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Anyone familiar with climbing understands the passion those devoted to the sport have.
For many, climbing, bouldering and adventure become a lifestyle that starts at a young age.
The drive and passion climbers have for the sport transfers well to being an entrepreneur, especially if you’re opening a climbing gym.
“I truly got passionate about indoor climbing and bouldering to be specific when I went to university in Saskatoon,” said Chris de Vries of Gneiss Climbing. “During the winter we spent every day in the climbing gym and developed a special passion for the movement and problem-solving bouldering creates.”
Bouldering and climbing pose a unique challenge for athletes as success at the sport demands both physicality and mental problem solving.
“It's a very tangible physical element to a mental problem,” explained des Vries. “The real hook for people who love bouldering is the positive reinforcement you get from working on a problem over weeks and months and then successfully completing the movement needed to solve it.”
It’s a hook des Vries and his wife Nancy have successfully landed in the Okanagan’s climbing scene, with Gneiss having already expanded since opening in April of 2016.
“My wife and I focused on creating an open social environment when designing the gym,” said des Vries. “Often gym owners just put some walls up but we wanted to structure the gym to better facilitate a community where friends can be made.”
Those interested in trying their hand (or hands) at bouldering can swing by Gneiss at 430 Banks Road and try their $10 twilight pass between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
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