A rock climber trying out inside an indoor rock climbing facility. (photo courtesy of ebow.com)This feature article was an assignment I did for my journalism course this semester. It's also one of the four main articles in our self-produced magazine Arete (ahr-i-tey) which means excellence in Greek. Arete is a sports and healthy lifestyle magazine for teenage girls in Winnipeg whichh along with other interesting and original magazines will be launched in a magazine trade fair on April 1st at the Atrium of the Red River College Princess Street Campus from 1:00-4:00 p.m. .
Come on down and have a peek at the many magazines showcasing the design and communications skills of the creative communications students. To give you a taste of my group magazine's unique flavour, here is the article worth serving! Read on and enjoy!
When we think of a superhero that clings onto surfaces and scales the sides of tall buildings, we think of Spider-Man. With his web-shooters, Spider-Man need not use a harness nor a climbing rope anchored from above to keep him safe. In the real world, people who rock climb know how important this equipment is.
Lowering herself down from the wall with a harness wrapped around her body, 15-year-old Lauren Bailey is soaked in sweat but her sweet smile and laughter make her climbing attempt seems like an easy task.
“I went for fun,” says Lauren of the two months since she joined Vertical Adventures, an indoor wall-to-wall climbing facility along Paramount Road.
The grade 10 student from Westwood Collegiate had her first taste of indoor rock climbing at the age of 11 while still living in Scotland with her family.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved climbing things and I always climbed trees. I found it interesting and exciting, like an adventure,” Lauren says excitedly.
In the book Gym Climbing: Maximizing Your Indoor Experience, rock climbing expert Matt Burbach tells that gym climbers get into the sport because “it’s fun.” According to the author, the attraction stems from the physical, mental, and even social benefits that gym climbing provides.
Indoor rock climbing isn’t new to Lauren’s family. Her parents have rock climbed even before she was born, and her nine-year-old brother Jack climbs as well.
Lauren’s mom Tina, an employee at the 17 Wing Winnipeg sees her daughter as a ‘comfortable person’.
“She’s not a very academic person so coming here and showing to herself that she can actually achieve has really made her go back to school and then work harder and believe in herself and what her abilities are,” says Tina.
Flying in from Scotland in 2007, the Baileys arrived in Barrie, Ontario where they first lived. In 2009, the family moved to Winnipeg. So far, rock climbing has been Lauren’s constant companion where she meets new people while developing important skills in climbing.
Aricelle Mateo, a 25-year-old indoor rock climbing instructor at Vertical Adventures prides herself in seeing student climbers like Lauren feel challenged and don’t easily give up.
“They learn what they’re capable of. When they’re up there, it’s the best feeling in the world because you’ve succeeded something that you didn’t think was possible but you’re capable of doing it now on your own,” says Aricelle.
Indoor rock climbing is a sport that requires practice and knowledge which needs solid, clear instruction in all of the necessary skills. For Lauren, this sport has not only taken her to the summits of physical challenge but as well as to the peaks of her mental ability. Burbach reveals in his book that indoor climbing challenges both the body and mind. Every major muscle group in the body contributes to the physical demands of climbing. The full body aspect of climbing develops muscle stabilization, increases strength, and can also improve joint flexibility and range of motion. For sure, the physical aspect of climbing is just a tip of the iceberg.
For two hours every Tuesday night starting at 6:30 p.m., Lauren climbs the steep walls of the gym with the help of an instructor. As in any sport activity that involves a lot of body movement, stretching is a must before one begins. But Lauren forgets to do her warm-up exercises because she’s too excited to start climbing.
“You’re supposed to but I just get right onto it, and just get on the wall but it will be better if I stretch,” admits the 5′5" teenager as she shrugs her shoulders and gives an impish smile.
The fun and excitement of rock climbing brought Lauren to greater heights. As a member of the gym’s competitive team called Wall Rats, Lauren has proven that she knows what it takes to make it through the competition.
On January 9, Lauren placed second in the youth category of Tour de Bloc, a competition aimed at promoting vertical climbing in Canada. Climbers who came from as far as neighbouring Saskatchewan and Ontario competed on the challenging steep walls of the Vertical Adventures gym. The prize Lauren won was a pair of new rock climbing shoes which she was wearing during her interview for this magazine article.
“I got these!” beams the proud youngster as she holds her balance on the stool.
If there is anything else that Lauren’s mom sees apart from her daughter’s newly found self-confidence is the fact that Lauren has learned to be a team player.
“When I saw her in the competition, she was supportive of other people around her which was great to see as a result of coming here,” remarks Tina.
Truly, Lauren has mastered the basics of indoor rock climbing. From a girl who loves climbing trees, Lauren admits there is more to this sport than having fun.
“Rock climbing is fun but serious, too. Like my coach says, ‘serious fun’—keeps you in shape, fit and very healthy,” remarks Lauren.
Fastening the harness around her waist, our young climber ascends the wall with confidence. Unlike Spider-Man, Lauren doesn’t wear a mask to show the world what she can do.
