She was first introduced to climbing while studying for her geology degree. In her early climbing years she aspired to every kind of climbing from bouldering to big walls, and even aid lines. The first American to rank 1st in an international bouldering World Cup (see competition), she has won many competitions indoors and out, and also excelled in outdoor bouldering. Lisa is the first American woman to climb the elite level bouldering grades V11(8A) and V12(8A+). Rands is known for having climbed Midnight Lightning (v8) and Plain High Drifter (V11) (both considered elite level boulder problems) between 2000 and 2002, and was the first woman to succeed on the problem The Mandala (v12) in January 2008. Her ground-up ascent of the extreme highball This Side of Paradise (v10) in 2007 was captured for the video The Sharp End.