About the Cove

The Cove was started by a team of experienced, passionate, and dedicated local Newfoundland climbers. Our values stem from being raised and living in St. John’s, having worked years in the climbing industry, and having travelled around the world to climb. We are deeply committed to giving a welcoming space and rad experience to St. John’s while fostering growth in the sport of climbing and the local climbing community.

we believe

climbing can be a positive force in anyone’s life

  • Climbing is the best sport in the world. Physically and mentally engaging, it is a natural human activity.

    All skill levels, body types, and personalities can benefit and excel in climbing. Indoor climbing provides an endless well of problem solving with an ever-changing collection of locally crafted climbing puzzles.

    Bouldering (short climbs over padded landings) is the most accessible and popular form of climbing. Boulder alone or with others. Bouldering best showcases the range and variety of movement climbing offers. Bouldering is also an Olympic sport, and the competitions are fun to watch!

  • Climbing has a uniquely potent social energy that connects people from all walks of life.

    Climbing environments promote being supportive, inquisitive, and friendly. Everyone’s journey through the sport is unique, and it is natural for climbers to succeed by lifting each other up.

    Climbers generally subscribe to a shared ethos that supports outdoor sustainability and social inclusivity. Climbers appreciate access to outdoor spaces, and strive to protect them! Climbers are welcoming and inclusive to all walks of life. Variety, after all, is what makes climbing so rad.

  • Climbing isn’t just a sport, it is a lifestyle. Climbing is ever-changing and social, leading to less burn out, common in other hobbies/activities. Climbing lends itself extraordinarily well to the pursuit of health and wellness.

    Climbing takes you indoors, but also out, connecting climbers to nature. St John’s is home to some of the most accessible outdoor climbing in the country, featuring breathtaking coastal views, all within a short drive, hike, or bike ride.

    Climbers visit climbing gyms or outdoor climbing areas during their travels, if not building their travels around climbing itself. Climbing is a beautiful vehicle to connect with nature and community in different parts of the world!

  • Joel Harvie - Operator and Founding Owner

    Joel has spent over 15 years immersed and active in the local climbing community.

    Joel has been making his mark through route setting, authoring the local bouldering guidebook, guiding and mentoring hundreds of new climbers, and working a variety of roles in the climbing industry.

    Joel is beyond stoked to live out his dream by running a bouldering gym in St. John’s with his close friends!

  • Daniel Alacoque - Operator and Founding Owner

    Addicted to climbing, Daniel left his engineering job to live in a van as a “climber”. Then he returned home to give back to the climbing community

    Daniel is now one of Newfoundland’s top climbing coaches and a leader in developing outdoor climbing.

    Daniel is thrilled to run The Cove and help grow our climbing community!

  • Stephen Ryan - Founding Owner

    Stephen found bouldering while studying abroad in the UK 10 years ago and has been climbing non-stop ever since.

    Stephen has traveled the world looking for good climbing, picking vacation destinations around attractive boulder lines.

    Locally, Stephen helped develop the bouldering guidebook and has established new bouldering areas all across NL, putting up some impressive first ascents in the process!

    Stephen is stoked to share his passion for climbing with others through The Cove!

  • Bob Flynn - Founding Owner

    Bob is a successful businessman who is retired and spends his life between his home in Lewisport, NL, his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, his boat, and his camping van.

    In his own words: “Bob’s an old hippie from the 70s who fell in with the wrong crowd. Where once he hitchhiked and traveled by bicycle and train his life devolved into engineering and management roles with IOCC and Honeywell. He picked up an MBA and started a business in Colorado. Now he is going to reconnect with Mother Earth on the sea and on the land.”