Tag Page Sport

#Sport
Jessie

First thing in NZ: checked out the biggest bouldering gym in the Southern Hemisphere!

Heard Boulder Co. just opened in Christchurch—didn’t make it to their Auckland spot but this one’s open till 10pm and just 5 minutes from where I stayed. August is their winter and OMG it’s freezing outside. Didn’t bring my own shoes but still had to move. Parking said 2 hours free but no one seems to pay? Paid $62 NZD total for entry, shoes, and chalk bag—kinda like back home. They’ve got walls from every angle, V1-V3 problems are actually fun and elegant. Separate kids’ area, gym stuff, and skateboard practice zones. Pads are thick and wide, but heads up—pads are hard, don’t jump from the top! Also a cafe on site with decent coffee, shoes get disinfected daily (the ones I rented felt brand new!), showers and foot baths in the bathroom, even reusable hand towels cleaned daily—pretty impressive. Not perfect tho: Hard mats can mess your knees if you jump wrong. Gym is super chalky—felt like swimming in it. No selfie sticks, so solo climbers gotta prep or make friends fast. Ask me if you wanna know more lol. #sport #climbing #bouldering

First thing in NZ: checked out the biggest bouldering gym in the Southern Hemisphere!
Jessie

Climbed at 5 gyms in 2 weeks around Toronto—here’s my very biased ranking.

1️⃣ Hub Climbing Markham – biggest one. Huge bouldering zone, some rope too. That dragon wall? Deep water solo vibe without the water. Also: beginner-friendly, comp wall, decent setting. Pads a bit stiff, but okay. Bonus: Markham = endless Chinese food after. 2️⃣ Boulderz Etobicoke – second biggest. More fun comp-style setting than Hub. But outside the comp wall… holds were kinda polished, and pads felt like concrete. Commitment issues unlocked. 3️⃣ Joe Rockhead’s – pain. Almost all overhangs. Small space, shared with ropes. Not beginner-friendly unless your V3s climb like V6s. 4️⃣ Basecamp Queen West – tiny but central. Two walls, super packed on weeknights. But solid for post-work chill climbs. 5️⃣ Basecamp Bloor West – skip if you’re here for bouldering. Mostly rope, and the lil boulder zone upstairs isn’t worth the day pass. Happy gym hopping 🫶 #sport #climbing #TorontoBouldering

Climbed at 5 gyms in 2 weeks around Toronto—here’s my very biased ranking.
Jessie

Columbus climbing spot: Chambers Rock Gym

It’s about 2 miles from OSU, smaller than the other big gym here—Bloc Garten—but I’m focusing on Chambers for now. Hours are easy to find on Google, so I’ll skip that. What’s more interesting is the pricing: they do on-peak and off-peak rates. Off-peak day pass is just $13—that’s weekdays before 4 PM and weekends after 4 PM. Shoes rental is $7 extra. Students get the off-peak price anytime, no ID needed, just say you’re a student when you pay. First-timers fill out a waiver and watch a quick 3-minute safety video, then you’re good to climb. Apple Pay is accepted, which is super convenient. Routes range from VB, V0 up to V10, so there’s stuff for all levels. The gym rotates about one wall’s routes every 2-3 weeks, so if you come often, you might feel the routes repeat. They sell climbing shoes there, but not many options—if you want more choices, better check out REI. #sport #climbing #ColumbusClimbing

Columbus climbing spot: Chambers Rock Gym
Jessie

Quick UIUC crash course: How to belay at ARC in 2 hours.

Been getting a lot of questions about the belay cert at ARC lately, so here’s the rundown: Step 1: Google ‘Top Rope Belay Clinic UIUC’ and click on Active Illini (see pic 2). Step 2: Pick a session, pay, and register (next session 5/3, hurry up!). Step 3: On the day, rent harness/shoes if you don’t have ’em, head to the ARC wall. They’ll teach knots, belaying basics, then you practice and take a test. Be serious and you’ll pass no problem. Cert is signed and handed out right there (pic 1). Heads up: this cert is only good for ARC’s one wall. Different gyms = new test. Tip: There are two main devices — ATC and GriGri. They’ll always teach ATC; GriGri depends on class size. Smaller sessions = better chance to learn both (I had 5 people and learned both!). Some belay phrases to know: “On Belay?” — Are you ready? “Belay On!” — Ready, let’s go! “Take!” — I need a break! “Got you!” — Take your time! “Lowering!” — Coming down! “Lowering!” — Roger that! Good luck! #sport #climbing #belaytips

Quick UIUC crash course: How to belay at ARC in 2 hours.
Tag: Sport - Page 3 | zests.ai