BUILT FOR CLIMBERS, BY CLIMBERS

OUR MISSION

To foster a welcoming and friendly community of individuals who support each other through our shared passion for rock climbing.

OUR PROMISE

We commit ourselves to providing the highest quality climbing experience possible for every guest by creating a supportive, engaging, and community driven space that welcomes inspiration, diversity, self discovery, and personal achievements.

Onsight Rock Gym was conceived and created with the help of our friends and family with various personal and professional backgrounds, many of whom are avid rock climbers with a lifelong passion and love for the sport. Together, we are committed and passionate in making Onsight Rock Gym a state of the art facility. By working alongside Walltopia, one of the leaders in the climbing wall industry, we have meticulously designed and created a facility we are honored to bring to Knoxville, TN. We have hand-picked our management and development team, who want to share their passion with you. Our love for rock climbing and our dedication to providing you with the best experience possible will resonate throughout the facility - from the warm welcome you receive upon entering the gym to your experience with our friendly, professional staff who aim to motivate and support you through your progress. 

We are bringing you a facility that all of us would be proud to climb at and be a part of. Having been in the sport for almost two decades, we stand behind our expertise and experiences to bring you the best climbing wall design, expert route setting, innovative program development, and above all, an unforgettable experience. We are community focused and driven by our passion for rock climbing to build a gym that will not only be a climbing facility, but a social hub for the ever-growing rock climbing community in Knoxville. We want our gym to be a place you come to build lifelong friendships, set goals, reach new heights, and inspire others. Whether you are an experienced climber or just trying out the sport for the first time, we want you to be part of our community. We are a team of forward thinkers, innovators, and creators, committed to keeping the community motivated, involved, and psyched about rock climbing. We are so excited to share our vision with you and welcome each and every one of you to the Onsight family. 

     - Founders of Onsight Rock Gym

Christian Robinson Founder

Christian was born and raised in Hawaii where he spent most of his younger years surfing, hiking, and camping on the islands of Oahu and Kauai. Growing up in Hawaii was always an adventure and these experiences cemented his love for the outdoors. In 2004, Christian moved to Southern California and immediately stumbled across a local climbing gym, just a few blocks from his home. He was instantly drawn to the sport and started climbing regularly at the gym during the week and outside at various crags throughout Southern California on the weekends. It wasn't long before he was traveling across the country to climb at many of the best climbing areas that the United States has to offer. In 2007, he met Yoli, the love of his life, and together they traveled the world, climbing at some of the best climbing destinations on the planet. Christian is happy to call Knoxville home, where he lives with his wife, son, and daughter. He loves the awesome climbing and great people who frequent the Obed, less than an hour away from Knoxville. He enjoys sharing his love for climbing with his family and is excited to be teaching his children about the sport that has given back so much. When he's not climbing, Christian enjoys paddle boarding, surfing, hiking, camping, and traveling.

Climbing Superpower: Making Everything Look Difficult

Favorite Crag Snack: AB&J (almond butter and jelly) Sandwich

Favorite Crags: Kalymnos, Squamish, Joe's Valley

Yolanda "Yoli" Chen Co-Founder

Yoli first discovered climbing while attending college in Kansas City, MO. After learning the ropes at a local climbing gym, life and school took over and she put climbing aside for six years. After moving to California in 2005, she reignited her passion for rock climbing and explored the multitude of crags in the Southern California region. It was there that she found yet another love, her husband Christian, and together they started traveling all over the world to climb. Now, after a decade, two moves across the country, and the addition of two mini-crushers to their family, they have started their next adventure here in Knoxville, TN. Aside from climbing and being a part of this amazing project, Yoli works at East Tennessee Children's Hospital, loves photography, culinary arts (mostly the eating part), snowboarding, exploring the outdoors, and traveling. 

Climbing Superpower: Finding Awkward Rests 

Favorite Crag Snack: Chocolate

Favorite Crags: Jackson Falls, New River Gorge, Waterval Boven, Limekiln, Red River Gorge

Stephen bulsa head Youth coach

Stephen recently moved to Knoxville from Spartanburg, SC. He has been an athlete his whole life and found his way to climbing at the age of 16. Later, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at USC Upstate. He has now been climbing for almost 8 years and coaching for over 3 years. While he has experienced competing in the youth circuit and beyond, he is also psyched about climbing outside! In short, his passion for the sport of climbing is what led him to coaching.

michael ebling INstructor | Routesetter | youth coach

Michael started climbing in 2005, and he fell in love with the sport right away. For the next decade or so he climbed on and off as much as he could, but it wasn’t until he moved to Knoxville in 2017 that he was able to make climbing a really big part of his life. He wishes he had done it sooner! Climbing is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of life. He quickly found the joy of training and challenging himself on difficult climbs. He enjoys all forms of climbing, but especially sport climbing and trad. He started setting routes here at Onsight in 2019. When he isn’t climbing, he studies philosophy at the University of Tennessee.

Climbing Superpower: Perpetual Psyche

Favorite Crag Snack: Lembas Bread

Favorite Crags: Red River Gorge, Obed

Ellie Wood youth coach

Ellie first discovered climbing in elementary school through a spring break camp at Onsight. She began climbing once a week, and made the decision in sixth grade to give up musical theater to pursue competitive climbing through Team Onsight. She has been competing for five years now and each year she’s fallen more and more in love with the sport. She loves the variety of mental and physical challenges that come with climbing, getting to travel to new places, connecting with nature, and most importantly the beautiful community she found through the sport. Outside of climbing, she loves to play music (guitar/piano) and sing, she is involved in her youth group and rejoice choir, she enjoy playing board games and spending time outdoors with her family, and she can often be found nerding out about math or physics.

Climbing Superpower: Three Finger Drag

Favorite Crag Snack: Luna bars and any kind of sweets

Favorite crags: The Red

Nique Hunt Front Desk Staff

Nique was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and spent most of their life in track in field. In 2015, they moved to Tennessee and began their exploration in rock climbing. At first, it was every once in a while with their grandparents, until in high school when they first found a school team. They enjoy climbing at the Obed and drawing the scenery every chance they get. When they’re not climbing, they enjoy hanging out with friends and watching movies.

Climbing Superpower: Overcomplicating Climbs

Favorite Crag Snack: Cinnamon Bagels

Favorite crags: Obed