2008 Woodie Awards
Climbing wall officially open
Ryan Hayner
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 9/20/07 at 10:42 PM EST
Last update: 9/20/07 at 10:56 PM EST
- < prev Page 2 of 2
Initial numbers of members signing up for classes and attending open times have made Soroka's expectations a reality.
Originally planned for just two weeks, the four-day-a-week belay certification classes needed to be extended an extra week because the original two weeks filled up after the second day of the program, Salvatore said.
The third week is already filling up quickly.
Twenty-seven members utilized the walls on Monday and 24 more tested their climbing abilities on Tuesday, according to Salvatore.
"Anecdotally, what we were hearing around campus, the buzz was that people were very excited about the opening of the program," he said. "What I have found out, again anecdotally, is that a lot of students have experienced indoor climbing before and this is really a new trend."
Universities and colleges across the country are developing climbing wall programs or climbing centers to accommodate an increasing interest and to accommodate existing fitness and wellness opportunities, he said.
Salvatore said they have been addressing interest from resident assistants and other groups on campus who have expressed interest in using the climbing facilities for team building activities and just to have fun.
Following the meeting, Nicholas Strange walked in and became the first official customer.
"I heard about it when they were first talking about it and I was really excited," Strange said. "I'm glad to hear it's finally up and running."
Although he had heard about it before, he said he realized it was open when he was walking by and noticed the crowd of people gathered for the grand opening.
Originally planned for just two weeks, the four-day-a-week belay certification classes needed to be extended an extra week because the original two weeks filled up after the second day of the program, Salvatore said.
The third week is already filling up quickly.
Twenty-seven members utilized the walls on Monday and 24 more tested their climbing abilities on Tuesday, according to Salvatore.
"Anecdotally, what we were hearing around campus, the buzz was that people were very excited about the opening of the program," he said. "What I have found out, again anecdotally, is that a lot of students have experienced indoor climbing before and this is really a new trend."
Universities and colleges across the country are developing climbing wall programs or climbing centers to accommodate an increasing interest and to accommodate existing fitness and wellness opportunities, he said.
Salvatore said they have been addressing interest from resident assistants and other groups on campus who have expressed interest in using the climbing facilities for team building activities and just to have fun.
Following the meeting, Nicholas Strange walked in and became the first official customer.
"I heard about it when they were first talking about it and I was really excited," Strange said. "I'm glad to hear it's finally up and running."
Although he had heard about it before, he said he realized it was open when he was walking by and noticed the crowd of people gathered for the grand opening.
Be the first to comment on this story