Following the debut of competition climbing as an Olympic sport at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, climbing has seen a rise in popularity across the nation, with climbing equipment sales set to increase from previous years. This signals the growing attention which competitive climbing is receiving.
There are many different types of climbing. There is bouldering, which is climbing on a shorter wall – no more than 20 feet – with no cables. However, there is a thick mat on the floor just in case the climber falls. Bouldering consists of more difficult moves.
Other types of climbing are more heavy on endurance than bouldering, such as lead climbing. Lead climbing is made up of longer walls. Unlike bouldering, there is no mat for protection, but other protective gear such as helmets and cables protect the climber.
Many climbers at Aragon discovered their passion for the sport through the persuasion of friends, who were already experienced and enthusiastic about climbing.
“What initially got me into climbing is one of my friends [who] invited me to this overnight 12-hour competition,” said senior Charles Unger. “It wasn’t much of a competition. It was more of a hang out and climb overnight, but it was stated as a competition because you could win prizes if you did well.”
I just want to get better because … I want to be able to climb with them rather than climbing something near them.
Other climbers began climbing at a young age, influenced by their parents.
“As a kid, I would just like [to] climb trees,” said junior Seth Kantor. “So my mom got me into it, and then I just started going on my own.”
Many climbers agree on how much they love the community aspect of the sport.
“I absolutely fell in love with the community because people were having fun while they’re climbing, they weren’t falling and getting mad,” Unger said. “They fell, they would fall. And turn around and then start making jokes with their friends … I just want to get better because … I want to be able to climb with them rather than climbing something near them.”
I have a lot of good friends that I’m really close to because of climbing, whom I would have never met [otherwise]
Another thing climbers enjoy about the sport is its uniqueness.
“[I like how] there’s a lot of thought that goes into it,” Kantor said. “A lot of other sports are dependent on luck or just physical ability, which is kind of true for climbing. But there’s [also] a lot of strategy in it …The right type of climbing or the right strategy takes you a long way”
Rock climbing also fosters new relationships.
“I have a lot of good friends that I’m really close to because of climbing, whom I would have never met [otherwise],” said junior Matthew Auyeung. “And there’s a wide range, I have friends in college down to freshmen.”
Overall, the rock climbing community has a place for everyone, and embraces an inclusive space for people of a wide range of people.
“It’s a friendly competition throughout the whole community and that’s really nice to have and that’s probably what I enjoy most about it,” Unger said.
Despite the climbing community at Aragon being relatively small, it’s still a tight-knit group.
“I’d say I know most climbers here [at Aragon],” Kantor said. “We like to see each other all the time. Everyone’s really nice and inviting.”
A lot of climbers are motivated by the urge to have friendly competition with their friends who also climb.
“What inspires me to keep doing it is just seeing my friends,” said junior Brett Lipton. “Doing it with my friends and having fun.”
All in all, the rock climbing community at Aragon is a welcome one, fueled by friendship and the urge to get better.
