ENTOURAGE - #9 > February/March 2006

Ian Maffett
Ian hails from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and has been climbing all around the U.S. for nearly eight years. Primarily a boulderer, he recently returned to sport climbing. Around the time he started climbing, he took his first computer science class. While completing his Computer Science degree, he started working with web-based applications and applying them to a few climbing sites.

Wanting to fill the gap left by www.climbXmedia.com, Ian started an ambitious project to create a portal that would allow users to upload and download climbing videos. He teamed up with fellow climber/programmer Kyle Roseborrough to spearhead the new project. It took off after the Winter Outdoor Retailer trade show in 2005. Recognizing the technology's potential, Ian jumped on board professionally with Kyle's company, Clear Sky Designs. After a year of development work and trialing the technology, the two knew they needed a partner to take it to the next level. "Working with Urban Climber Magazine allows us to give you www.urbanclimbermag.tv! Check out the new site and download away."

These days, Ian can be found sitting in front of the computer, climbing out West on business trips or jumping out of airplanes on the East Coast.

Kyle Roseborrough
Kyle grew up an hour north of Hueco Tanks and he's been spoiled ever since. "I actually thought that the bouldering was that good everywhere." He was sorely disappointed when he learned how bad rock could be. After traveling around the U.S., he's returned to solid rock. Now living in Flagstaff, Arizona, he's enjoying the 10-minute commute to Priest Draw. After quitting a Ph.D. program at Northern Arizona University, he started Clear Sky Designs, a web development company, and has been happy ever since.

Kyle and Clear Sky Designs are the wizards behind all of UCMAG's online activity, including the re-design and re-launch of www.urbanclimbermag.com, and most recently the development of www.urbanclimbermag.tv. "Just in the past two years I've seen an explosion in video technology and software. Three chip video cameras and editing software that pros only had access to are now affordable by most people. The difference between what the professionals and amateurs are producing is smaller every day." Creating a site that allows people to upload their climbing videos began as a quick cell phone conversation while on a road trip. Without much consideration, Kyle started the design and architecture on a wooden bench in Maple Canyon, Utah. He had no idea the impact it would make. With the release of www.urbanclimbermag.tv, Kyle feels that he's helped to create the site he envisioned at the beginning. Check out more of Kyle's wizardry at www.clearskydesigns.com.

UCTV MOST RECENT