Meet Jordan Romig

We recently connected with Jordan Romig and have shared our conversation below.

Jordan, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression at times throughout my life. For me, climbing has always been the best way to cope with that struggle. No matter what was going on, climbing always helped me get out of my head and reconnect with myself. It helps to move around and release endorphins, get out of my mind and into my body, be around a supportive community, and focus my attention and energy on something positive, like solving a boulder problem or sending a hard route. Climbing has always been my asylum, and it’s shaped who I am today.

I think a lot of my anxiety and depression came from not accepting who I am. Around high school, I started questioning my sexuality. I grew up in Iowa, which is a pretty conservative place, and I was raised Christian, taught my whole life that being gay was bad or something to joke about. I was confused because I liked girls but also started liking guys. I didn’t have the courage to try anything and hated myself for wanting to.

When I was in college, my anxiety hit an all-time high, and I decided to try to get help. I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed me SSRIs and another fast-acting antidepressant. I still hadn’t come out and couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone what I was going through. I wanted to just take a pill to feel better. That worked for a bit, but something was still missing. I didn’t feel as anxious or depressed, but I also couldn’t seem to feel good. I felt like a ghost in a shell, just floating by and experiencing life without feeling much of anything. I hated that numbness because even climbing stopped making me feel alive.

One day, I decided I’d had enough. I’d rather face my anxiety and learn to accept it and deal with it than keep missing out on the highs just to avoid the lows. I finally decided to come out as bisexual to a few of my closest climbing friends, as well as my girlfriend at the time. Everyone I told supported me fully. I realized I’d been scared for no reason, but it was still hard to accept myself. I feared rejection by others and knew I needed to explore the parts of me I’d been ashamed of for so long. I ended things with my girlfriend to embrace myself and my sexuality. A few months later, I met a man who changed my life and helped create Asylum.

In 2019, I started hanging out with my now-boyfriend and business partner, Juan. He saw me for who I am and helped me learn to love myself and grow through his unconditional love and support. I fell in love with him and knew I had to come out to my family, to be openly out and proud of who I am and who I’m with. In addition to helping me on my personal journey, Juan has supported Asylum since its inception and made this project possible.

Through the endless support of Juan, my family and friends, and our community, we’ve been able to create a space where people can connect with nature, get active to release endorphins, and most importantly, be their authentic selves. Climbing continues to be my asylum when it comes to mental health, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to provide that space for others.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

We opened Asylum in April 2022, but the journey started years before that. I grew up climbing and competing, and as I got older, I transitioned into route setting and coaching. Those experiences opened doors for me to travel and even live abroad, where I had the chance to visit some of the top climbing facilities in the world. What stood out to me were the incredible concepts I saw in these gyms—places that seamlessly integrated community, culture, and outdoor climbing. I realized that many of those elements were missing in the American climbing scene, and I wanted to bring those ideas back to San Diego.

Making that vision a reality wouldn’t have been possible without my partner, Juan. He’s an amazing business partner creative and graphic designer, and his skill and creativity helped take my ideas to the next level. Together, we worked to organize, refine, and define the concept, and Juan developed the look and feel of the brand. After a few years of planning, designing, and building, we finally opened Asylum.

Today, Asylum is more than just a climbing gym—it’s a space where people can connect, grow, and find community through climbing. It’s been incredible to see people come together, and now we’re looking at how we can take things to the next level. We want to expand, offer even more climbing opportunities, and continue serving our community in new and better ways.

If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at info@climbasylum.com.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Knowledge of Technique and Movement
Nearly 20 years of climbing experience has been one of the most impactful factors in making Asylum successful. Competing, coaching, and setting routes around the world exposed me to a variety of training philosophies and setting styles, all of which shaped my approach. My time in Japan was particularly influential—the routes there are crafted with such intention that they effortlessly teach movement through the climb itself. That philosophy deeply inspired my own route-setting style. Turning my passion into my career made it easy to dedicate the time and energy to truly understand the industry and build the skills I needed to open my own gym.

2. Adaptability
Adaptability has been another crucial skill. Starting a new business means wearing every hat and learning how to respond when things don’t go as planned. When challenges arise, you have to think critically, acquire new skills, and come up with creative solutions, often with limited resources. That ability to adapt has been key to overcoming obstacles and growing Asylum into what it is today.

3. Love for Climbing and Community
The most important factor in my journey has been my love for climbing and the community it creates. This sport has changed my life and shaped who I am. Without that passion, I wouldn’t have been able to endure the challenges of entrepreneurship—long hours, hard work, financial risk, and the stress of knowing things might not work out. Loving what you do and knowing your “why” is essential to pushing through those moments. I feel incredibly grateful to have had the support to make my dream a reality and create a space that brings people together through one of the things I love most in the world: climbing.

Advice:
For anyone early in their journey, focus on three things: immerse yourself in your craft and never stop learning; stay flexible and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth; and most importantly, make sure you’re passionate about what you’re pursuing. Passion is what will carry you through the toughest times and make all the hard work worthwhile.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Our biggest challenge right now is the size of our gym. While our outdoor space creates an intimate and unique setting, we know we could do so much more with a larger facility. Originally, Asylum was envisioned as a bigger space—half indoor, half outdoor—with rope climbing, bouldering, yoga and fitness areas, a café, and room for events. We began fundraising for that concept at the end of 2019, but when COVID hit in 2020, everything came to a halt. The economy and daily life were upended, and we had to completely rethink the project.

Rather than wait indefinitely, we decided to start small and prove the concept. We found a small lot and built a gym with all the essentials, focusing on building the brand, fostering community, and gaining critical business experience. Now, almost three years later, we’re actively seeking investment to expand the gym and bring the original vision to life.

Asylum is already an amazing space—our route setting and outdoor environment set us apart from the competition—but the physical size can be limiting. Despite offering a good variety of climbs with regular route updates, the compact layout can deter potential members who worry there won’t be enough for them to climb.

We’re currently exploring the opportunity to acquire a lot next door, which could allow us to double or even triple our climbing space. This expansion would also give us the chance to add an indoor area that could serve as a yoga studio and multipurpose space, bringing us closer to our original vision while better serving our growing community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://climbasylum.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbasylum/

Image Credits

Juan Lobos