Plymouth’s Big Island Bouldering Fills Need in ‘Climbing Desert’
Exercise can take on many different forms, but there aren’t many workouts quite like indoor bouldering.
“It’s mental and physical strength, so it’s just something different from our normal day to day, and everybody likes it,” said Amanda Rabe, who visited Plymouth’s Big Island Bouldering on a Thursday morning.
People like it because it’s challenging and family-friendly, even if there is a 100 percent chance that they’re going to fall.
“When you fall, cause you will fall, you’ll fall from maybe 15, 16 feet in the air, but you’ll land on foam padding that will absorb the energy,” said Chris Massoll, one of the owners of Big Island Bouldering in Plymouth.
The indoor bouldering establishment opened on Jan. 12 in a 20,000-square-foot warehouse space.
“We knew that the West Metro was what I’d call, a desert for climbing, and now we’ve created this little oasis if you will,” said Massoll.
He says it’s an activity that’s continued to grow over the last 30 years, and for the uninitiated, there’s a method to how this all works. Essentially, each color-coded route is equipped with a tag that acts as a guide and discloses the level of difficulty.
Whatever path you choose, you’re going to work every part of your body.
“It’s like all your body weight. So it’s like the hardest workout, pound for pound,” said Simon Bender, who visited Big Island Bouldering Thursday morning with a friend.
Amanda Rabe of Delano attempts to climb a wall at Big Island Bouldering. The gym is located at 161 Cheshire Lane #500 in Plymouth.
The gym even has a kids area, which Amanda Rabe and her family were excited to check out.
“As soon as they put something out there that they were opening, I immediately emailed and I asked if my 3-year-old would be able to participate, and that was a huge kind of decision-maker for us,” Rabe said.
In the early going, Big Island Bouldering has been a huge draw for families and anyone who’s just looking for a workout that’s a little different.
Although if you prefer a traditional workout, the gym also has a space with weights and cardio equipment.
“Maybe you climb for two days, and then you turn around and you end up doing some more traditional fitness things. They really complement each other very well,” said Massoll.
Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a complete novice, staff members here encourage folks to give it a try.
“It’s a very social thing. You’ll climb, you’ll cheer your friend on, they’ll cheer you on, you celebrate the successes, and you learn from each other’s failures along the way,” Massoll said. “So it’s a multifaceted benefit.”
Prices for a day pass range from $17 for youth to $26 for adults. Big Island Bouldering also has a co-working lounge on site for people who want to work remotely.
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