I can climb that

I mentioned in a previous post that Florida Tech has a Rock Climbing Team. I wanted to follow up and provide more insight into what this team is all about.

There is only one place in the entire state of Florida that can be climbed outdoors, and that’s only if the tides are at their lowest, at Blowing Rocks Preserve. What we do have in Florida, however, are indoor rock gyms.

On the Edge Rock Climbing gym is the one our team calls home. Across the state, other colleges have their own teams and respective gyms where we all compete during the spring semesters. Our Florida Tech team just competed in Tampa at Vertical Ventures, the first competition this season in the Collegiate Climbing Series (CCS). We placed highly and our newest members placed higher than expected! The competition lasted 3 hours and required the top 5 highest rated routes for each person, which were added up for each final score.

Climbers from various colleges make the drive from all over Florida to compete and over the last year, I’ve made so many new friends from other colleges at these competitions. Talk about a great way to meet new people, network and not just at Florida Tech.

I joined the team last year with exactly 2 weeks of climbing experience leading up to my first competition. The team is open to anyone, from novice to expert. As a way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of campus (and the 5-hour homework sessions), climbing is definitely a worthwhile way to use one’s time. For me, going 4 times a week is normal and lets my head reset for another day of classes. Even with a full class load of 18 credits plus finishing my Multi-Engine Commercial Certificate and applying for jobs and scholarships, I still find time for climbing. The gym is only 15 minutes away and requires nothing but shoes and a chalk bag.

For those incoming freshmen who need a club or two to join for their University Experience class, consider climbing.  After a few times climbing, you’ll forever look at buildings, tall structures and fireplaces thinking, “I can climb that.” As an added bonus, that freshman 15 you may heard about will not apply to you since climbing is a fantastic workout. In fact, you’ll be more fit by the end of your first year than you ever thought possible. What are you waiting for? Come climb with me!