled the situation well.
“There’s definitely constraints sometimes,” Everett Stubin said. “It is really common for rock climbers to get little injuries sometimes, which set you back a lot, but he dealt with it pretty well. You just kind of got to roll with the punches, which he is great at.”
Marcus Stubin said readjusting physically has been the most difficult aspect of his return.
“Getting back physically has been pretty difficult,” Marcus Stubin said. “Climbing uses ultra specific muscle groups. Most people, if they are not climbers, have no reason to ever develop the tendons and muscles in their forearms to have super strong fingers. So, for me who hasn’t climbed in a long time, it’s just completely foreign to use those areas of your body, and they are super underdeveloped.”
Everett believes Marcus Stubin will perform well in his upcoming events because he works hard.
“Hes definitely more in his grind mindset to put it simply,” Everett Stubin said. “He is much more determined and is really working hard to be a great climber. I hope that as he returns to competition that he is going to flourish. There are so many strong climbers around the country right now at all ages, but I think, especially in our community, he really is something special.”
Although Marcus Stubin has been preparing for his competition, he has also used climbing as a mental outlet.
“I think it’s a lot of ways to get away from the stress in your life or if you are bent out from a bad day,” Marcus Stubin said. “It all just turns to focus on the wall. It is a lot of thinking, as well as the physical aspect, so for me, it helps me to block out a lot of the noise. When I am climbing, I am fully there, I am not thinking about whatever other stress I have.”
Mills-Stubin said she hopes Marcus Stubin continues to improve mentally and physically.
“My goal for him with rock climbing is that it becomes a lifelong sport,” Mills-Stubin said. “It’s such a positive and social activity, and I want him to do it in whatever way that brings him joy —whatever keeps him engaged. It’s great that he found something he loves, and I hope he sticks with it, not just for enjoyment, but because it will also help him physically to stay healthy.”
