Plan ahead and get the fitness classes you want!

How to:
– Online registration opens 4 hours in advance of ALL fitness classes
– Go to https://www.edgeworksclimbing.com/fitness_schedule.html
– Log in or create an express booking profile.
– Select your class in the calendar and click the ‘Information and Dates‘ link
– Select your participant type and hit SELECT
– Complete the Booking Details and click CONTINUE
– Confirm your information and click COMPLETE BOOKING

You’ve now claimed your spot in class! What’s next?
– Arrive for the class at least 4 minutes early
– Check-in at the front desk and collect your participant card
(YES, this step is still necessary – please don’t skip it!)
– Head upstairs and enjoy the fitness class.

Cancellations: 
Things come up. We get it! Cancellations made at least 30 minutes prior to the start of class, will not be charged a No Show Fee. Non-members may also call to cancel with at least 30 minutes notice to receive a refund on their day pass.

Why do online registration?
1. The popularity of our fitness classes is increasing, some are full beyond capacity; this system will help guarantee a spot in those classes.
2. Help instructors anticipate and plan for class sizes; i.e. if they can foresee a larger class, they can help direct how/where to place mats to accommodate everyone and/or adjust curriculum to better suite the size of the group.

Team Training Notes

by Josh Bennett

In the last few weeks Team Edgeworks has seen HUGE increases in Teamwork and overall fitness. The biggest and most noticeable difference is in their flexibility.

There are many reasons that flexibility is key in climbing. The biggest and best reason is that it enables our climbers to use their feet more efficiently!  Coaches are seeing the kids using their bodies in ways that they haven’t been able to before, and it’s really exciting because it opens the door to more creative and  technical beta.

We are  so stoked to be seeing these gains and it seems like the kids really enjoy it too!

2017 Sport and Speed Regional Registration

Registration for the 2017 USA Climbing: Sport & Speed Youth Regional Championships is now open! Please make note of the registration deadlines and eligibility requirements below and register today!

Important Registration Dates 

April 1 – April 30, 2017

USA Climbing: Sport & Speed Youth Regional Championships registration is now open and will continue until 11:59 PM MST on Sunday, April 30, 2017.

May 1 – May 2, 2017 | Registration Extension Period ($100 late fee)

On May 1st, USA Climbing will post a roster of currently registered competitors and reopen registration to allow all eligible members an additional 48-hours to register for Regionals at an additional $100 fee.

May 2, 2017 @ 11:59pm MST | Registration CLOSES 

Registration for Regionals will officially close on May 2nd at 11:59pm MST and USA Climbing will NOT accept any late or missed registration appeals if a competitor fails to register by this final registration deadline.

Eligibility Requirements

Sport & Speed Youth Regional Championships are open only to USA Climbing Competitor Members who:

•  hold a current USA Climbing Competitor membership

•  have competed in a minimum of, and received credit for, two Local competitions as a USA Climbing Competitor Member or USA Climbing DAY-Member

•  met all registration requirements and/or deadlines

•  have a Bye to the event

The two competition minimum participation requirement will be waived for competitors that wish to compete in SPEED ONLY.

**This is a summary of requirements. Please see the RULEBOOK for more details**

How to Register

Click the link in the email you received from USA Climbing, or go to www.usaclimbing.org

NEW!

Mark your calendar! The Olympic Peninsula Climbers and the Access Fund’s Conservation Team are holding a trail development event on April 15th, 2017 to develop a formal and safe trail to the Elwha Crags eastern climbing area, Waka Beach. Trail building will include things like brush clearing, digging, lots of manual labor, laughter, and a lot of fun (hopefully). More information is coming regarding how Team Edgeworks will be involved in this service event.

Scarpa Force V Gear Review

by Abbie Madlem

The Fit: To put it simply, the Force V is designed to be a high performance shoe with an all-day comfort fit (think Helix 2.0 or a performance-oriented Mythos). 

     •  Stiff sole, a snug heel cup, and padding throughout the tongue and upper heel.

     •  Flat lasted with a slight asymmetry, which makes it a more technical shoe than cheaper models. You can think of the Force V between the Inti and the Mythos.

The Technology: The Force V was designed by Heinz Mariacher (who is known most notably for his design of the La Sportiva Mythos). It is constructed of partially-lined leather suede.  From the ball of the foot forward, the shoe is unlined, allowing the leather to conform to the particular bend in a customer’s toes. From the heel to the ball, the shoe has a synthetic liner that ensures a consistent fit throughout the life of the shoe. It also uses 4mm Vibram XS Edge rubber, making it a stiff shoe with optimized traction and lasting durability.

What really makes this shoe stand out is Scarpa’s use of Lightly Charged V-Tension Active Randing. Active Randing as a concept was created by heinz of Mythos fame. At its most basic, Active Randing employs rubber rands that wrap around the shoe in different configurations in a way that is designed to support climber’s feet, and store tension in certain directions to release energy in other directions.  Still confused? That’s okay, Scarpa has an awesome resource to better learn about the Active Randing process here: http://blog.scarpa.com/heinz-mariacher-and-active-randing-in-scarpa-rock-shoes/.

How it Compares: It has a less aggressive heel than the Inti, and is designed more for all day comfort and performance than the Inti, though has a slightly more aggressive toe than the Mythos, not to mention that active randing will allow for more precise foot placements than the Mythos.  It is stiffer and more precise (again due to randing and asymmetry) than the Helix or Origin.

The Cost: At a price point of $130.00, the Force V is cheaper than the Mythos while offering a trade off of comfort for performance. The price is the same as the Tenaya Inti, but will fit a different style of climber… because it’s a different shoe…

Make sure to check the shoe out and, more importantly, try it on! Know how it fits and feels, and who knows, you might just end up falling in love with it!

Calvin Kim

Member since 2016

How did you start climbing?

Calvin: Last summer my 9 yr old kept asking me to take her rock climbing. I took her a handful of times. We knew nothing about rock climbing- we’d use all the colors, climb up to the top and come back down. My kids liked it- but I found this to be a terribly boring and pointless sport. I came only to satisfy my kids and it allowed me to spend time with them!
I posted pics of us climbing on Facebook. My uber competitive cousin who is a serious climber commented that we should be climbing 5-10 and higher only! Another time a friend commented on a picture and said- “sure- use all the colors”! Then it clicked in my brain that the numbers corresponded with the grade of difficulty and the point of climbing was to stick with one color and try to complete the route! This was a game changer- climbing went from boredom to fun almost overnight!
We went from coming a few times a month- to coming multiple times a week beginning in November of last year!

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Calvin: For sure it’s location- we live in Lakewood- however- we have climbed at a number of other gyms- and my kids and I both heartily agree that Edgeworks has the coolest vibe and great staff. We’ve visited a different gym and their staff were so uppity and strict. It made us appreciate the chill and fun atmosphere at Edgeworks! We also like all of the different events, activities, and challenges that are put on at Edgeworks which keep it fun. We love being a part of the Edgeworks tribe!

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Calvin: Because we only started seriously climbing last November, I’ve only been to Smith Rock once to climb outdoors. Learned to do my first lead climb there and really got hooked on outdoor climbing.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Calvin: I am an avid triathlete so I’m either running, swimming, cycling, or conditioning. Currently I’m training for a couple of races that I had committed to long ago. Truth be told- I look forward to when these races are over so I can focus more time on climbing.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Calvin: I like all of them- although I spend the most amount of time with the top rope!

What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Calvin: Scientific research has shown what happens to the brain during intense exercise. The neurochemicals that are elevated and produced result in all kinds of other amazing benefits. Studies also show a very strong correlation between kids who exercise a lot and how well they perform in school. While I engage in physical activity to reap the benefits that come from exercise, most of the sports take me away from my kids for many hours. I love this sport of climbing- First, because it allows me to spend great quality time with my kids. Secondly, I’m not just watching the kids get exercise- I get to be just as engaged while we’re all challenged at our own individual levels! Thirdly, I know that exercise will benefit my kids academically. If you want your kids to excel in school keep them engaged in physical activity as much as you can!

April 12, 2017 | 6:30-9:30pm at Edgeworks

Join Edgeworks, the Access Fund, Olympic Peninsula Climbers, and the Washington Climbers Coalition for an event promoting climbing area advocacy.

Come learn what these organizations do and how you can get more involved. A focus of this event will be the April 15th trail improvement/cleanup out in the Elwha. Beer for the April 12th event generously provided by The Harmon.

Elwha Trailwork Day – April 15th  

The Olympic Peninsula Climbers will be working with the Access Fund’s Conservation Team and volunteers like you to develop a formal and safe trail to the Elwha Crags eastern climbing area, Waka Beach. Trail building will include things like brush clearing, digging, lots of manual labor, laughter, and a lot of fun (hopefully).  All people are welcome to attend.  Sign up here.

Earn your peaks!

January 1 – March 31, 2017
Put your membership to good use and receive a FREE t-shirt with our members only 90-day challenge!

_________________________________________________________________________

CHALLENGE COMPLETE – 100+ points and all 3 peaks! 

Tamerea Bassett

Member since 2015

How did you start climbing?

Tamerea: My 1st climbing experience happened 2 years ago when a friend was visiting from Canada and we decided to try out Edgeworks. We had such blast that day and it sparked my interest in the sport. Until that day I had no clue how big it was and how wonderful the climbing community is. It took a year of coming in on and off plus sparatic explorations outside but I made friends at Edgeworks, was brought into the community and then the sport quickly became my passion.

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Tamerea: The supportive and enthusiastic atmosphere are what keep me coming back. I’m constantly challenged and encourage to try harder and get better. My main goal is to crush. Oh and have fun while doing so…

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Tamerea: It’s hard to pick my favorite place I’ve climbed. If I had to choose I’d say Ton sai in Thailand. Aside from the miserable heat and humidity, it’s the most beautiful place. That rock and view from the top make it all worth it.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Tamerea: Outside of climbing, training to climb and work I like to travel, read, work out and spend the rest of the time with my pup Gizmo. The cutest dog in all the land.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Tamerea: I am a die hard sport climber and all the bouldering I do in the gym is to train and get strong to crush projects. Although the bouldering has grown on me.

What’s your go-to route grade?

Tamerea: My go to grade in the gym is 5.12 and outside my personal best lead so far is 11b at world wall. I’m still new to leading outdoors and am looking forward to all the climbing trips I have planned this summer – after another grueling training cycle is over!

Team Lock-in A Success!

Mini-golf, Hokey Pokey, Birdie on a Perch, Tyrolean Traverse, Capture The Flag; these are only some of the activities enjoyed by Team Edgeworks at the lock-in last month. The team in it’s newest form that includes Club, Comp, and Advanced Teams came together in one place for the first time on this night, bonding and developing a new team spirit.

Walking from Edgeworks to Tower Lanes seemed like it might be as treacherous as the Fitz Roy Traverse, but the kids travelled like it was a single pitch on the West Ridge of Prusik Peak! Once there, somehow 25 kids made very little impact on the facility, other than cleaning them out of their golf clubs. Everyone made it back safely and announced their presence by playing a rousing game of Hokey Pokey, drawing in other climbers as it progressed.

If climbing by itself isn’t a big enough challenge, many kids faced their fears by traversing a rope from one side of the gym to the other 20 feet off the ground. The Tyrolean traverse requires strength, trust, and determination. All of the team kids display these qualities daily.

Excellent comportment in our gym community and beyond, and helpfulness and encouragement to fellow teammates was tempered by quite a lot of silliness the rest of the night. They deserve it for all the hard work they put in every day. Go Team!