Sportrock History
Did you know Sportrock is one of the founding rock climbing gyms in the country?
We are proud to have been the FIRST commercial climbing gym in the DC metro area!
Want to learn more? Click through to see exactly what we’ve been up to since 1994!
OUR HERITAGE IS BASED ON AUTHENTICITY AND A PASSION FOR CLIMBING.
Our founders met while training together at Zich’s (pronounced Zeke’s) Garage, a handmade climbing gym in Washington, DC. When Zich was 19 he was looking for a place to train in the wintertime. Zich convinced his supportive parents to let him build a DIY climbing space in their freestanding car garage.
When the demand outgrew the space, the Sportrock founders broke off and formed Sportrock's first location in Rockville, MD so they would continue to have a place to climb and train together.
SPORTROCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT FOLLOWING THE CRAFT, NOT THE CROWD.
We strive to be a teaching gym that delivers world-class routesetting, exceptional educational programs, and high quality fitness options to support climbers now…and for the future of the sport. That commitment began in 1994 and continues today. And it is the reason we offer:
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the TALLEST rock climbing walls in the Mid-Atlantic
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the ONLY IFSC Regulation speed wall in the region
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the ONLY multi-pitch training ledge in the country
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a BRAND NEW 3,200 square foot fitness center
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and the MOST HIGHLY CERTIFIED routesetting team in the industry!
AND WE DO IT ALL FOR COMMUNITY!
From the group of founders who were simply interested in having an indoor climbing gym they could use year-round – to the incredible staff, extraordinary routesetters, remarkable members, and curious guests – our community is the reason we keep the lights on 363 days out of the year.
We love fostering and supporting our local community and are committed to making climbing accessible to everyone through inclusive and adaptive events. We also donate our services to hundreds of schools and organizations each year.
Who We Are
Our guiding pillars ROCK:
Routesetting
Sportrock has some of the best routesetters in the country and one of only a handful of level 5 USA Climbing Certified Routesetters. They work hard to set the most creative, challenging, diverse, and fun boulder problems and routes. With all of our expansions over the years, we offer state of the art climbing terrain with the tallest walls in the Metro DC area.
Original
We are one of the first indoor rock climbing gyms in the country. Sportrock was founded in 1994 by a group of climbers who outgrew a home wall in Zich’s Garage, an unused auto garage shop. Even after 5 expansions, we have stayed true to being a climbing gym rooted in top-notch climbing and building a strong community of climbers.
Community
Whether it’s within the walls of Sportrock or on a larger scale reaching out to various audiences. We use rock climbing as a platform to expand our community. We host a weekly Parkinsons Group, adaptive climbing, at-risk youths, fundraisers for various causes are just some examples.
Knowledge
We are committed to being a teaching/learning gym. With the addition of the Sportrock Performance Institute, Sportrock is committed to developing youth and adult athletes of every skill level, from beginner to high-performance athletes. Whether they only climb indoors or want to venture outside, we are committed to educating and preparing climbers to reach their goals.
