On May 31 - June 1, 2014, the IFSC World Cup Bouldering event takes place in Hamilton's Gravity Climbing Gym, the largest gym of its kind in Canada. The best climbers are coming to the Southern Ontario to put the locals to the test. Apart from being the second consecutive and successful year for the IFSC Climbing World Cup Canada, there is more to it. One thing without this competition might have not happened at all. Did you ever wonder what an important part a venue might play in?
In 1986, two altruistic souls had an idea. Derek Stoffel and Reid Monk (while working in the rock climbing and mountaineering shop owned by Monk’s father) decided they would build an indoor rock climbing facility. Sadly the idea was short lived, as the pair of 18 year-olds had a significant deficit of start-up cash.
Fast-forward eight years, Stoffel was off to pursue a career as a successful CBC reporter, and Reid had moved to Toronto. There, two key things happened: he was exposed to an indoor rock climbing gym and he met Karen Baxter, who would eventually convince him to move to Hamilton and open a gym. Fall, 1994: Gravity Climbing Gym opens. Right from the start, it was a success. Despite some early shortcomings – a desk consisting of plywood on four barrels of paint – the gym would prove a major hotspot for indoor climbing in Ontario. Competitions started immediately. Monk helped spearhead the Wall Crawl, the largest competition series in North America at the time. Other events, including Regional competitions and numerous stops on the Tour de Bloc bouldering circuit followed.
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In Winter, 2012, ground is broken on a huge change. Gravity, already one of the biggest climbing gyms around, moves to a new, larger, taller location. Mike Patchett (a 15 year-old competitor at the first Wall Crawl event in 1995) would become a partner in the rapidly expanding business. Poetry was in the air as the new Gravity opened its doors eighteen years to the day after the original gym. Gravity Climbing Gym is now the largest of its kind in Canada.
The Gravity Climbing Gym
First IFSC World Cup in Canada in 2013
Always known for the variety and quality of its route setting, Gravity set its sights on improving its bouldering component. A massive area dedicated to the rope-less art was incorporated in the new design. Big enough, in fact, to host the 2013 IFSC Bouldering World Cup. Due largely to the vision and determination of Luigi Montilla, the head organizer – the event was a huge success.
Gravity Climbing Gym is pleased to once again have a World Cup competition in Hamilton. In addition to hosting the event, Gravity will be a key sponsor for the IFSC Climbing World Cup Canada 2014 Bouldering. “Seeing the amazement on the faces of all involved last year, especially the fans, made stepping up our involvement a very easy decision,” said Monk.
Well said and way to go! Agog to see a white Canadian hopes Rebecca Frangos, Francis Bilodeau, Celeste Wall and Gavin Johnson against some of the best climbers in the world. Also, all climbing fans who can’t be on site at a given World Cup competition will be able to watch the event live streaming on www.ifsc-climbing.org.
All images are courtesy of Bouldering Canada, Copyrights applied.
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