Inside Outdoor Spring 2020 Issue

Inside Outdoor | SPRING 2020 26 G yms and indoor recre- ation facilities across the country largely remain closed due to the ongoing pandemic, putting indoor climbing on hold for most athletes. Some hardcore climbing enthusiasts have embraced “quarantraining,” which involves rigging climbing routes around the home and scaling laterally across surfaces such as cabinets, refrigerators, windows and walls. But for those who are confined to smaller spaces, or who lack the equipment or ability to engage in quarantraining, the indoor climbing looks to remain out of reach for the foreseeable future. This is a shame, especially when considering the recent gains that have taken place in youth climbing. According to the Outdoor Industry Association’s latest figures, youth indoor climbing increased by about 3.4 percent year- over-year, while sport/boulder climbing increased by about 1.4 percent. There is hope, though, that when all is said and done, there will be a spike in climbing from athletes who have been cooped up inside for an extended period, and from curious newcomers who have been watching videos and learning the sport online. “The state of youth climbing right now is becoming ever more popular among youth who are looking out- side of the realm of team sports,” explained Tim Baum, who is director at the 1Climb Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by professional rock climber Kevin Jorgeson. 1Climb recently partnered with El Cap, one of the largest operators of indoor climbing facilities in the U.S., to help bring climbing to more kids across the country. Back in December, 1Climb and El Cap opened a rock wall at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. The wall is expected to even- tually introduce climbing and climbing- related programs to roughly 10,000 kids throughout Denver. To date, 1Climb has opened five walls across the U.S., and intro- By Gerald Baldino 1Climb and El Cap recently opened a rock wall at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, a move that will ultimately play a big role in helping local kids post coronavirus The Advocates 1ClimbAnchors intoDenver Jorgeson speaks at the opening event Jorgeson assists with auto-belay in Denver