Ryan Mackenzie

Adventure Performance and Coaching BSc (Hons)

I began climbing when I was a child and have stuck with the sport into adulthood, competing nationally before transitioning to outdoor climbing all over the UK and Europe. Through this time, I began working at the Glasgow Climbing Centre as an instructor and eventually I worked up to coaching the performance squad. It was here I realised my passion for coaching and being able to give back to the sport that had given me so much.  

I chose the Adventure Performance and Coaching Degree to continue my coaching development. The modules were well suited to what I wanted to learn and will help me expand my coaching toolbox with essential knowledge as well as teach me about how to apply what I’ve learned to an outdoor environment.  

It’s been fantastic how accessible the area and its associated sports have been with help of the college. Courses are constantly running in a wide variety of outdoor sports and NGB training and assessment awards are organised frequently to help students develop further in the sports they’re most interested in. So, easy to meet new and like-minded people who are as into the outdoors and the same sports as I am and get out adventuring with them.

I’d be interested in advancing further and SOAS has given me a couple of solid options. Either climbing up the ladder to eventually establish myself as a Mountain Guide or continuing down the coaching path and starting up my own business, even both! Whatever keeps me happy and helps fund big climbing trips so I can continue exploring and climbing all over the world.