Climbing – “Chalk”full of Fun

15 December 2020Damien B, Privett ‘21; Photo by Jule G, Hope '22

Since the Foote Center opened last year, hundreds of students have used the phenomenal resources it offers to explore athletics. One activity that receives constant appreciation and use is the climbing gym, managed by Ms Wagstaff, Mr Hughes, and Mr Griffiths. As more students express an interest in the sport, the gym is always lively on sports days – celebrating the generosity of the Foote family.

With various challenging courses for beginners and experts alike, the climbing gym is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their skills and improve their technique. Mr Hughes and Ms Wagstaff are both incredibly supportive and always wait patiently for climbers to figure out the route for themselves. The instructors also display their skills regularly, and we are sometimes told to “stop looking at Mr Hughes and pay attention” by Ms Wagstaff.

One of the best parts of climbing is that you can feel very noticeable skill development; as you practice routes and maneuvers, you feel more comfortable doing them. Sometimes it is daunting for beginners to try new routes, especially if they are afraid of heights. Despite the challenge, however, climbing is a very supportive environment that allows you to take things at your own pace. Students are encouraged by Mr Griffiths to “Rest for a second and keep going” if they get tired near the end of a climb.

Before any students can entirely focus on climbing, they have to learn the process of belaying. It can be stressful at first, as you are essentially a lifeline for climbers, but it becomes second nature after the first few times. The ropes are easy to get comfortable with, and they are valuable tools to understand.

As more students with varying levels of knowledge join climbing, the staff become increasingly apt in providing the best environment for improvement. Whether it be increasing or decreasing specific courses’ difficulty or providing more unique holds and approaches, they never cease to improve Brentwood’s climbing experience.

Damien B, Privett ‘21

Where Students Choose To Be