Austin, Texas — Join Mesa Rim Climbing Center Austin for a 2-day Route Setting Clinic designed for setters looking to refine their craft and deepen their understanding of modern setting principles. Led by Tonde Katiyo and Amin Abbasi, each clinic features two focused sessions per day with hands-on instruction, movement analysis, and practical application on the wall. Whether you’re building a stronger foundation or sharpening advanced skills, this clinic offers an immersive learning experience in a small-group setting.
Route Setting Clinics (two identical 2-day clinics)
Dates: Mar 2–3 and Mar 4–5, 2026
Capacity: 9 per clinic
Seat allocation: 2 internal seats reserved + 7 external registrations
Pricing: $500/person (2-day clinic)
Daily format: 2 sessions/day (Morning + Afternoon)
Instructors: Tonde Katiyo + Amin Abbasi
Core Objective: Improve setting quality by translating movement drills into intentional, fair, comp-relevant setting decisions.
About Tonde:
Tonde Katiyo is an internationally renowned route setter whose career spans multiple continents. Born in Paris and raised in Zimbabwe, he began climbing at age 12 before moving to Canada to study art and earn his first route setting certification. Since then, Tonde has set routes for climbing gyms and competitions around the world.
With experience at 13 international competitions and more than 30 national events, he is one of the most experienced route setters globally. Beyond setting, Tonde has led route setting instruction courses worldwide since 2009. Known for his calm presence and eye for movement and aesthetics, he favors dynamic climbing, creative use of volumes, and the “silent partnership” between setter and climber. He is also a coach, father, and longtime advocate for thoughtful, fair, and progressive route setting that helps shape the future of climbing.
About Amin:
Amin Abbasi began climbing in 1997 in Shiraz, Iran, a historic city surrounded by limestone mountains. Starting in a small boutique gym, he quickly immersed himself in both indoor and outdoor climbing, developing routes and boulders throughout the region. In 2001, he made history by becoming the Asian Youth Champion, the first for Iran, and went on to compete in World Cups and Asian championships as an eight-year member of the Iranian National Team across all disciplines. Amin became an IFSC Continental Route Setter in 2012 and has since set for competitions at every level, from youth events to continental championships and world cups. He holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management, shaping his analytical approach to movement and route design. After moving to the United States in 2017, he progressed through USAC Level 1 to Level 4, holds IFSC L2 and Para Route Setting certification, and has served as Chief Route Setter for multiple international events.
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