Hi I'm Rene Matihas, founder and head coach of Igneous Coaching.

I'm a Melbourne-based bouldering coach, Australian representative, and lifelong student of climbing. In just four years, I've progressed from a complete beginner to competing internationally for Australia on the IFSC stage while climbing multiple V11 boulders in the little times ive climbed outdoors.

People often ask how I improved so quickly.

The answer isn't talent or a secret training plan. It came from an obsession with learning—understanding movement, analysing technique, training with purpose, and constantly asking why some climbers improve faster than others. Every session became an opportunity to learn something new, and that mindset has shaped both my climbing and the way I coach.

But long before I competed for Australia, I was just another new climber walking into a gym for the first time.

I still remember a stranger taking the time to show me how to heel hook. It was such a simple piece of advice, but it completely changed the way I approached climbing. More importantly, it introduced me to something I'll never forget—the generosity of the climbing community. Someone with no reason to help chose to share their knowledge simply because they loved the sport.

That moment stayed with me.

From the day I started climbing, I knew that one day I wanted to give that feeling back to other people.

Since then, climbing has taken me further than I ever imagined. I've had the privilege of representing Australia, competing against some of the world's best athletes, travelling to incredible places, and learning from elite climbers, coaches, and route setters. Every competition, every outdoor trip, every success, and every setback has taught me something valuable about performance and progression.

More recently, my own journey has taken an unexpected turn.

A serious wrist injury has forced me to step away from competing while doctors work to understand exactly what's going on. Like many athletes, I've had to accept that some challenges can't be solved by simply trying harder. Recovery has taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of adapting when things don't go to plan.

Rather than stepping away from climbing, I chose to become even more involved in the community that has given me so much.

Igneous Coaching is the result of that decision.

Coaching allows me to share everything I've learned—from progressing rapidly through the grades, to competing on the international stage, to navigating the highs and lows that every climber experiences. My goal isn't simply to help people climb harder; it's to help them understand climbing in a way that builds confidence, consistency, and a lifelong love for the sport.

Whether you're training for your first competition, chasing your next outdoor project, or dreaming of representing Australia one day, every climber deserves coaching that's thoughtful, individual, and built around their goals.

At Igneous Coaching, I believe great coaching is about more than writing training plans. It's about understanding the athlete in front of you, celebrating the wins, learning from the setbacks, and making sure every session moves you one step closer to where you want to be.

I'm still chasing my own goals, and I plan to return to competition stronger than ever. Until then—and long after—I want to help other climbers discover what's possible for themselves.

Because someone once took the time to help a kid in rental shoes learn how to heel hook.

Now it's my turn to give something back.

MY STORY

RENE MATIHAS

INSTAGRAM