Sports are everywhere. Many people find their heroes through sports, and they serve as some of the most popular pastimes, allowing for people to be a part of of something bigger than themselves.

Most of this enormous amount of societal attention is paid towards a small group of professional sports. Baseball, football, soccer, basketball, tennis, and hockey come to mind. Beyond this elite group, however, lie a multitude of enthralling sporting events and competitions.

One of these is rock climbing, a quickly growing sport at Strath Haven.

Unknown to many, rock climbing is a competitive sport with multiple categories you can compete in. For example, Bouldering is free climbing without a rope or harness, often using artificial rock walls, while rope climbing involves the use of a rope and harness.

“I compete in bouldering and rope climbing,” senior Joey Forbes said.

Forbes is the leader of the Haven Climbing Club, a section of the larger Strath Haven Outdoor Adventure Club, and started climbing three years ago prior to the COVID pandemic.

“Unfortunately, the gyms closed and I had to take a long break, but I resorted to climbing outside during that time,” Forbes said.

Forbes stated that competitions for climbing take place in climbing gyms, where route setters from the USAC (United States of America Climbing), will set up three routes with checkpoints. When a climber reaches a checkpoint they will be given points, which the climbers place in the competition.

“Whoever gets the most checkpoints will basically win the competition,” Forbes said.

Rock climbing is typically organized by course difficulty from V-0 to V-17, with V-17 being the hardest. “As a beginner you’re looking for that V-0 to V-4 range.”

This ranking system is designed to allow the sport to be accessible to the wider public, and standardize competitions.

Rock climbing has competitions at all levels, from inter-gym competitions to the nationwide competition, which was held in Salt Lake City, Utah this past July.

While many of the competitions are held at indoor climbing gyms, outdoor climbing is also very popular, with many cliff faces having predetermined rock climbing routes.

For Haven students who are interested in rock climbing, the Haven Climbing Club offers some opportunities.

“We’re going to the Gravity Bowl in Radnor near us. It’s going to be a blast, and make sure to bring all your friends,” Forbes said. “We’re chartering a bus probably in the next few weeks, so you should definitely come.”