After months away from the climbing gym, it’s a good idea to ease your way back into crushing those projects -- unless you’re some super human that can climb V15 off the couch. With Sender One SNA open again and LAX following (hopefully) soon, we wanted to provide some tips on returning to the climbing gym.
TIP #1: Stretch before arriving at the climbing gym.
Because time is limited to 2-hour climbing sessions (for now), we suggest doing some stretching at home. You can refer to this warm-up video we made for our at-home iSWOLation workout challenge. Stretching prior to arriving at the climbing gym may help speed up your on-the-wall warm-ups so you can get to sending!
TIP #2: Be kind to yourself and your fingers/skin/tendons.
Take it easy! With the lack of consistent climbing over the past few months, our bodies need to readjust. Don’t overdo it because you may run the risk of getting injured. Listen to your body and rest when needed. You may be surprised at how quickly you will get your strength back!
TIP #3: Keep your mask up, covering your mouth and nose.
Out of respect and to protect yourself and others around, make sure to always mask up while inside. If you need to catch your breath and breathe in some fresh air, you can let the staff know that you’re stepping outside for a few breaths. The ONLY time a mask can be removed while indoors is to drink water or munch on a snack (between bites).
TIP #4: Come prepared to climb in proper attire.
For now, our showers and locker rooms are unavailable until further notice. We highly recommend coming to the climbing gym in your climbing attire so you can be ready to hop on the walls.
TIP #5: BYORWB.
Bring your own refillable water bottle! Only the refill stations at our drinking fountains are available. We do, however, still provide an assortment of energy bars and beverages for sale to help fuel your climbing session!
TIP #6: Hang in there!
This year has been absolutely crazy. Bring on the socially awkward moments since we’ve all been stuck in our homes for 6 months and have forgotten how to act in the presence of other human beings. We love awkward and we will happily welcome you back with open arms, from a distance, with sanitizer and a thermometer in hand. Things are going to be different for a while, but we will continue to be here for you!