CLIMBING
SPIRIT
ĀTMA is the expression of who we are. It’s how we bring our core values together: a passion for climbing, nature, ancestry and community.
ĀTMA was founded by Jørg Franken and Tiba Vroom in 2018. Over the years it has developed, from coaching services to a bouldering gym to now two locations in Leiden and Fontainebleau, combining indoor coaching with outdoor climbing and a heart warming community.
The way that climbing can connect us to nature is truly unique. Having the natural playground that the mountains offer us is a gift of the earth. This connection is central to ĀTMA in the way we work and approach rock climbing. It does not only connect us to the earth and ancestors, but also to each other, creating a welcoming community of like-minded individuals. That is the power of climbing and it’s what makes us come back to it time and time again.
Climbing for us is so much more than just getting up on a route. It can challenge you in ways that push you out of your comfort zone and makes you work on things within yourself. For us, this is so incredibly valuable because it can have a positive influence on your entire life. That is why we have a holistic climbing approach: the way that you climb is connected to your lifestyle and mindset.
We invite you to join us on our exploration of movement, nature and community, while finding your own personal path in the sport.
TIBA VROOM
host & climbing coach
Tiba is one of the top athletes in the current Dutch climbing scene. Having bouldered up to 8B, she knows what she is talking about when it comes to training for climbing. Aside from being a full-time climber herself, Tiba has been a climbing trainer and coach since 2017.
“Climbing has brought me so much in life. From self-confidence, to a true love for nature and being outdoors, to finding flow in the movement on the wall. It has taught me that I can always exceed my own expectations if I’m willing to put in the work and put trust in my own abilities. This is what I want to share with others in my coaching. Everyone can take their climbing to the next level with the right approach, and that is different for everyone. I am very excited to help everyone find their personal way.”
JØRG FRANKEN
climbing coach
Jørg has been passionate about climbing and coaching since the moment he discovered the sport over thirty years ago. He is now one of the most experienced and successful climbing coaches in the country, having coached multiple pro climbers and national champions.
“Whatever my life brings to me, it has always been climbing that leads the way for me. It has shaped my experiences, my personal values and the way I view the world. This is something that is of such a great value to me, that I can be nothing but grateful to have found this path. That is the reason I love coaching so much. It allows me to help others discover their passion in a way that it makes them grow as a person, just like I have with this sport.”