One of the reasons so many young people are drawn to urban centers is the opportunity. There are opportunities for jobs, social interactions, recreation, and spectator sports. There is one area, however, in which urban areas pale: outdoor recreation.
There just isn’t a lot of it. There is one good surrogate, though, that’s gaining ground among young athletes in urban areas. It’s indoor rock climbing.
It is quite honestly the ideal urban sport, for the reasons that will be enumerated here. If you’re considering getting into it, here are some reasons that indoor rock climbing for beginners is just the thing.
There’s Space
One of the reasons cities don’t offer much in the way of physical fitness is the limited space. What space these areas do have is vertical, and not open – that makes them a perfect match for rock climbing gyms, which need just that thing. Unlike rowing, shooting, and snow and water sports, rock climbing just doesn’t take up the same footprint.
It’s So Affordable
So many sports are just insanely, prohibitively expensive, whether they take place in a city or not. Just look at the tackle you need to get into snowboarding, skiing, horseback riding, fly fishing, or some other activity. You could run into the thousands of dollars without even trying.
Bouldering, which requires the least gear, is almost unbelievably affordable. All you’ll need are a pair of climbing shoes and maybe a chalk bag with some chalk, which most gyms will rent out to you for a few dollars. And if and when you decide to buy your own, you’ll be out a couple hundred dollars at most – not a few thousand.
It’s Accessible
Basically anyone can get into rock climbing. Because so little gear is used and there are multiple different disciplines that vary in difficulty, you can pretty much drop what you’re doing and get into indoor rock climbing today. Plus, though there is a learning curve, you can start out with easier bouldering problems on the climbing wall and progress with route difficulty as your skills develop.
There Are Lots of Helpful People in the Climbing and Bouldering “Community”
If you don’t believe it, just get a rock climbing day pass to a local gym and see for yourself. The people indoor gyms are friendly and usually excited to see others taking an interest in their sport.
It’s Rewarding
Once again, this is something you’ll have to experience. But when you send your first problem, whether it’s a VB or a V2, you’ll know what we mean.
It Has Lots of Potential Health Benefits
This article won’t cover them, but suffice it to say rock climbing has benefits similar to other physical activities, including but not limited to improved muscle strength and endurance, increased flexibility, and potentially positive effects on mental health, wellbeing, and more.
Where to Get Started with Indoor Rock Climbing for Beginners?
Looking to try indoor rock climbing for beginners? Good news, most gyms around the country are more than welcoming of new members, regardless of skill level. Most even offer rentals and some offer day passes as well. Depending on where you are in the country will direct where you should look; if you’re in or near Philadelphia, consider checking out Reach Climbing and Fitness. They’re beginner-friendly, offer rentals, and have day pass options, too.
