DOMA-sponsored climber Mason Keough takes gold at international paraclimbing comp.
Jan 2, 2026 —
In October of 2023, a workplace accident involving a metal pipe turned rock climber Mason Keough’s fingers “to spaghetti.” Mason, who had been climbing outdoors recreationally with his brother since 2020, was devastated.
“It was super traumatic. My brother walked in the door [of the hospital room] and I just said, ‘I’m never gonna climb 5.13a,’ which is a hard climbing grade. ‘I’m never gonna climb again.’,” Mason says.
In reality, Mason took two or three weeks off climbing, wrapped his arm, and began climbing with one hand. (He was 19.) In a twist of fate, the same year of his accident the International Federation of Sport Climbing opened up the AU3 category, a category for climbers with amputations of the upper extremity with at least 6 knuckle joints affected. With 8 affected knuckles, Mason qualified. He flew to California for his first climbing competition ever, unsure if he’d be any good, and took first place.
“It’s pretty sweet to see not only have I been able to climb, but I’m actually stronger and better at climbing than I was when I had fingers,” says Mason.
His win in California entered him into the international paraclimbing competition in 2025, where Mason would climb against other AU3 athletes on courses set for their particular ability. For Mason, that means they don’t set any pockets (deep grooves for handholds), because he and the other upper-amputees can’t get fingers far enough into a hole like a traditional rock climber might. Other paraclimbing categories include athletes with lower amputations; range and power deficiencies, from things like MS or spinal cord injuries; and blindness.
“Being around other people who have similar disabilities, or other disabilities, is really inspiring,” says Mason. “These people have whatever affliction they have and yet they still try hard on the wall. There has been a lot of times where it’s like, oh, my hand’s hurting today, I don’t really feel like climbing, and you’re like, well they’re still trying, so I’ve got to as well.”
Last fall’s international competition took Mason to Salt Lake City, Utah; Innsbruck, Austria; Seoul, South Korea; and Le Val, France. He placed in the top 3 or 4 at each event, and snagged gold in France to cap off his first year of competing.
“It’s been really sweet just seeing other cultures, of being able to travel around the world, trying all their foods, meeting all the people,” says Mason. “I’ve always heard French people are really mean. But actually meeting everyone, it’s like, everyone is so nice, everyone is so kind.”
With an eye on the 2026 competition circuit, Mason has been spending the winter months climbing 2-3 hours a day at Coeur Climbing Gym in his hometown of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. While his climbing partner — his brother, who introduced him to rock climbing as a hobby—is down in Utah for the season, Mason has been training a lot indoors instead of climbing hard outside, yet to tackle a 5.13a. But he has been able to complete a V9 bouldering grade, which is comparatively difficult.
When he’s not on the wall, Mason drops off beans at coffee shops and grocery stores as a delivery driver for DOMA Coffee Roasting Company, who sponsored some of his comp entries last year. A self-described coffee simpleton before coming to DOMA, Mason says he’s always loved DOMA’s presence in the community.
“I’ve always loved DOMA, specifically because of how seriously they take the flavor profiles and how nerdy they are about their coffee, how specific they get. I really applaud applying the craft to the coffee,” he says.
As Mason pre-qualified for this year’s international competition, we can’t wait to see how he sends it in the coming year. And tackling that 5.13a? We wouldn’t count him out.