The Omnibus

Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: In the Spotlight

Bolivar High School junior Kyla Ehrhardt and SBU freshman Jason Dulworth prepare to climb the SBU rock wall located in Blair Intramural Gym. Students can improve their rock climbing skills every Tuesday night and take advantage of the free shoe and chalk rentals.

Within the last decade, rock climbing has gone from an extreme outdoors sport to a mainstream indoor sport. Not only do athletes participate in this sport, ordinary people are becoming more involved in the sport. It provides both a physical and mental challenge, which a normal workout routine does not provide. It is also easy enough that children can participate.
"I climb mostly for hobby, it is cheap, easy, and fun," said SBU graduate student Casey Speers, supervisor of SBU's rock wall and Blair Intramural Gym. Speers has been climbing for three years.
Meyer Wellness and Sports Center offers two styles of indoor rock wall climbing: top rope climbing and bouldering. Top rope climbing focuses on endurance and balance and is great for beginners because climbers have the assistance of a rope and harness. In order to participate in top rope climbing, students must be certified. Students can be certified Sunday-Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Bouldering is free movement that focuses on strength and power. There is no equipment or certification required for this style, just lots of muscle strength.
Every Tuesday night, students meet at Southwest Baptist University's rock wall in the Meyer Wellness and Sports Center for climb night. On climb night, the climbing shoes, which are usually rented out for $1, and climbing chalk are free. Free shoes and chalk start at 7 p.m. every Tuesday, but students climb at any time during normal operating hours.
The regular attendees of climb night are hoping to form a club, and Speers invites everyone to become involved in rock climbing. Currently, the group consists of 15 members.
"[When rock wall climbing] it is a good feeling to achieve something," said Speers. "When people start climbing and fail, they get used to it. Then when they can start climbing and succeed, they get addicted."
This weekend, Nov. 9-11, the rock climbing group is going to the Horseshoe trip, an weekend-long outdoor climbing event in Arkansas. The total cost for camping and climbing for the weekend is $20, and if one is in need of climbing equipment, the Meyer Sports Center is willing to let people use it for free. If students would like to go, a caravan is leaving from Meyer Wellness and Sports Center Friday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. For more information contact the Blair Intramural Gym at 328-1419.
The rock wall is located in Blair Intramural Gym and is open for climbing Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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