Millions tuned in to watch climbers race to scale 50-foot walls in seconds at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Climbing, however, is not just for the athletic elites. For the average college student, it provides all the benefits of a full-body workout and improves endurance, flexibility, balance, confidence and problem-solving abilities. Climbing is also a social sport, placing you in contact with new people and opportunities to share the Gospel. There are three indoor gyms in the Greenville area that each emphasize a different aspect of the sport and allow you to try it for yourself. While it can be intimidating for the casual observer, I would strongly encourage you to explore Greenville’s three climbing gyms and find the perfect match for you.
Climb @ Blue Ridge is about a 20-minute drive from campus and is the most casual of the three gyms. It is also the cheapest of these options at $20 for a day pass with gear and $24 for your first time, which includes a belay safety check, gear and access to the gym for the full day. Belaying is using a rope to prevent a climber’s fall with a belay device.
Belay services are offered if you do not have an available partner to belay you, and training clinics are available if you desire professional assistance. Also, Blue Ridge is a good balance between top rope and bouldering. Top rope is when the rope is anchored at the end of the climb and requires a belayer to lower you when you finish and catch you if you fall. Bouldering is simply climbing without a rope at lower heights with pads to cushion your fall. Think of the movie “Free Solo” but 10 feet off the ground. If you are a beginner just interested in exploring the sport and having a fun time, I would recommend this gym.
Known as the largest bouldering gym in South Carolina, BlocHaven is in downtown Greenville about 10 minutes from campus. This gym focuses on bouldering, though it still includes several auto-belay routes. Auto belays are devices that protect the climber without the need for a partner. BlocHaven is a great hangout spot, including a ping pong table, workout space with equipment provided, and a café with coffee, smoothies and snacks. While a little more expensive at around $30/person including the same amenities as Blue Ridge, this gym offers much more in terms of environment, location, training and overall experience. If your goal is technical precision and learning problem-solving methods, this gym would be a good fit.
Last but not least is projectROCK, the tallest top rope climbing gym in South Carolina. This gym blew me away. From realistic stalactite/stalagmite and arch structures representing rock faces around the U.S. to the sheer height of these 80-foot walls, it is the most extreme gym on this list.
While it has many options for the more experienced climber, the beginner can get his money’s worth on shorter walls and easier route choices, as well as a decent bouldering area or a kid’s section if desperate. As far as rates, projectROCK offers a student day pass for $27 with gear included and offers free belayers on Thursday nights. Though it is the farthest away from campus, about 30 minutes, the drive is worth it. If you desire fast growth as a climber and the thrill of heights, this gym is for you.
It is important to note that gyms also offer monthly and annual passes that, if attended consistently, are a much better deal than paying for each trip. All these gyms offer student passes at a discount. With climbing reaching the Olympic level and interest growing exponentially, now is the perfect time to take advantage of these three climbing gyms in the Greenville area to improve yourself mentally, physically and socially. What are you waiting for? Grab a belay partner and get going!
