Climbing to new heights at the Sports and Fitness Center

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  People are up against the wall at the Fitness and Sports Center and loving every minute of it.

Since the new facility opened in September, the center's rock climbing wall has captured customer's attention and interest in climbing to new heights.

"Over 400 people have been trained to use the rock climbing wall," said Bill Anderson, 66th Services Squadron, recreation specialist.

Currently rock climbing classes are offered on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday the center offers family hours from 8 to 10 a.m., in addition to a regular afternoon climbing class from noon to 2 p.m.

"Our Saturday classes have grown to full capacity so we will be scaling back to no more than 10 people per class for these sessions," Mr. Anderson said. "The reason is we want to ensure that participants get the most out of their class experience, by limiting the class size we can ensure that we are able to do that."

Sign ups for Saturday classes will be the day of the class on a first come or call basis.

Groups interested in using the climbing wall for physical training sessions or wingman events can contact the Fitness Center for details and scheduling.

"Once people have been trained in auto-belay techniques with an instructor they will be able to climb the wall on their own during open sessions," Mr. Anderson said.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer instructor for the rock climbing classes at the center can sign up at the front desk.

"To become an instructor you must complete 12 sessions on the climbing wall," Mr. Anderson said. "The volunteer instructors help me teach basic climber and belay procedures on the wall."

Mr. Anderson said that the many people have expressed an interest in starting a climbing club and plans are in the works to do just that. Anyone interested in joining a climbing club can contact James Scoville at 937-626-6676 or by email at james.scoville@us.af.mil

Among the other initiatives the Sports and Fitness Center is looking into is the possibility of having climbing shoes available for patrons to rent or purchase at the Center. "Climbing shoes are encouraged for anyone who will be climbing regularly as regular shoes will wear down the wall," Mr. Anderson said.

For more information on the Sports and Fitness Center programs call (781) 377-3639.