"I showed up as myself. Not Nina, the professional climber, not Nina the North Face athlete. Just Nina. Me."

A woman who needs no introduction, Nina felt nervous introducing herself at the local gym meetup hosted by Cruxing in Color. She didn't sport any brand logos and had her hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Nina shook hands with people, leading with a simple, "hi, I'm Nina."

There, she found a community of like-minded climbers and soon became a regular face at the meetups where she hosted talks, taught clinics, and did what she loved most, climb.

Known for being the strongest female boulderer of her generation, most of what the climbing community sees is an elite athlete of unimaginable proportions. When I ask Nina about these accomplishments, she is unabashed and speaks proudly of Too Big to Fail and Ambrosia. She always returns to the roots, however, and talks about evolution, cultural change, self-reflection, and growth.

"I started climbing around twelve," said Nina. "It used to be about achievements, performance, traveling, fun, and climbing for me. That was important. After all, we climb to push our personal limitations and be present in amazing landscapes. Then my perspective shifted. I took a lot from the climbing community. I want to give back."

I stopped her, "Why do you use the word 'took'? The climbing community gives to us all, does it not?"

"I use the word 'took' because there are so many things we take for granted. For example, people who have been in the climbing community for a while will forget the comfort they feel at a climbing gym, or crag, or bouldering area. You might see someone you know. You can crack a joke using the right climber lingo. I saw that when I stepped outside the climbing bubble."

"It’s so immersive. You can lose yourself," she said after a long pause.

Nina graduated from CU Boulder in 2021. I asked her why she decided to return to school.

"The first thing that comes to mind is the long term. Thinking months and years ahead," she replied. "When you think of commitment, you must think of productivity, but also rest. Being intentional about the next step."

Nina studied Communication and Leadership Management.

"Highball boulder or committing to your community, it's all the same mindset," she continued. " You commit, you follow through. I left competition climbing because I recognized that I wasn’t happy. I wasn't happy because I know I have the power to make a difference, and I wasn't doing it. Yet."

Nina joined the American Alpine Club's Board of Directors in March 2021.

"Why I joined?" This made Nina laugh, and she pulled up a book from her coffee table to show me. "Have you read this?"

"No."

"You can borrow mine when I'm done," she said it like we were old friends. "It's about the relationship between land and humans. The author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, talks about reciprocity, a lot."

"I first joined the AAC because I knew it was an immediate way to give back to the community. An organization that’s trying to redistribute resources. Pretty easy way to know that your money is going to where it's needed."

"Climbing lifestyle centered," she continued. "A big part of that lifestyle is the people that make up the community. As the community changes, the AAC makes the effort to change with it. I want to continue to support the changes that I want to see. So I'm here, with intention. I'm committed to this community."

Nina is the girl who always has a book with her at the boulders, who brings a lucky charm, who strategically places bananas in her backpack so they don't get squashed. "I am a morning person who stays up late," she proclaims.

If there is one sentence that describes Nina Williams in a nutshell, it's that. She's all in, committed to pushing herself, committed to giving back to the community however she can.