Sportrock Alexandria 07/12

The Essentials It's going to be a nice double session of Saturday and Sunday climbing for the weekend. I'm the bulky 5'8" Asian with 3/4-length climbing pants and a t-shirt. If you don't see me, tell the staff you're there for the Meetup group and you're looking for Sigmund. Chances are if you don't see me, I'm either belaying in the corner of the gym or up on the wall climbing. Normal day pass: $18 **If you tell the staff you are with the Meetup group, they will usually discount the day pass price to the member-guest price of $14** Climbing shoes and harness rental: $6.50 Feel free to bring your own gear if you have it. The gym is a short walk from the Van Dorn metro station and there's usually sufficient parking; look for extra spaces around the back of the building. Check http://www.sportrock.com/ for more details. If you have not been to the gym before, you will need to sign a waiver. No matter how long you have been climbing, you will still need to pass Sportrock's belay test to be allowed to tie-in yourself and belay other people. As a belayer, you are holding someone else's life in your hands, so Sportrock has the right and responsibility to make sure that everyone in their gym will be safe while participating in this sport. If you do not know how to belay and tie into the top-rope, find a belay-certified Meetup member with a pink certification card and have them tie you in and belay you. This Meetup group is quite generous, so you will most likely have people offering to belay you. If you want to learn how to tie your own knots and belay other people, you can take Sportrock's Basic Skills course and then take their test. The course lasts for one hour and costs $25. Other Info If you've never climbed before, I can show you some tips on how to get started in climbing. We have an encouraging group of people, so don't worry if you struggle at first or get nervous on the wall. Everyone has been in your shoes at some point. Wear clothes that won't restrict your movement; think about something you would wear to yoga. This is indoor climbing, so the gym can get quite warm especially after your first climb. Avoid short shorts, because they tend to be uncomfortable with the harness. To prevent scraping your knees against the wall, I highly recommend longer shorts or pants that cover the knees. There are two water fountains by the bathrooms, so a water bottle is recommended but not necessary. If you have any questions at all, just send me a message and I will be happy to help. Happy climbing!