JESSE
COMPETITIVE CLIMBER (HE/HIM)
GRUPPER
Varsity Style for Victory Sending
IN CELEBRATION OF JESSE AND HIS HARD WORK, WE CREATED A FEW SPECIAL GOOD LUCK PIECES JUST FOR HIM, INCLUDING HIS ONE-OF-A-KIND, NOT-FOR-SALE VARSITY JACKET.
Credit (All Gym Photos): Daniel Gajda
Location: USA Climbing Training Center
Location: USA Climbing Training Center
Based in Salt Lake City, Jesse Grupper is a sport climber, boulderer, and competition climber—but what you might not know is that he’s also a banjo-picking mechanical engineer that works on mobility devices, including a robotic hand-rehabilitation exoskeleton for post-stroke patients. His work is inspired by a program he worked with in high school, called Peak Potential, that supports children with physical disabilities for a 12-week cycle.
FOLLOW JESSE’S EVENTS LIVE
Monday, August 5th: 1:00am-5:00am PST
- MEN’S BOULDERING SEMI-FINAL
Wednesday, August 7: 1:00am-4:15am PST
- MEN'S LEAD SEMI-FINAL
Friday, August 9: 1:15am-4:20am PST
- MEN'S BOULDERING & LEAD FINAL
Jesse started climbing at the age of six after being dragged to the local gym for his sister’s climbing lessons. He had way too much energy to just sit on the couch and started taking lessons.
Growing up in Montclair, New Jersey and being 30 minutes away from New York City, Jesse felt like he had endless options to explore art, see shows, and different cultures. Climbing outdoors was accessible, but you had to put in effort to get there, and this gave him a deeper appreciation and respect for getting to be outdoors. “Climbing indoors was still an up and coming sport in New Jersey,” Jesse says, “We didn't have the flashiest facilities, but it taught me that it was more about how you use a space than how big or nice it is.”
By the age of nine, he was competing. He’s been on the youth National team ten times, on the Open National team five times and won five medals on the IFSC World Cup circuit. He continues to compete at the international level to this day.
Growing up in Montclair, New Jersey and being 30 minutes away from New York City, Jesse felt like he had endless options to explore art, see shows, and different cultures. Climbing outdoors was accessible, but you had to put in effort to get there, and this gave him a deeper appreciation and respect for getting to be outdoors. “Climbing indoors was still an up and coming sport in New Jersey,” Jesse says, “We didn't have the flashiest facilities, but it taught me that it was more about how you use a space than how big or nice it is.”
By the age of nine, he was competing. He’s been on the youth National team ten times, on the Open National team five times and won five medals on the IFSC World Cup circuit. He continues to compete at the international level to this day.
From climbing and beyond, Jesse is passionate about expanding human potential—whether that be in the sport he’s dedicated much of his life to, working with people with disabilities to teach them how to climb, or utilizing engineering design to create the next generation of assistive technology to help others perform activities of daily living.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Competition
- 2023 1ST PLACE PAN AMERICAN GAMES + OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION
- 2022 5 WORLD CUP MEDALS + 3RD OVERALL IN LEAD
- 2022 BRIANCON WORLD CUP GOLD
- 2022 EDINBURGH WORLD CUP GOLD
Outdoor
- FLASH, PURE IMAGINATION (14C), RRG
- FLASH, LIVIN ASTRO (14C), RUMNEY
- JAWS II (15A), RUMNEY
- FULL METAL BRISKET (15A), NRG
- SEVERAL V14S (BOOK CLUB, ROCKLANDS; WHEEL OF WOLVO, LINCOLN LAKE
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
I like to climb to songs from Moana, Hamilton, Rent, and other musicals. Sometimes nothing can make me more psyched!
My uncle is an actor—he's been on Broadway in several different shows, and Broadway has always been respected in my family as a special occasion and one of the most appreciated art forms. Listening to a hero's journey and then throwing a fun tune in the background makes it hard not to get inspired! I use them to take me to a new place and get invested in a person's adventure.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
You're like a body of water. Each day is a drop in that ocean. The ultimate goal is to be your best every day. One drop won't define the shape.
JESSE’S FAVORITE
PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS
Men’s Crater Lake™
Long Sleeve Hoody
Men’s Crater Lake™ Short Sleeve
Men’s Ghost Whisperer/2™ Hoody
MHW™ Chalk Bag
“
Climbing as a sport is one of the purest forms of human expression that exists, it's an art form, a challenge, a puzzle. The ethos of this sport centers around competing against the wall and yourself while simultaneously empowering those around you through belays and beta to climb to the best of their abilities. Moving on the wall, solving problem after problem, is the way I wish to leave a piece of my human spirit on a momentary canvas that is a climbing wall.
”
Reaching For New Highs
AFTER COMPLETING THE 2023 WORLD CUP CIRCUIT, JESSE WENT ON A SENDING SPREE IN THE SOUTH, WHERE HE CHECKED OFF ‘FULL METAL BRISKET’ (15A), SEEN HERE, ONE OF THE PROUDEST LINES IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE’S COLISEUM. JESSE TOLD US THAT THIS WAS THE ROUTE THAT REIGNITED HIS LOVE OF PROJECTING.
Credit (All Outdoor Photos): Karen Lane
Location: New River Gorge
Location: New River Gorge
LUCKY
My good luck token is an avocado necklace given to me by my partner. It's half an avocado, and she has the other half. I guess it's a reminder of the strength that we have from each other (and that avocados just taste good). I also carry a rubber duck in my pack, which was given to me before leaving for the World Cup season one summer.
RITUAL
Before competitions, I like to read inspirational quotes, do a series of deep breaths, and listen to some hype music.
