Despite growing up in southern California and going to college in Boulder, Colorado, Teddy did not start rock climbing until he moved to the flatlands of Central Illinois for graduate school. Shortly after joining an indoor rock gym and climbing outside for the first time, Teddy fell in love with the sport. Once Teddy got home from the Peace Corps in Peru, his career pivoted in the direction of rock climbing and outdoor adventure education. During the offseason, he works as a freelance writer. Currently, Teddy is a certified single pitch instructor with the American Mountain Guides Association and will take his Rock Guide Course in June 2022. He is also a certified wilderness first responder and speaks fluent Spanish. In addition, Teddy is a dog father of a lunatic Australian cattle dog named Dottie and questions daily his ability to tucker out his pup properly.