Rock climbing is quickly becoming the new sport for aspiring millenniums. Like a cross between yoga and snowboarding, it has the right edge of inclusive exclusiveness: yoga for its wholesome, in-doors accessibly to both sexes of all ages, and snowboarding for its ethos of remote adrenal mountain conquest in stylish gear.
Ok, that’s a bit snarky, but gym rock climbing has become my new favorite hobby. It’s like solving kinesthetic puzzles in a convenient, air-conditioned gym only a 15 minute drive away! Strength, flexibility, and endurance are only prerequisites to participate, the real challenge is to continually position and balance one’s body to scale the wall like some slow vertical dance. It’s more social than other individual sports, too: top rope climbers climb in pairs, boulders have significant down time between attempts, and because courses are like puzzles, it’s fun to watch and interesting to discuss. Best, guys and girls can socialize and participate as equals, unlike in most sports in which a guy’s natural strength forces girls to compete in an inferior league.
By the way, if you flinched while reading “inferior,” that’s the tension I mean that makes cross-gender socializing awkward in other sports.
As for its cultural bones, I was introduced to the sport by a coworker and his friend —he’s the son of a multi-millionaire, she attends Castilleja prep-school for girls. It’s popular here in Silicon Valley (I go to Planet Granite in Sunnyvale), and rock climbing gyms seem to be opening near most major cities and universities. Even though Planet Granite membership costs about as much as the Mountain View YMCA and the 24 Hour Fitness, the scene is better despite offering similar weight lifting and aerobic resources.
First, the threat of hauling one’s flabby ass fifty feet up a rock keeps out the fitless despite a family-friendly atmosphere.
Second, most of people I’ve met there have been college students or engineers working at startups or tech companies like Google. Others are living the extreme sport lifestyle: some minimal job to make ends meet while they pursue their sport. I’ve never felt intimidated or embarrassed to be there, the people there are friendly and intelligent, there’s no ghetto crap in the music mix, and there are no depressing, aging fatties. I even caught some ORBITAL in the music mix! That’s incredible.
Best of all, it’s near work, so when I need to procrastinate working, I can go to the gym whenever.
Also, I’m not apologetic about being middle-classy here. I don’t need to deal with tattoo’d meat heads staring me down, pushy gym salesmen selling miracle powders on installment, saggy old women in baggy printed t-shirts, plastic facilities that feel like a high school cafeteria, and a “club” where nobody knows anyone’s name.
Huh. I wonder what it’s like in Iceland where supposedly everyone would feel comfortable at a Planet Granite. (except outside)
