Sportrock Climbing Center

Thirty-five feet separates you from the ground, but the directive remains: keep climbing higher. Fatigued muscles twitch as you shift your feet carefully, step up on the crimp hold and reach high above your head. Congratulations - you just scaled a 40 foot vertical wall. Did we mention that this scene takes place in the comfort of a climate-controlled indoor gym just minutes from Northern Virginia's beltway?

Sportrock Climbing Center, with locations in Alexandria and Sterling, is Northern Virginia's only dedicated indoor rock climbing gym. In reality, Sportrock is much more than just a gym. It's the centerpiece of a tight-knit community - a community equally accepting and supportive of cross-training athletes, gym rats, fresh-faced beginners, and competition-level climbers. The inherently dangerous sport of rock climbing may not be for everyone, but Sportrock's controlled environment appeals to both the thrill-seekers and the skill-seekers.

Sportrock Bouldering - Courtesy Flickr CC user fotios

Routes and Problems

"Our Director of Route Setting is like a 5-star chef." - Lillian, Sportrock - President

Comparing restaurant food to climbing routes may seem odd at first, but consider the criteria of "5-star" route setting:

1. Artistic - The routes are designed to challenge climbers in imaginative ways requiring specific body movements and mechanics.
2. Palatable - Climbers come in different shapes and sizes, but the difficulty level of a route can translate across those boundaries.
3. Evolving - Sportrock removes all the holds in order to completely redesign the routes every 6-8 weeks.

In Alexandria's 16,000 square foot facility (10,000 sq. ft. in Sterling), the Route Setting team works with a rather large canvas. Climbs range from 5.6 to 5.13 (learn about ratings), with the majority in the 5.9-5.10 range. The bouldering section of each gym works in the same fashion - a wide range of V-rated "problems" cater to every level of climber.

Learning to Climb

Sportrock Climber - Courtesy Pablo Durana

Scaling a 40 foot wall is an intimidating proposition. Sportrock recognizes this and has designed a set of instructional classes to help new climbers overcome the trepidation. Here's a snippet of their course offerings.

• Basic Skills: A killer deal at $25 (comes with a free pass too), this two-hour class concentrates on equipment, knot-tying, and belaying - the three crucial elements needed to kick-start your climbing career.
• Bouldering 101: The bouldering version of Basic Skills, the 101 class teaches you how to think and move like an experienced boulderer.
• Fast Forward Courses: A focused sequence of technique training classes, the Fast Forward Courses are designed to put you on the fast-track to outdoor rock climbing.
• Outdoor Courses: Sportrock's certified guides lead you outside the confines of the gym with a variety of classes set in Great Falls and Carderock.

The little ones can get in on the action, too. Who needs Chuck E. Cheese's when you can have a Sportrock birthday party?

Community Outreach

For the Sportrock climbing community, the only thing more gnarly than topping out on a 5.13 is their passion for HERA Climb for Life (C4L) - a week-long climbing and yoga event to benefit ovarian cancer research. The 2010 edition of C4L is set to roll into Sportrock and REI Fairfax on Saturday, March 13th.

The Climbing Experience

Climbers like Lillian (Sportrock President) always find it hard to describe to non-climbers their love for the sport. In her words, "You just have to experience it." And Sportrock can help.

Locations / Directions: Alexandria, VA and Sterling, VA
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

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