Santa Barbara's First Dedicated Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
Will Russ, climber and a professional photographer with a love for the outdoors, took a dream and made it a reality when he opened the doors of Santa Barbara's only climbing gym in September of 2012 with the goal to foster and preserve Santa Barbara’s rock climbing community. With a building in line, the only problem was the small space the gym was supposed to be built in. However, the fear of overbuilding the small space quickly vanished as soon as Will saw the rendering finish of the gym on the computer. And indeed, the 8,500 square feet of climbing terrain feels open and airy in reality.
Will was looking for everything from bouldering terrain at all levels to top rope, and lead climbing. The Santa Barbara Rock Gym (SBRG) focuses on everything from instruction for first time climbers, to advanced climbing techniques in the outdoors. What SBRG lacks in height and size, however, they more than make up for in fantastic and challenging routes and problems, all of which are updated frequently. But don't let the lack of height initially turn you off, the gym utilizes it's limited space very well!
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When you walk up to the gym, the first thing you see is a rock realistic wall, designed to recreate some of the rock style that one can find in surrounding area. There are two distinct cracks that run up to wall and it serves as a tool to bring new climbers up. The area just across the rock realistic wall is a programming area. Those are walls that were designed with an intention to get climbers up and down as quickly as possible while still creating a lasting experience to them.
Towards the back of the gym, there is a bouldering area that raises from 11 feet up to 14 foot. The bouldering walls have unique terrain and route setters make great unique routes that work with it really well. The back room is designed for advanced climbers, hosting the longest lead line of the gym, up to 50 ft long. There's a good balance between easier routes and problems and more difficult projects. For any lead climbers out there, SBRG's got a great arch that's always have at least a few challenging routes on it.
In addition to climbing walls, SBRG offer classes as well, and these are intensive small-group sessions (around 6 students max) where the instructor can really engage every student individually. One of the programs that are big focus to SBRG are Youth programs - designed to introduce young climbers to the world of climbing, have fun and provide safe environment (check out SBRG's Youth climbing team, they have 4 kids headed to divisionals next month).
They his gym has Auto Belayer so you don't need a partner for top rope, you can rent equipment too (Harnesses are $5, shoes $2) and the gym offer discounts for youth memberships as well as half off Fridays. Check it out.
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